TERRANCE (TERRY) GORDON SMYRL

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TERRANCE (TERRY) GORDON SMYRL August 31, 1948 - November 18, 2016 With great sadness we announce the passing of Terry Smyrl on Friday, November 18, 2016 at the Victoria General Hospital. He will be forever loved and remembered by his wife Helga; son Christopher (Shauna), grandson Jacob; daughter Andrea (Adrian), granddaughters Hannah and Hailey, and brothers Ellwood (Carol) and Michael (Barb). Terry was born and spent his childhood in Winnipeg. He met his wife Helga there and they were married in 1971. Terry was an avid rugby player and played for many years for the Winnipeg Wasps rugby club. They moved to Edmonton in 1971 where Terry continued his education and received his Ph.D. in Food Science. While there he continued to play rugby with the Pirates Rugby team. Their son Christopher was born in 1976 and the family moved to Montreal in 1977. There, Terry taught in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at McGill University. The family enjoyed spending weekends driving to Oka to buy cheese curds and pick apples in the fall. The family also enjoyed camping trips in northern New York with their family friends. There were also many trips back to Winnipeg to spend time at the cottage with Oma and Opa. Their daughter Andrea was born in Montreal in 1980. Terry accepted a position at the Food Science and Technology Centre in Brooks, Alberta, and the family moved from Montreal in 1982. In Brooks, Terry resumed playing rugby, curling and squash, and began his involvement in his children's sports - hockey, judo, and soccer. The family spent many weekends exploring nearby Dinosaur Provincial Park or driving into Calgary to visit family. In 1986 the family moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba where Terry spent 11 years working at the Food Development Centre. He was very involved in his children's education and extracurricular activities, helping with homework and coaching soccer, squash and baseball for many years. Terry also enjoyed spending time out at the family hobby farm, growing vegetables in the garden and collecting maple syrup in the springtime. In 1998 Terry and Helga moved into Winnipeg where Terry worked for Manitoba Agriculture until his retirement in 2006. Never one to rest for long, he volunteered for years at the Victoria Hospital and volunteered as a chemistry tutor at Jobworks Adult Learning Centre. Without fail, Terry was at the gym early every morning keeping himself healthy and strong. He continued to enjoy going out to the farm and the cottage, watched every soccer game his son played, and took Tae Kwon Do classes with his daughter, attaining his green belt. Terry and Helga enjoyed travelling throughout their marriage. They travelled to Hawaii and to Mexico several times, including celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in Ixtapa. With Chris and Andrea living in various places around the world they took the opportunity to travel more in retirement. They travelled to Tanzania twice, South Africa, and Jordan to visit Chris and his family, and to Vancouver to visit Andrea and Adrian. Terry loved his wife and family deeply. Terry's grandchildren Jacob, Hannah, and Hailey had a very special place in his heart. He looked forward to every visit and video call from them. They loved him very much and he was an important part of their lives. He will be missed by all.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 26, 2016