GORDON VERNON LOWRY

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GORDON VERNON LOWRY

April 12, 1936 – March 11, 2026

Surrounded by his family Gord peacefully passed away Wednesday March 11, 2026. Gord reminded us all to “Live Your Best Life” before he passed. This was a phrase he commonly used.
“I was born on a pool table” was one of Gord’s favourite lines. Gord was a salesman, and he knew the value of opening lines. Hanging in his office was a picture of his grandfather’s poolroom and barber shop, where, in a back bedroom, Gord was born on April 12, 1936. The town of Mather, MB, was home for about 8 years, and then the family moved to Argyle. Here, school, sports, and work as a farmhand filled the years. Gord would say that he worked for a dollar a day and meals, and what he didn’t make in money, he made up in food.
To continue his education, Gord moved to Winnipeg for his twelfth year, and he graduated from Kelvin High. Just as in that old First World War song, ‘How you gonna keep them down on the Farm after they’ve seen Paree’, Gord would not return to Argyle. Winnipeg was his Paree. He joined the office staff at City Hydro, then moved to Monarch Life, and later to Canadian Oil. In his move to Hudson Paper/Crown Zellerbach, Gord worked in Sales. He was later offered the position of Sales Manager, but, ever the entrepreneur, Gord figured he would make more money selling than managing.
In 1969, Gord decided that he could do better on his own, and Lowry Manufacturing and Sales was the result. This dream, which began with inventory stored in his basement, expanded to branches in Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon, and Vancouver. Winnipeg was the head office, and the ever-growing inventory required more and more floor space and consequently more moves until Gord finally bought a building on Midland.
As big as the company became and as varied the inventory, Gord still did sales and was the man on the road. Today, the company still operates under the Lowry banner, but Gord was happy to sell and pursue other life challenges. With a twinkle, he says that his only regret was not negotiating a licensing fee for the use of his name.
In addition to Lowry Sales, Gord teamed up with his good friend Garth Grieder under the G & L Sales banner and enjoyed the challenge of liquidation sales. You can guess what the ‘L’ stands for in G & L. He retired from this venture, but Garth knew that he could call on Gord whenever he was overstocked.
Gord was also a sportsman. He started curling back in Argyle and at age 16 won the Men’s Bonspiel. A teacher at Kelvin High introduced him to the Granite Curling Club in Winnipeg, and it became his Club. Gord curled in the World Championship in Toronto, and for a couple of seasons, he was featured with Terry Braunstein in Keen Ice, a TV curling series from Edmonton. Ever the entrepreneur, Gord developed and manufactured a slip-on slider for curling, saving curlers the need to buy special shoes.
In the summer, it was fishing and golf. Gord’s cabin on Linklater Lake, just east of Kenora, ON, served more as a lodge than a cabin. Generations of fishers cycled through. Gord had a knack for knowing where the fish were, and his filleting skill made the fish pan ready. If you were taking fish home, you could put it on ice from the ice machine he installed in the camp.
Niakwa was Gord’s golfing club, and golf was pursued with the same determination and focus as any other activity he chose. It pleased him when he attained Lifetime status and no longer had to pay the fees. In winter, golf was still a major activity, but in his favourite Mexican city, Puerto Vallarta. Gord’s ease of making friends assured him a supply of golfing buddies. Golfing every second day was not an unusual schedule.

In 1965, Gord married Gloria Rezanson. They entertained, travelled, and enjoyed time in Mexico. Over the years, what started as a two-week stay in Puerto Vallarta became a three-month stay. In later years, Gloria lived with Multiple Myeloma, and Gord became her caregiver. He described these years as ‘the best years of my life’. Gloria left us in 2017.
Gord leaves his sister, Elaine (Lowry) Musicky, and her husband, Tim. He leaves three nieces, Karrie Musicky and husband Peter Johannsson, Christy (Musicky) Carlyle and husband Graham, and Lara (Rezanson) Roberts. He leaves a nephew, Chris Rezanson and wife Kim Colwell. Gord is also remembered by his great-nieces, Katelyn Roberts and Elann Carlyle, and by his great-nephews, Brody Roberts, Lincoln Roberts, and Charles Carlyle. He is also cherished and missed by his brother-in-law, Fred Rezanson.
Gord has been fortunate to be surrounded by kind and loving friends and family. Barbara Anton was a beloved partner in the sunny days and a devoted caregiver through Gord’s final days. Barb’s daughter, Shelley Johnston, was an ever-present helper and a reliable provider of Gord’s favourite McDonald’s milkshakes. Anne and Bruce Lowry were indispensable not only in Gord’s senior years but through these more difficult times. Gerald and Mac Lowry were always there and were a superb addition to Gord’s care team. Jason Sarna was a positive companion and a considerate helping hand.
Thanks are extended to the healthcare workers who attended to Gord’s morning needs and to the palliative care consultants who provided guidance and information. Thank You to the Riverview Staff who showed so much care and compassion for Gord and to the family.
Gord’s thoughts were always with his family and friends, and he delighted in calling them on their birthdays, but if you don’t receive a birthday call from Gord this year, know he would have if he could have.
Please join us for a celebration of Gord’s life at The Gates on Robin, 6945 Roblin Bld, Headingley, MB. Thursday March 19, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 14, 2026