BALDUR HANNES KRISTJANSON (1918 - 2001)

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BALDUR HANNES KRISTJANSON (1918 - 2001) Died peacefully in his sleep April 27, 2001 in Gimli, Man. where he was born 82 years ago. He lived a very full and satisfying life, completing high school in Gimli and then graduate and postgraduate education in agricultural economics at the universities of West Virginia and Wisconsin. He then taught for several years at the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo, North Dakota. It was there that he and his lifes partner, Helen Louise, started their family (three children, Ken, Leigh and Karen). Thereafter his career took them to the far reaches of the world including Teheran, Iran, Dar Es Salaam, and Sri Lanka. The theme of Baldurs work was economic development leading to better conditions for ordinary people, both at home and abroad. In Canada, this included working as Assistant Deputy Minister for the federal Department of Agriculture in Ottawa; Chairman of the Farm Credit Corporation; Chairman of the Manitoba Milk Control Board in Winnipeg, and Economic Advisor to the Premier, Edward Schreyer. The other driving force in Baldurs life was family. He spent time every year at his cottage in Gimli, deriving much joy from picking raspberries, discussing life with his brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren, and playing his fiddle. He and Helen retired to White Rock, B.C., and spent many happy years together before her unfortunate death due to Alzheimers. Although robust until recently, a series of health problems in the last year caused him to return home to Gimli. There he received wonderful care by Dr. Chapnick and the staff at Johnson Memorial Hospital. He will be sorely missed and remembered with great love by his children and grandchildren, and his family and friends. A memorial service will be held at the Gimli Unitarian Church on 2nd Avenue in Gimli at 4:30 p.m., Friday, May 4. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Community Health Centre at Gimli.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 01, 2001