GEORGE JACOB WILLMS

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

GEORGE JACOB WILLMS In loving memory of George (Geordie, Gord) Jacob Willms who died peacefully at his home in Aven Manor, Yellowknife, NWT on April 4, 2006 after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Geordie leaves to celebrate his life his wife Nancy (nee Sheffield); daughter Wendy (Andrew) Flood and grandchildren, Jayson and Theri; son John (Lucy) Willms and grandchildren, Charlotte and Kingsley; brothers, Don (Dorothy), Harry (Mary), Ed (Margaret) and Frank (Jane); sisters, Hildy (John) Sinclair and Irma (Bob) Dyck; stepmother Nina (George) Willms; stepsisters, Fran (Bob) Loewen and Joyce (Henry) Klassen; numerous nieces and nephews from the Willms family and brothers-in-law, sisters-in law, nieces and nephews from the Sheffield family, and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, George and Kathrina (Bergman) Willms and brother Herb. Geordie was born February 14, 1935 in the Municipality of Daly near Alexander, MB. The family subsequently moved to a farm near Forrest, and Geordie attended Gourlay School until grade 8, when he moved to Winnipeg and attended high school at the Mennonite Brethren Collegiate. Upon graduation he obtained a teacher's certificate and taught school at Poplar River and Big Black River in northern Manitoba, spending summers in the commercial fishery on Lake Winnipeg. This was the beginning of his life-long love affair with the north and fishing. In 1956 Geordie went to work for the CNR on a section gang at Hudson, ON where he met Llyn (Margaret Llewellyn) Wren. They were married in 1962 in Sioux Lookout and had two children, Wendy Mae and Albert John. Geordie then worked as a signal maintainer in Hudson, Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay until 1976. He moved his family to Winnipeg where he finished his 37 year career with the CNR as a signal technician, retiring in 1993. Geordie met Nancy Sheffield in 1990, and they were married September 7, 1991 in Swan Lake, MB. In 1993 they bought a 20 acre hobby farm near St. Pierre-Jolys, where Nancy still resides. Geordie was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1995 and, in failing health, he moved to Yellowknife in 1998 to be near daughter Wendy and beloved grandchildren Jayson and Theri. Geordie remained in the family home until he moved into Aven Manor in the spring of 2002. In April 2002 Geordie made a final trip to Manitoba to visit family and friends, and in October 2003 he and Nancy had a final holiday trip through the Rockies. An avid fisherman, Geordie loved the outdoors and roughing it in the bush. He was a great cook, best remembered for his perogies, zwieback (known as knobby buns to some of his nieces and nephews), home-made noodles and pluma mous (fruit soup). Geordie will be remembered for his generous nature and easy trust and acceptance of others, sometimes stubborn about his own opinion, but respectful of the opinions of others. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. At Geordie's request, a wake was held in Yellowknife on April 7 at the home of his daughter Wendy, and a memorial service of remembrance and celebration was held at Aven Manor on April 11, 2006. A memorial service will be held in the United Church in Swan Lake, MB at 2:00 p.m. on April 22, 2006. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in support of the Winnipeg Food Bank, the Salvation Army, or other charity of choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 15, 2006