BALDWIN ELLIS ARNASON

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BALDWIN ELLIS ARNASON It is with love and deep sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of Baldwin Arnason on February 24, 2007, a few days before his 94th Birthday. Baldwin was the patriarch of the large Arnason family of Gimli, and leaves literally hundreds of direct descendants. He was predeceased by his wife Gudrun, parents, Gudjon and Petrina Arnason and six of his siblings, Valdi (Jona), Ted (Marjorie), Frank (Marie), Laura (Julius), Margaret (Albert) and Charlie (Lorraine). Sister Bernice and brothers, Joe (Clarice) and Willie (Donna-Mae) remain to cherish his memory. He will be lovingly remembered by his children, David (Mhari), Jerry (Joan), Judy, Bruce (Olivia), Cameron (Janice), Maureen, and Donna-Lee (Neil Vadeboncoeur); by his grandchildren, Vincent (Val), Gail (Chuck), Sheri (Dave), Trevor (Wendy), Kenny (Diane), Kerri, Katherine, James (Alison), Brock, Freyja (John), Lara, Signy (Farron), Heida, Stefan, Nathan (Natalie), and Anna; by his great-grandchildren, Donovan, Shannon, Taylor, Aimee, Calvin, Ellisse, Thomas, Hanna, Jack, Morgan, Kassie, and Jovan. He will live fondly in the memories of special family friends Carol Dahlstrom, Jennifer Olito and Stefan Stefanson as well as in the memories of Baldi's 65 nieces and nephews, and their 119 children, 31 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Baldwin also will be remembered by the members of the extended Arnason family, whom he always regarded as part of the family . His wife's family, the Anderson clan was of great importance to Baldi and their love and respect for him was ever-present. Countless friends and acquaintances developed through a long and varied life dedicated to work and family will also remember Baldi at this time. Baldwin was the eldest of ten siblings born to a pioneering family in Gimli and grew up at Espiholi, the family farm. Here he worked the farm, but quickly exercised his entrepreneurial spirit. As a young man he farmed and fished, raised foxes, and ran a strawberry farm. He was expert in Icelandic glima (wrestling), and boxed, played hockey and danced at Minerva Hall. In later years he found time for curling and hunting. He met Runa Anderson, the love of his life when she came to Gimli to work for a man known as old Bookbinder and then at the Betel Nursing Home. He saw her walking to the post office just after she had arrived in Gimli and he said to himself, that girl will be my wife . She agreed and they spent a lifetime together raising seven children. When Runa died in 1992 it left a huge void in his life. He missed her deeply and thought about her every day. In his final hours his thoughts were of her. Baldi had a very special bond with his brother Joe and they remained as inextricably connected as a set of twins throughout their lives. He fished with Joe and with his good friend Humphrey Olson, though he claimed to be seasick every time he went on the lake. He gave up fishing with relief and started Arnason Motors with brother Joe. They sold Kaisers and Frazers and Henry J's and later modern automobiles. He worked with his brothers for most of his life. They went prospecting for uranium in Northern Ontario but without much luck. They worked together wiring houses and farms across Manitoba, during the great period of Rural Electrification in the late forties. They started Arnason Furniture and served the town of Gimli for years. They developed Willow Island as a tourist resort and later as a housing development. They started Arnason Construction and put waterworks into towns and reserves across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northern Ontario. Baldi was deeply involved in these and about a dozen other family enterprises. Although he was the boss on construction sites, Baldi would frequently grab a spade and jump in with his crew. He never expected his men to do a job he wouldn't do himself. He was a great problem-solver and there was no difficulty in the construction field for which his practical mind could not find a solution. Baldi was a strong man in every sense of the word. He served as an anchor and a moral beacon to his huge extended family. He was a man of amazing talents, immense decency, and profound generosity. He instilled in all his children the value that to give freely without expecting thanks or acknowledgement is the truest form of giving. He was a truly wonderful father, who always put the needs of his family ahead of his own. He was as fine a father as ever walked the earth. He raised his children with love and gentleness, and he was a father to many other people who needed or wanted one. He could always be counted on to be understanding, forgiving and kind. He believed in the value and power of education, and he encouraged all his children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces to be the best they could be. He loved small children and they loved him. Baldi lived a long, good life, and he died as he wanted, peacefully in the arms of his family. We mourn his death but we celebrate a life lived honestly and passionately. The world needs more men like him. A memorial Celebration of Life will be held at the Pelican Beach Lighthouse Facility in Gimli, Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. The family thanks the medical and caring professionals at the Gimli Hospital and at the Betel Home for their help to Dad and for their ability to provide it with the same kind of respect and admiration that we all felt for Baldi. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gimli Betel Home, or to Evergreen Basic Needs would honour the care and kindness that Baldi spent his life giving to others. Funeral arrangements by Neil Bardal Inc.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 01, 2007