GORDON WILLIAM MCDOUGALL

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GORDON WILLIAM MCDOUGALL After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Gordon peacefully passed away at the Lakeshore General Hospital in Ashern, MB at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2010. Gordon was 67 years of age. He is survived by his loving wife, Gwen; son Bill and daughter-in-law Patti; grandsons Matthew and Samuel; brothers, Ron (Beatrice), David (Judy), Harold, and sister Carole; five nieces and nephews; five great-nieces and nephews along with many in-laws. Gordon was predeceased by his father Donald and mother Gwen; father-in-law and mother-in-law Adam and Esther Busch and his much loved sister-in-law Carla. Gordon was born in Winnipeg on April 15, 1943 and grew up on the farm in the Ralph Connor District. He attended Ralph Connor School and Ashern Central High School. He spent three years on Lake Winnipeg working with the Fisheries Enforcement Branch. In 1966, he married Gwen and moved to Winnipeg to apprentice in the electrical industry where he worked for nine years. They moved back to Ashern in 1975 and owned and operated an electrical contracting business until 1987. After selling the business, he had a full time commercial fishing license for the winter and spent the summers at the cabin at Lake Manitoba Narrows where he loved to relax and enjoy sport fishing. It was always a place often visited by friends and family, sharing stories and laughter and simply the company of each other which pleased him so much. Gord became very active in the fishing industry. He was involved in the Ashern Fisheries Co-op from its inception and helped build the fish shed in Ashern. He was a Director on the Board and held the position of President from 1990 to 2001. He was also a member on the Advisory Board to the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp from 1992 to 1998 and became a Director on the Board in 1996. He maintained this position until his passing. He was also a Director for the Lake Manitoba Commercial Fisheries Association from 1998 to 2007. In 1998 he returned to work at electrical contracting, especially at various First Nation communities in the north. He made many good friends there during this time. Gord was an avid big game hunter. He had many trophy horns, but his main objective was to put meat in the freezer. He had a unique strategy for cutting and wrapping the meat. Without fail, just as we would start, he would get an emergency call to do some electrical repairs that always lasted until the meat was in the freezer. Gord loved to fly his plane in the spring and fall and could be seen flying above the area several times a week. He often volunteered many hours looking for lost horses, cattle, dogs, and people and flew for the fun and relaxation. He especially loved to take young children up for their first flight and every time was amazed at their expressions. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, he decided to make peace with the Lord and joined the Ashern United Church. He spent many hours reading the bible and loved to discuss it with friends. He became a winter Texan for two years and, the last year there, bought a trailer in Weslaco. Unfortunately he never got to spend any time in his own place as he wasn't able to travel the following winter. Gord married Gwen in 1966 and raised one son Bill in Ashern. When Bill graduated from high school, Gord declared he was never going to another graduation. Five years later, they attended Bill's graduation from the Brandon University and followed with Bill's graduation in Regina with the R.C.M.P. in 2001. Gord was extremely proud of Bill becoming an R.C.M.P. member. His pride grew as he shared and celebrated Bill's marriage to such a beautiful daughter-in-law Patti. The icing on the cake for him was the arrival of his two grandsons Matthew and Samuel. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 29, 2010 at the Ashern Centennial Hall with Melanie Kauppila officiating. Interment to follow in the Ashern United Churchyard Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ashern United Church, c/o Carole McDougall, P.O. Box 248, Ashern, MB or to the Lakeshore Hospital Guild For use in the Palliative Care Unit , c/o Julie Bergner, P.O. Box 721, Ashern, MB R0C 0E0 or to a charity of one's choice. ARNASON FUNERAL HOME Ashern - Lundar 1-204-768-2072 1-866-323-3593

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 27, 2010