SVEINN JOHANNES SIGURDSON -

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SVEINN JOHANNES SIGURDSON 1934 - 2011 It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at the Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, at the age of 77 years. Sveinn is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Frances, and four daughters and their families, all of whom he so dearly loved - Marlene Prystupa, Anton and Austin; Crystal (Dale) Hawerchuk, Eric, Alexis and Benjamin; Holly Mitchell, Levi, Jedidiah, Justice and Shaddai; and Lucy (Ian) Pumphrey, Isaac and Indiana; two sisters, Borga Jakobson and Vigdis (Joe) Bauernhuber, and their families; his mother-in-law, Rose Beaudry; one aunt, Sigurbjörg Sveinsd ttir, in Iceland; many more relatives there, and a great many cousins and friends here in Canada. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Kristj n and Ind ana, brother lafur and sister-in-law Gu r n (Bennie), father-in-law, Elias Sobkowich, son-in-law, Kim Mitchell, brother-in-law, Bjarki Jakobson, nephew, Gestur Jakobson, niece, Ingrid Bauernhuber and niece's husband, Gunnar Valdimarsson. Sveinn was born February 12, 1934 on the family homestead farm, Helluland, in the Geysir district, near árborg, MB. He lived there all his life, in a place he truly loved to be. After school, he took up farming with his father and brother, at first in dairy and later grain. He was an excellent farmer, always making wise, intelligent decisions, and he was an excellent mechanic and welder, and could repair almost any machine that broke down. In the late 1980s, he retired from farming and took up helping Frances run a food service business, which they ran together for over 20 years. In 2002, they sold their business and retired to the farm in Geysir, and he took up woodworking and other interests. Sveinn was a very special person, very intelligent, very honest and well read. He was an exceptionally kind, loving, tolerant and a gentle man. He was the best husband and father ever. He had a strong work ethic. He loved to do carpentry work and always did a very professional, meticulous job on the building projects that he took on. He believed that if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing it well. He served many years on the local Pool Elevator Board of Directors. He was passionate about the principles of the New Democratic Party, the Co-operative movement and the Canadian Wheat Board. He always said he was not much of a church man, but he believed in God and that love and God were the same thing. Sveinn loved old-time fiddle music. His favourites were the Musical Mates. He loved to read by the hour, especially true stories about the Arctic. He loved to visit with old friends and family, play cards with special friends Skapti and Norma, watch the CBC News channel, talk about old times, feed and watch the wild birds in his yard, and he loved hardfish and beer. Sveinn was fluent in the Icelandic language. His mother was born in Iceland and he visited Iceland in the 1960s, and again in 2004, and truly enjoyed the country and visiting with his mother's relatives there. Sveinn's devotion to his family was boundless. He had a very special gentle caring touch, the patience of a saint, and a caring consideration for all others that was unmatchable. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Geysir Hall, in Arborg, Manitoba. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arborg Districts Personal Care Home, or the Arborg Assisted Living Centre, c/o Arborg Seniors' Resource Council, Arborg, MB R0C 0A0. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE (204) 949 2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 08, 2011