GORDON W. PALER

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GORDON W. PALER An Officer and a Gentleman On March 29, 2014, Gordon William Paler, most dearly beloved husband of Carla Paler, passed away. He is lovingly remembered by his two sons Scott and Bryan, stepsons Rhodes and Noel, stepdaughter Mya, brother Jim, and sister Joyce. Born in 1938 to Sidney and Emma Paler in Minnedosa, Manitoba, Gordon, or "Gord" to many of his friends, loved to fly. His career as a pilot began early when he joined the RCAF at age eighteen. He quickly advanced to flying the CF100 as a fighter pilot, notably with the 416th squadron out of St. Hubert, Quebec. His exacting talent was soon recognized and he moved on to become a flight instructor. Following that, Gordon served two tours as part of a United Nations operation flying the Caribou throughout the Middle East. While with Air Force, Gordon met and married his first wife Judy. A few years later, their first son Scott was born, and their second, Bryan followed in another few years. In 1965, Gordon joined Air Canada, moving to his new base in Winnipeg. Over the years he flew the Viscount, DC9, B727, DC8 and B747. He worked diligently for the pilots' union, participating in contract negotiations and as a prime architect of insurance and pension benefits enjoyed by thousands of Canadian pilots. Gordon was highly respected among his colleagues, and over the years he acted as a mentor to many junior pilots, guiding them through the final stages of their ascension to the rank of Captain. Gordon had a deep love of all things living. Notably, his gentle temperament was an ideal fit for working with dogs. As a breeder of champion Samoyeds, Gordon had a long time involvement with the Winnipeg branch of the Canadian Kennel Club and served five years as Chairman of the Manitoba Veterinary Board. In 1988, Gordon married his second wife, Carla, and moved to live with her in Wildwood Park. He soon became an admired, second father to Rhodes, Noel and Mya. Later, Gordon and Carla moved to a cherished retreat on Vancouver Island. In July of 1998, Gordon flew his final flight, culminating a career spanning forty years and over 21,000 hours in the air. In retirement, Gordon and Carla were rarely apart. They developed deep ties to their wonderful home on Quennell Lake, and made many dear friends in the Nanaimo area. A reception will be held in Yellowpoint, BC on Sunday, April 6, 2014 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Friends and family are invited to come together to remember Gordon. In lieu of flowers, donations to either the Canadian Cancer Society or the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) are warmly appreciated.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 04, 2014