GORDON STANCLIFFE WHEATON

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GORDON STANCLIFFE WHEATON As was his way, in the early morning of Monday, September 25, 2017, as not to cause a fuss or inconvenience anyone, Gordon handed in his key to the front desk at the St. Boniface Hospital and checked out of his worldly room. He left, all paid up and heading to his next great adventure. He was 67. Gordon never learned to drive a car so we sincerely hope he got on the right bus. "67 Straight to Heaven". Gordon died from complications resulting from six decades of listening to too much blues, drinking too much gin, rolling them too big and basically doing things his way. Colon cancer did play a minor role in his demise. He was predeceased by both his parents and recently his brother Max Wheaton, and too many friends to mention. Gord was the guy who gave all the girls in his class a Valentine. He had his favourites (you know who you are) but he truly loved them all. The result was Gord never married and had no offspring that he was aware of. He is survived by his sister-in-law Lise Villeneuve who loved and cared for him deeply and always. Let's not forget Arthur and Lucy his beloved cat kids. Gord always had cats. Gord disliked working for a living but he seldom missed a day on the job. He could be relied on and trusted. Whether he was working for the city in Water Works, washing windows for Max Wilde or making sure the heat was on and the lights turned off at Portage Place he was out there, earning a living, listening to the Blues and making friends. Lifelong friends. During the late 1960s while still very much a kid, Gord was a permanent fixture at the Head Shop on Osborne or at Memorial Park. His long bushy hair, top hat and bare feet earned him the nickname "The Hobbit". While it was given to him by friends and meant as a term of endearment, he died hating that moniker. Enough said. We would like to thank not only those that cared for Gord when he was sick and dying (you know who you are) but more the friends who helped along his journey of life; the school friends, the Head Shop friends, the Pool Hall friends, the work friends, the family friends, the friends from the Zoo, the Blues Fest friends, the Facebook friends, the spouses of friends and the friends of friends (you all know who you are). These are the people who helped shape Gordon (Hobbit) Wheaton into the kind, caring, generous and compassionate man he was. Also big thanks to the Blues. They made him so happy. The End! There will be an informal celebration of Gord's life at the Windsor Hotel Saturday, October 7 anytime after 2:00 p.m., to raise a glass and remember. A more formal party will be on November 11 at the Riverview Community Centre, 90 Ashland, 7:00 p.m. John Primer and the REAL DEAL BLUES BAND from Chicago will perform. The blues will flow, we hope you'll go. In lieu of flowers, please complete a kind gesture for someone less fortunate than you at your earliest opportunity. Thank you to Bruce Geske for scripting the obituary. Bardal Funeral Home 843 Sherbrook Street, 204-774-7474 Condolences: www.bardal.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 30, 2017