WILBUR JACOB JONSSON

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WILBUR JACOB JONSSON
September 18, 1936 – November 5, 2022

It is with great sadness that we announce that Wilbur Jónsson passed away peacefully, with family and friends at his side, in Montréal after a brief illness at the age of 86.
Wilbur was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 18, 1936 to Kristin Jónsson and Jacob Jacobson of Gimli, Manitoba. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Winnipeg where he grew up together with his closest cousins, Brian Isfeld and Patricia McKenzie (nee Isfeld), a few years his junior. The relationship between the three cousins grew and provided all with great memories over many decades until Brian's passing in 2008 and Patricia's in 2015.
After finishing high school in Winnipeg, Wilbur attended the University of Manitoba, earning both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Mathematics. During this time, he was a proud member of the University of Manitoba's team which competed in the prestigious Putnam Mathematical Competition, placing fourth overall. He then travelled to Germany and earned his PhD from Eberhard-Karls-Universität in Tübingen, Germany in 1963.
After a brief time lecturing in the UK, Wilbur became a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at McGill University in Montreal, where he taught for close to 50 years. He was very proud of the exploits of students, colleagues, and friends - recent and past - and regaled all who would listen with their exploits, including one former classmate who was recently awarded a Nobel Prize and one colleague who became President of Latvia.
Wilbur will be remembered for sharing his love of fine food, wine, port, rare maps, stamps and books, as well as the many relationships he fostered across the world. While his degree was in Mathematics, he was an avid reader and conversant on almost every subject in multiple languages.
Wilbur loved travel, spending every summer in London, England, with regular stopovers in Iceland and Europe to meet family and friends. While regular travel had become too difficult over the past few years, Wilbur made a point of keeping in touch via telephone.
He was very generous with those around him and left an indelible impression on his extended Jeanne-Mance family over the last five decades. Wilbur appreciated greatly how that same community supported him over the past few years.
Wilbur was very proud of the accomplishments of the younger generation of family and friends and would always be ready with a new photo or article documenting their latest exploits for his visitors.
Wilbur will be greatly missed by family he left behind in Iceland, Montreal and Winnipeg - especially David Jacobson (Marlis) and Donald McKenzie (Lee Ann) in Winnipeg, Leigh Isfeld (Judy) in Edmonton and Cameron McKenzie (Cendra) in Montreal and their children.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Center and the Montreal General Hospital for their wonderful care and devotion.
At Wilbur's request, no formal funeral service will take place. A family gathering will be held at a later date as well as a Celebration of Life.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Center or the Montreal General Hospital Foundation in memory of Wilbur would be appreciated.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 12, 2022