GUDRUN HELGA JULIA SIGURDSON

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GUDRUN HELGA JULIA SIGURDSON

Gudrun Helga Julia Sigurdson, born July 7, 1920, passed away peacefully in Lundar, Manitoba, on July 31, 2026, shortly after celebrating her 106th birthday. A lifelong artist, historian, community leader, and devoted family matriarch, Helga helped preserve the story of Lundar and Manitoba’s Icelandic community while shaping the lives and memories of generations around her.

Her pioneer parents, Sigurdur Danielson Holm and Sigridur Gudny Borgfjord Holm, came from Iceland and settled on the family homestead in the Lundar District. Helga trained as a nurse at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, but rheumatic fever forced her to return to Lundar for months of bed rest. Though that illness changed the course of her life, the medical knowledge she gained remained with her and helped her care for others throughout her life.

Helga married Johann Straumfjord Sigurdson on October 31, 1942; he predeceased her on November 3, 1985. Together, they raised four children in a home that valued education, service, and achievement, with all four earning university degrees and two completing PhDs.

She is lovingly remembered by four living generations. Her children are Linda Collette (deceased), Dr. Sandra Heidrick (Dr. Ted, deceased), Johann Sigurdson (Joanne), and Dr. Lorenz Sigurdson (Shauna). Her grandchildren are David Collette, Dr. Deidre Collette, Theodore Johann Heidrick, Dr. Elizabeth Thompson, Kristjan Heidrick, Johann Sigurdson, Solvin Sigurdson, and Hanna Sigurdson. Her great-grandchildren are Mackenzie, Greer, Feanor, Lorien, Arien, Alexander, Julia, Tyr, Tyme, Taze, True, Lilja, and Kjartan. Her great-great-granddaughters are Harper and Hazel.

Among Helga’s most enduring contributions was her work on Wagons to Wings, the 784-page history of Lundar and district’s first one hundred years. Created in the pre-computer era with two other dedicated women, the book reflected Helga’s vision and persistence: she named it, sketched the cover, arranged the material, edited the stories, and proofread the work over five years. Through that effort, she helped ensure that families and descendants could understand the lives, labour, and heritage of those who came before them.

Helga and Johann were deeply involved in the civic and cultural life of Lundar. Helga served as president of the Women’s Section of the Agricultural Society and was a director for more than fifty years. She also contributed as a 4-H sewing instructor, Seniors’ Resource Council member, New Horizon member, Care Home Guild charter president, 20-year Senior Citizen Co-op Board member, Museum Board founding member, and participant in major community celebrations and heritage initiatives, including Holmgardur Heritage Park, the Sundial, the Prairie Dog Central reception, the Diamond Jubilee, and Lundar’s 1987 Centennial.

Her leadership extended across Manitoba’s Icelandic community. She was honoured as the sixty-fifth Fjallkona, or Maid of the Mountain, at the ninety-ninth Icelandic Festival at Gimli in 1988. She was a member of the Icelandic National League of North America for more than seventy years, served on its board, led the INL of NA Lundar Chapter for fifteen years, and contributed to the Lögberg-Heimskringla newspaper board and to Woods and Water Association Cavalcade receptions in Lundar for more than twenty years.

Helga’s instinct for service continued well into later life. She proudly joined the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter IODE at age ninety and resigned from the Guild at age ninety-nine.

An artist throughout her life, Helga was especially accomplished as a ceramicist. She won many awards, including the Athena Award from the Ceramic Art Association of Manitoba, and became a certified ceramic teacher for both seniors and school students. Her ceramic Canada Goose pairs travelled widely, including to Bessastaðir, the residence of Iceland’s president, and were presented as the annual trophy at the All Canada Goose Shoot first held in Lundar.

Her artistry also became part of the community’s public memory. She designed the Lundar Centennial plate and pins, painted Lutheran Church confirmation cups for thirty years, and made ceramic lambs for the Fair Baby Show for more than twenty years.

In 1947, she and her father created and painted the dragon head and tail for a parade boat on which she and Johann portrayed Viking Age figures. Later in life, with her sister Lilja, she sewed and created national-dress dolls representing Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, and Manitoba, completing twenty-six in total.

In 2021, at one hundred years old, Helga was named a recipient of the Manitoba 150 Award, and her name was read into the record of the Manitoba Legislature. The Nellie McClung Foundation also recognized her among its 150 Manitoba trailblazers.

Helga lived a full and remarkable life, but her greatest legacy was the example she set. She met her century with immense strength, courage, generosity, humour, creativity, elegance, and devotion to family and community. An honoured citizen of Manitoba and Canada, she had an adventurous nature and travelled the world. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and matriarch who leaves a legacy of warmth, wit, beauty, and grace that will inspire her family and community for generations.

Her funeral will be announced at a later date. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations may be made to the Johann and Helga Sigurdson Scholarship Fund, the Gratitude Endowment Fund for the Lundar Personal Care Home Staff, the Lundar Foundation or to a charity of your choice. The family thanks the Lundar Personal Care Home for their years of loving care.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 22, 2026