GILBERT WILLIAM EDWARD NORDIN

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GILBERT WILLIAM EDWARD NORDIN At dawn, on December 29, 2003, Gilbert (Gibb) William Edward Nordin died peacefully after a lengthy, courageous and difficult struggle with cancer. Loving hands were there to hold him, loving voices were there to sooth him and many were thinking of him in his last few days. Gibb was predeceased by his parents, Gilbert and Kathleen Nordin. He is survived by his wife and true partner Valerie Hoshizaki-Nordin; along with his three much loved daughters, Sayla, Hilary and Mylee. His brother Tom, niece Lisa and nephew Andrew of Thunder Bay, as well as the McGimpsey and Hoshizaki families are also left to mourn. All those who knew him will feel the loss of a truly good friend. Gibb was born in Winnipeg on September 22, 1944 and after travelling around with a hockey player father, his family settled down in Dryden, ON in 1949. He received his education there, going on later to study at the University of Winnipeg and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. He was a teacher by profession, teaching in the Arctic for two years and many years in the Assiniboine South School Division, but was a student and teacher all his life. He was a prolific reader and writer who loved words, both their possibilities and power, and never used words to harm or exclude others but instead to build connections with people and create an inclusive language. He could speak with anyone and valued the various ways of experiencing the world whether it was through the eyes of a child, an animal, another person or a good book. As a father, Gibb parented gently with love and met the various special needs of his daughters with profound awareness and respect. He had an unbelievable partnership with his wife, complimenting each other well because of their deep appreciation for one another. Indeed, one of his many strengths was appreciating people not in spite of their differences but because of them. He had a unique and special relationship with each one of his aunts and uncles that he cherished deeply. It was with the individual that he created the relationship, whether it was with a brother or sister-in-law, niece or nephew or cousin. He had numerous friends that he loved sharing time with on the golf course, around campfires, at school, any chance he could get. He often loved retelling the stories, sometimes was barely able to get the words out due to laughing so hard. Gibb appreciated the simple things in life, time spent with family and friends laughing and sharing together, a nice day on a fishing boat or at the Folk Festival, learning something new, a nice back scratch, a good song and a dog by his feet. He had beautiful clear blue eyes and a contagious laugh that will be missed. He and his family were grateful for all the care he received at CancerCare Manitoba and on GD6 at the Health Sciences Centre. If desired, donations can be made to CancerCare that will be earmarked for the Resource Centre. A service to celebrate his life and mourn our loss will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2004 at Westwood Community Church, 401 Westwood Dr. The world shall perish not for lack of wonders, but for lack of wonder. - J.B.S. Haldene

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 02, 2004