OLAFUR PALL SIGURDSON

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OLAFUR PALL SIGURDSON OLI (1925 - 2004) Olafur Sigurdson, known by all as Oli passed away on October 30, 2004 at the Arborg Hospital. He is survived and missed by his brother Sveinn (Frances) his sisters, Borga Jakobson and Vigdis Bauernhuber (Joe) his many nephews and nieces and their children, and by many cousins, neighbours and friends. Oli was predeceased by his wife, Benny; parents, Kristjon and Indiana Sigurdson; brother-in-law, Dr. Bjarki Jakobson; nephew, Gestur Jakobson and niece, Ingrid Bauernhuber. Olis home throughout his life was his fathers homestead farm, known as Helluland, in the Geysir district, near Arborg. He attended Laufas School and farmed with his father and his younger brother. As a young man, he attended Folk Schools, conducted by the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture and Co-operation (MFAC). These short courses inspired a life-time dedication to the co-operative movement. The Folk Schools also provided skills training and an opportunity to establish friendships with like-minded people. Oli was an avid reader and, in many respects, in the Icelandic tradition, he was a self-educated man. He took an active role in many related organizations. He was president of the Geysir Community Club from 1948-1959. He served as President of the Arborg Consumers Co-op Association for many years. He was a founding member of the Arborg Credit Union. This was the beginning of years of work on a broader scale. In 1955, he became a director of the Co-operative Credit Society of Manitoba. He later became a charter member of the Credit Union League of Manitoba, and then a National Director of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). In 1977, he was elected to the Board of the Credit Union Central. From 1970-1978, Oli served on the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Board. Later, he worked with the Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation. This active involvement in public life was made possible by the support of his family, particularly his brother, Sveinn. Oli was dedicated to the farm and took a consistent attitude to all the organizations that he belonged to. He had a definite philosophy of life. When he put his hand to the plough he was not easily deterred. In 1980, at the age of 55, Oli married Benny (Gudrun Benjaminson France). They had many common interests and loved to travel. The years of their marriage, before Bennys sudden death in 1993, were the happiest of his life. The family would like to thank the staff of the Arborg and Concordia Hospitals, who cared for Oli in his last month. Special thanks to Dr. Weinberg of Concordia ICU and Drs. Greyvenstein and Matakinka of Arborg Hospital. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 4, at the Arborg Unitarian Church, with Rev. Stefan Jonasson officiating. A lunch will follow at the Geysir Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in Olis memory, to the Arborg Unitarian Church or to CancerCare Manitoba, P.O. Box 2248, Winnipeg, R3C 4A6. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 02, 2004