Obituary of Gordon Simonson

Gordon Harold Simonson of Camrose Alberta passed away on Sunday January 1, 2017 at the age of 94 years. Gordon was born on August 26th, 1922 in Edmonton and was the fourth of nine children born to pioneer farmers Oscar and Hilda Simonson - five boys and four girls. They lived on a farm two miles NE of Kingman. Gordon left the farm when he was 18 years old and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force where he was until the end of the Second World War. He was stationed on Prince Edward Island and was scheduled to leave for the battle fields in Europe when the war ended in 1945. At the end of the war he briefly trained with the RCMP and then started working for the Canadian National Railway as a conductor. During this period, he met Ruth Johnson and they married in April, 1947 and together they raised three children. Gordon and Ruth initially lived in Edmonton and then in 1952 they decided to go farming. They moved to the Albonas Johnson farm seven miles west of Kingman. Albonas was Ruth's stepfather and Albonas had homesteaded the farm in the 1920's. Gordon and Ruth's life revolved around the farm but Gordon always took time to enjoy sports for himself and with his children. Gordon initially played hardball for Kingman, then transferred to the Miquelon softball team where he played against his son Bryan. After his playing days, he coached several ball team but is best known in the sporting community as an umpire. If you played ball in the Kingman/Hay Lakes area in the 1980's, you probably remember Gordon for his loud voice and no-nonsense umping. When Gordon decided to retire from farming in 1986, he rented his land to son-in-law Blaine Rosland but continued to live on the farm. It was then that Gordon's love for nature flourished and he manicured his yard so that it was like a park. He had the time, energy and passion to plant more trees, cut the grass, rake the leaves, feed the squirrels and birds, and prune the trees. Gordon also had another passion when he retired, and that was to go to Camrose and have coffee with the "coffee group" - and this sometimes happened more than once a day. In 2004 Ruth's health was failing and they decided to sell the farm to their grandson Shane and son-in-law Blaine Rosland. They moved to Camrose and lived in a senior's apartment for five years and then moved to the Stoney Creek Lodge where Ruth could get more help. Ruth passed away in 2010. Gordon moved to the Louise Jensen Care Facility in 2014. Gordon is survived and lovingly remembered by his family of three children, ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, three sisters, many nieces, nephews and in-laws, plus his many friends. His children include Bryan (Linda) Simonson, Brenda (Blaine) Rosland and Robin Simonson. His grandchildren include Kari (Chris Robertson) Simonson, Kelly (Livio Porcellato) Simonson, Shane Rosland, Heather (Ryan) Lapp, Cameron Samoisette, Jesselee Beauparlant, Robert, Greg and Paul Raynor and Shalyn Sabine. His great-grandchildren include Seth and Norah Robertson, William Star and Terry Anne Lapp. His sisters include Alvina Louch, Helen (Doug) Webb and Bernadine (Ed) Glandsman. Gordon was predeceased by his wife Ruth Simonson, daughter Betty Gaudet, sister Verna Gawlicki and brothers Alfred, Clifford, Donald and Ken Simonson. A Funeral Service was held on Monday January 9, 2017 at 2:30 pm from the Burgar Memorial Chapel, with Rev. David Eriksson officiating. Inurnment has taken place in the Wilhelmina Cemetery (East Hay Lakes). Memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to Wilhelmina Cemetery Fund or to S.T.A.R.S.