Obituary of Gordon Wesley Andrew Gress

Watch recorded version of the service at https://www.ustream.tv/embed/recorded/120199299?html5ui

At home with his family and Buddy by his side, Gord passed away peacefully at the age of 68 after nearly 14 years of hard fought battles with cancer. Born June 23, 1950 to Peter and Ethel Gress, Gord grew up in Viscount until he finished high school and moved to Saskatoon to continue his education at Kelsey completing courses in auto body and motor vehicle mechanics, achieving his Journeyman’s Ticket in heavy duty repair. He worked in auto body shops  in Saskatoon and garages in Viscount from 1968-1974. It was while living in Saskatoon that Gord met his Earth Angel and one true love, Joan Elizabeth Wood. Married in July 1973, Gord and Joan created their life together in Viscount, where they lived until moving to Saskatoon in July 2016. In 1974 Gord started working at the Potash Mine in Colonsay and they began their journey together as parents. A hardworking, committed community man – Gord was proud of his roots and his hometown. He held chairs at the Elks Lodge, was active on town council, acting deputy mayor, worked on committees which set up local fire association, road ambulance association and home care. One of the original 1979 charter members and long serving member and Fire Chief of the Viscount Volunteer Fire Department. A hockey coach, ringette Dad, ice scraper, fundraiser, carpooler, Zamboni driver, golf course designer, developer, maintainer (and yes, user). A dedicated family man committed to safety and enjoying the ‘good stuff’ in life. And while there were struggles and pain, there was lots and lots of good stuff. Gord loved spending time with friends, old and new – from childhood buddies to anyone who moved to town and was lucky enough to be a neighbor/co-worker/community member. Many wonderful nights around the firepit in the beautiful back yard that he and Joan worked on for so many years and created together as a place for all to come together and eat, laugh, drink and be merry. His most cherished and adored grandchildren were his pride and joy. Priorities and schedules soon shifted to revolve around spending as much time as he and Joan possibly could with all five of their grandchildren. Once moving to Saskatoon, Gord’s greatest delight was how much more time he was able to spend with each and every one of them. Visits, sleepovers, shopping trips to ‘the Market’, attending school concerts, football, hockey, soccer, ringette and anything that he could make it to even though his health was failing and his struggles were great. Left to mourn Gord’s passing and celebrate his life is his wife Joan, their children Christie (Marty) Topping their children Meg, Owen and Ty, Kelly (Jolene) and Jody (Corinne) and their children Ben and Stella, his sister Joanne (Gerry) Clipperton and his best friend, therapist, caregiver, soul soother and secret keeper – Buddy. Two wonderful sister in laws, Anne Wood and Linda (Elmer) Kinzel and their children Corey (Nicole) and their daughter Lauren, and Sandy Kinzel, as well as many cherished and dear friends and cousins. Gord was welcomed into heaven by many loved ones who had already made their journey there - parents Peter and Ethel Gress and infant younger brother Allan, his mother in law Bessie Wood, Father and Mother in Law Bob and Polly Wood and many other dear relatives and friends.  Special thanks to all who provided care and support to Gord and his family during his long and difficult battles. A Celebration of Life for Gord who touched the lives of so many will be held Saturday, February 16th at Saskatoon Funeral Home at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Saskatoon Cancer Centre, 20 Campus Drive Saskatoon, SK. S7N 4H4 or to the Saskatoon Prairie Hospice Society 716 Queen St, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 0M9.