Gordon Edward Quinn

Born ~ July 2, 1950

Date of Passing ~ April 2, 2025

Gordon Edward Quinn, born July 2, 1950, passed away peacefully at his home on the family farm April 2, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Gordon attended Breadalbane School in his early years then graduated grade 12 in 1967 from Virden Collegiate Institute and began working for Manitoba Hydro. Gordon married his wife Thelma in July 1971, and they moved to Brandon Manitoba. Gordon worked for Manitoba Hydro for 38 1⁄2 years and retired from the company in 2005. Gordon and Thelma moved back onto the family farm in 1974 after Gordon’s father’s passing and Gordon worked full-time for Manitoba Hydro while farming on weekends and holidays.

Gordon took his holidays from Manitoba Hydro to seed and harvest. Gordon worked long hours making improvements to the farm and he grew the family homestead from 260 acres to farming a total of 890 acres with his son Rob with his last harvest being in the fall of 2024. Gordon could fix almost anything and was a problem solver. Gordon would sit, think and research ways to make improvements to equipment so that it worked more efficiently or ran better. Gordon always read the owner’s manual and he was meticulous about his tools, machinery and shop, everything had its place and if you borrowed something it best be returned to its spot.

Gordon’s 3 children and his grandchildren were truly his joy and greatest achievement. Gordon was their biggest cheerleader and supporter. Gordon was always involved in his children’s extracurricular activities and for years he would drive Tricia to the old Virden rink and sit in the stands and watch her do figures before heading off to work. Gordon was the coordinator for almost every hockey team that his son Rob played on making endless phone calls lining up games and tournaments for Rob’s team to play. Gordon made many trips to Winnipeg to watch Lori play volleyball with the Wesmen when she was at university.

When Gordon’s children were young, they spent time as a family camping at Riding Mountain where having a leisurely weekend at the campsite was not on the agenda. Gordon was always active and enjoyed nature, the outdoors and learning. On these family camping adventures hiking and biking were daily activities. The Quinn family has hiked every trail in the park and if it was an interpretive trail there was always a test at the end. Gordon continued these hikes with his granddaughters, and they too were subjected to tests; life-long learning was something that Gordon valued.

Supporting his children was important but his grandchildren were his greatest source of pride. Gordon sat through many Christmas concerts, musicals, dance recitals, piano recitals and he enjoyed watching his youngest grandson play hockey this past winter. Gordon was always excited to see his grandchildren and their whereabouts was usually his first question when you walked through the door.

After retirement Gordon and Thelma spent many winters in Arizona where they made many good friends and enjoyed some much-deserved rest and relaxation. Gordon would play pool, golf, enjoyed time sightseeing and visiting with friends; if Thelma wanted to shop, he was happy to go and look for a bit but always had a book to read if he was done his shopping before she was done hers. They travelled to visit their daughter, Lori, several times in Vancouver BC and Gordon completed the Grouse Grind (2.9km or 2,830 steps) in 2015 when he was 65 years old. In 2011 Gordon and Thelma spent 8 weeks travelling to Alaska with their friends, exploring the north, fishing and camping along the way. Gordon always wanted to go back but unfortunately, he did not have the chance, he always said it was the best trip he had ever been on.

Gordon did not have much idle time, but he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends when he had the time and snowmobiling when he was younger. Gordon sat on the Oil Kings Board for many years, volunteering at their games and he was part of the Salt Lake Committee and would take his turn volunteering at work bees and mowing grass when needed.

Gordon was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2019, then Covid hit, and they never had the opportunity to travel south again. They began to spend their summers at Oak Island Resort, allowing Gordon to enjoy some time camping while being close enough to head to the farm almost daily to putter around; there was always something that needed to be fixed, organized or rebuilt on the farm. Farming was always Gordon’s passion, and he was happiest on a tractor.

Gordon always stressed 3 lessons or words of advice to his children and grandchildren; work hard, look after your money, and be on time. Gordon lived a full life, a life that he was content living, he worked hard and took great care of his family until the very end. With the loss of Gordon, his family’s hearts will always have a piece missing.

Gordon leaves to mourn his wife Thelma of 53 years; his children Tricia Hayward (Brad) and their 3 daughters, Chloe Sheane (Travis), Olivia and Georgia; his son Robert and his partner Tara, and Rob’s 3 children Cadence, Derek and Reece; his youngest daughter Lori and her partner Jason; and his sister Gwen Clarke and her family. Gordon was predeceased by his parents Robert and Hilda Quinn and his sister Betty-Anne Quinn.

There will be a Celebration of Gordon’s Life at 2:00pm on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Tundra Oil & Gas Place in Virden, Manitoba. A cremation has taken place and Gordon will be laid to rest at Breadalbane Cemetery at a later date. Donations can be made in Gordon’s memory to Cancer Care Manitoba or the Salt Lake Committee.

The family would like to thank Dr. Moller, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Fashola, Virden Drugs, Charla Murray, and Christine Cross for their excellent care and comfort of Gordon.