Mr. Gordon Samuel Schelske

Gordon passed away at the age of 85 years on October 13th 2024 at the Bassano Health Centre, after a brief but brave battle with cancer. Born to Dutch and Esther Schelske on June 18 1939 at the Bassano Hospital, he grew up on the family farm west of Bassano with his siblings, until marrying Maureen in September 1961 and moving into town. Gordon and Maureen welcomed Pamela Dawn and Catheryn Ann into the family in 1962 and 1965. After initially thinking they’d like six children, they quickly decided two would do just fine.

He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Bobby and Glen. Having just celebrated their 63rd Wedding Anniversary, he is survived by his loving Wife, Maureen, devoted Daughters Pamela (Lawrence) and Catheryn (Simon), Granddaughters Cayleigh (Nathan) and Elise; Sisters Connie Cousins, Shirley Harbidge, Joanne Morcom; Sister-in-Law Judy Schelske; Sister in Law Avis Gee; Sister-in-Law Joyce Barr; Brother-in-Law Ralph Gee; Sister-in-Law Debbie Gee; Brother-in-Law Andrew (Val) Gee; Brother-in-Law Peter (Nancy) Gee; Sister-in-Law Jackie (Keith) Kinney; Brother-in-Law Ben (Christina) Gee and numerous Nieces and Nephews.

Gordon truly enjoyed the outdoors in the company of family and friends, hunting, fishing and camping. Gordon and Maureen introduced the Girls to camping all through the Rockies at an early age. All the family enjoyed it when Gordon would go hunting for a week in the winter with his pals. Gordon, well, because he was hunting, and Maureen and the Girls, because they got to eat pancakes and bacon for supper! Lawrence often joined Gordon for shorter hunting trips, bringing home deer, antelope or waterfowl if they were lucky enough to be drawn for a tag that year. Gordon had a favourite hunting rifle he nick-named ‘Meat in the Pot’ as it provided their young family with meat for the winter back in the day. He loved nothing more than spending a sunny winter Sunday out ice fishing, with two very memorable trips. He and Lawrence once came across a lonely coyote out on Crawling Valley and decided to give chase in Gordon’s Jeep. Well, of course the coyote had much better traction on the ice than they did, but it didn’t stop the pair of them giggling like little boys trying to catch up to it! Next was when his Son-in-Law Simon joined the family on the ice the first time. Not being from Canada, this was a very foreign experience for him and he thought it was not natural for people to be driving on water, even it if was frozen! Gordon even had a go at golfing for a bit, cutting nine holes in their lawn for putting practice, but really his strength was for driving that ball far!

Gordon had an aptitude for mechanics, having taken apart nearly everything he got his young hands on at the farm, and he spent much of his working life in this trade. In later years, he turned his hand to other skills as well. He had a solid group of peers and spent much of his leisure time camping and fishing in their company, but often enjoyed solitary drives out in the surrounding countryside. He possessed a great sense of humour and an infectious smile and laugh that he shared freely with his loved ones.

It was Gordon’s wish that his family hold no funeral service, however, if Family and Friends would like to drive out into the country and appreciate the beauty of Southern Alberta to feel closer to their God, that would be fine too. His Family request that Memorials be in the form of donations to the Bassano Health Foundation for Palliative Care, as they took such compassionate care of Gordon during his illness, or to a charity of personal choice.

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