Gordon Junior Newans aged 79 years of Moose Jaw, SK, passed away Friday, July 12th, 2024. As per Gord’s request, a Private Family Gathering was held Sunday, July 14th, 2024. Gord was born on February 6th, 1945, in Avonlea, Saskatchewan, the sixth of ten children.
Gord is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Dixie; children: Ron (Shonna) and children, Bob (Robin) and children and Penny (Chad) and children. He leaves 10 grandchildren: Jesse, Kass, Meagan, Ben, Tanner, Brennan, Paige, Jett, Savannah, and Spencer; and 10 great-grandchildren: Lennon, Ledger, Sage, Pearson, Hailey, Lincoln, Callie, Beau, Tate, and Ivory.
After retirement and the sale of their home of 45 years, Gordon took Dixie on their final trip, a train from Saskatoon, through the Rocky Mountains, to Vancouver. Together they went through Stanley Park by horse and carriage, walked the seawall, and enjoyed exploring the city.
Gord had a passion for working with his hands. He started work at a very young age. He loved all aspects of farming and building so much that he worked through the Iron Workers Union Apprenticeship Program achieving his Journeyman ticket in 1989. Gord was a force, with incredible physical strength! At times he was called the Human Crane when he would grab a steel beam and move it himself. He was excited every May long weekend —cattle branding at the Doney farm and his enthusiasm was always uplifting and something special he shared with his sons. With hands the size of baseball mitts, he was still able to calm the calves being as gentle as ever.
Gord had a mind for critical thinking and from common sense he would build things simply from the plan in his head. He achieved many accomplishments as a self-taught carpenter, completing projects in and around our neighbourhood, from concrete to garages and home additions. This talent grew to a larger scale of erecting large Quonsets for farm machinery and horse-riding arenas.
Gordon loved to surprise, and to the amusement of his wife and children, would frequently roll up with something new — a shiny new vehicle, ATVs for each of his children, and once perhaps to his own surprise, two Shetland ponies from an accidental wave to a friend at an auction.
Summers were spent travelling with his young family to Cypress Hills to meet up with his older brother and his family to camp. Gordon could be a jokester, and he and his brother would entertain their families with pranks. On one occasion, they imitated bears growling and scratched on public outhouse type washrooms to scare their wives, only to realize they had the wrong stalls and left others running out in hysterics. There were stories told and the song Tiny Bubbles sung around the campfire while pretending to have no teeth (amazing how that comes out, try it).
Gordon loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially as babies, and he loved when they popped in to visit. To observe his strong nature, turn into gentle adoration for grandkids was a reminder that he did have a soft side. We will miss those eyes as blue as the skies and a smile that lit up a room.
Gordon was a worker, something he instilled in all of us and a gift we will be forever grateful for. We will carry his words to remind us: “Always measure twice, cut once”.
We pray you are at peace, rolling through the green hills, admiring the crops.
A Private Family Service will be held to honour Gordon. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Gordon’s name may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Box 2414, Toronto, ON M4P 1E4. Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome.com
