William Gordon Pagendam

With heavy hearts, we announce that our beloved Gord passed peaceably on October 31st in Orillia at the age of 94. He was born and raised in Toronto and spent the last 24 years residing in Huntsville.

To Gord, humour was the best medicine. Incredibly bright and funny, he loved to make us all laugh. He was a strong and yet humble man, with a good hearted nature. Throughout life’s trials and challenges, Gord always chose happiness and helped all of us to do the same as well. He was the solid rock foundation of our family and had a special way of making everyone feel important, loved and protected. Gord was devoted to Joanne, his wife of 43 years, whom he greatly loved and shared his life with. Joanne often said that she had won the husband lottery. Gord loved his children deeply and was a proud, non-judgmental and supportive father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He made time for each child and surrounded us all with unconditional love. He was a cherished big brother to his siblings and a loved and respected uncle to his niece and nephews.

We knew him by so many names and in so many contexts. Gord, Dad, Daddy, Pa, Gramps, Gordy-boo, Uncle Gord– no matter how you knew him, he was the most kind and gentle soul. His family adored him: children Julia (Lea), Deb (John), Laura, Chris (Karoline) and Donna; grandchildren Krista (Shervin), Kyle (Stephanie), Jerica, Dane, Tandia (Christopher), James, Declan, Lauren and great grandchildren Adalyn, Dylan and Ellis Paul and Eve Carmichael. He also leaves his sister Audrey Dempsey and his niece and nephews. He was preceded by his brother Les (Linda).

Gord loved learning and using his knowledge and many skills to help all who asked. He had a passion for building and renovation. Gord built his first cottage from the ground up and continued renovating, fixing and improving things most of his life.

A lifelong lover of aviation – especially WW2 warplanes – he realized his dream of flying in a Spitfire over the English Channel when he was 89 years old.

Boating, being on the water or even just looking at water was a great part of the draw to Muskoka. From early days camping on Kahshe Lake, to cottaging on 3 Mile Lake and later Lake Menominee, to the house on Fairy Lake, he was never happier than on or near the water. With Gord’s interest in history and Joanne’s study into genealogy, they joked his love of water must come from his Viking ancestors.

Retired from Brewers Warehousing in 1987 where he supervised the Ontario operations of their Draught Equipment division, he and Joanne retired to Huntsville and, of course, a house on the water became a must. Participation in the Probus Club of Muskoka North, neighbourhood activities on Echo Bay Road and golfing at Deerhurst with his friends became an important part of his life.

Gord will be deeply missed by his family and the many friends he made along the way.

We would like to give special thanks to the caring staff at Champlain Manor and to the Bayshore Palliative Care team who treated Gord with such tenderness and kindness at the end.

A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Donations in Gord’s memory can be made to either Hospice Huntsville or to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.