Obituary of Ellery Thorsteinson

 

Husband to Maureen and father to Leif (Marijana) and Erica. Will be missed  by his brothers Dale and Dallas and sisters Patti and Fawn. He is predeceased by his parents Eirikur and Clarise, and by his brother Derek and sister Lana.

 

Dad was born in Winnipeg during the war years and had a ‘little rascals’ childhood in the city and at his grandfather’s fishing camp in Northern Manitoba.

 

After graduating high school Dad began a 42 year career with Mutual Life (Clarica/Sun Life) in Manitoba, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.

 

While on a work assignment in Vancouver, Dad met his partner in life for 58 years, Maureen.

 

Dad led a life defined by many loves:  family, travel and classic cars.

 

Dad was a wonderful father who specialized in never telling his children what to do, think or how to live.

 

He was an ever present coach and our biggest fan.

 

Dad was grateful for the opportunity to travel coast to coast and to many countries around the globe. 

 

He never failed to mention to anyone he was just a boy from the Prairies.

 

Dad may not have remembered names but he remembered cars.  No matter where Dad was he could scope out a 1950s two door hard top whatever.

 

Dad was a private person, preferring small group dinner conversations that were rich with advice and often hilariously blunt.

Dad’s happy place was his home in the community of Foxboro Green, Baden where he lived the last decade of his life.

Throughout his life Dad’s special power was he never seemed to age.  It drove family, friends and clients crazy that Dad looked the same in the 2020s as he did in the 1980s.

 

Reflecting on his life, Dad was content to be along for the ride, surrounded by those he loved and always up for a new adventure.

Dad taught us through his example that the glass is half full, not half empty. To the very end Dad was the epitome of optimism.

 

Per Dad’s wishes cremation has taken place.  A private family celebration of life will be held in the spring.

 

A special thanks to the doctors and nurses at the Guelph General Hospital ICU, Wilmot Township Fire and EMS and the ER staff at St. Marys Hospital who provided discreet, competent, compassionate care in the final days of Dad’s life. 

Donations may be made to honour Dad’s life to The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital  or to St Marys General Hospital Foundation