Today, I have the honour of reintroducing you to Gordon Kenneth Erickson. For those who do not know me, my name is Kaylee Dawn Sprietsma and Gordon was my grandfather.

Id like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has come to honour the memories that Gordon has left us. There are some who have travelled far to come together on this day, myself included and I know Gordon would be grateful that we have all come.

Born January 27, 1927 in a farmhouse in Saskatchewan near Prince Albert. Son of Colbin and Hannah Erickson. Brother to eleven siblings: Elmer, Ivan, Orville, Raymond, Ernest, Mildred, Irene, Gladys and the three remaining siblings: Dora, Lester and Donald. Father to Heather Davies, Shirley Erickson, and the late Kenneth Erickson. Grandfather to Geoff and Rick Davies, Blair Berkner and myself. Great grandfather to Keigan and Jenna Davies, Hunter and Carter Kenneth Sprietsma. Last but not least friend and storyteller to all else who met him...

Gordon was above all else a family man. He was a very devoted husband to Annabelle Erickson. Gordon and Annabelle were to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary this October. They had met in an outdoor skating rink and in his words “Annabelle never let go of him since”. The only time you would see Gordon without Annabelle is when he was out hunting or on an Erickson fishing trip... Going to their house, if you came to the door, chances are they were at the table together having coffee and a game of cribbage.

Gordon grew up in between Quill Lake and Creighton most of his life. He was raised on the farm.
Gordon was an avid hunter and fisherman spending most of his life in the bush with close friends and family.
Gordon worked at the company for many years in the smelter before he decided to take an early retirement in 1982.

The last few years Gordon devoted his life and time to Annabelle. Gordon made sure Annabelle was happy and well taken care of, and that is something that we should all take pride in. It was never about individual accomplishment with him, it was about their life together and the love they had for each other.

I could stand here for the better part of the day and reminisce about all the stories Gordon was either part of or he told, and for those who knew him, you understand how many stories he had to share so I will leave you with a poem instead.


Don’t think of him as gone away
his journey’s just begun,
life holds so many facets
this earth is only one.
Just think of him as resting
from the sorrows and the tears
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days and years.
Think how he must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.
And think of him as living
in the hearts of those he touched…
for nothing loved is ever lost
and he was loved so much.

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