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John Gordon Dryden Obituary

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John Gordon Dryden

Emo, ON

March 17, 1917 - September 26, 2016

John Gordon Dryden Obituary

Late John Gordon Seymour Dryden Peacefully on Monday September 26, 2016, John Gordon Seymour Dryden, 99 of Rainy River, Ontario passed away at the Rainy River Health Centre with his family by his side. Gordon was born March 17, 1917 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was united in marriage to Lorraine Langstaff on August 5, 1947, and together they raised their 6 children in Rainy River. Gordon worked for the CNR until his retirement in 1981. He is survived by his children Patti Dryden-Holmstrom (Craig), Donna Dryden, John Dryden, and Terry Dryden; his grandchildren, Cameron (Allison Boone) and Kristien Holmstrom and two great grandchildren Jaycie Holmstrom and Lorraine Holmstrom. He is also survived by his siblings Marie Luney, Sandra (Dennis) Cox and Eva Thompson all of. Winnipeg, Manitoba. and Rae Fraine of Kelowna B.C and numerous nieces and nephews. Gordon was predeceased by his wife Lorraine (2006), two daughters Kathy (1980), Lauren (1996) brother in laws Bill Luney And Rollie Thompson. Gordon was a man who didn't say much but when he did, those words carried weight. He liked his life simple and straight forward; he loved his vehicles (especially his old Thunderbird), he loved his cats, he loved to go on his walks, he loved a nice cheeseburger and a cup of coffee. He loved to talk about baseball and he told his grandson about the time he saw Satchel Page and how he was the best pitcher he'd even seen. Family and friends remember him for his clowning around and his great sense of humor. He was for the most part a quiet man; he loved to listen to his radio in his VW camper van while reading the Winnipeg Free Press. He spent many years working on the CN rails between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, along with longtime friends and family. Living so close to the rail yards in Rainy, even in retirement he was never far away from that part of his life. Gordon loved spending time discussing politics, baseball, Bombers football and hockey. Gordon loved all animals and often fed the neighborhood strays sometimes even adopting them. He was a gruff guy, not the easiest to get to know and it took a great investment of time for those willing to do it. Very much a man of his age. But then he had his cats and the love he showed for them, he could surprise you like that. Family and friends most vivid memories of Gordon come from the skating rink where he and his wife Lorraine loved to go skating together. They had the most beautiful matching figure skates and they would go around the rink, arm in arm skating in time with each other, like a happy young couple going on a first date. You could see the happiness in their eyes as they moved gracefully along that ice together. Gordon was also an avid baseball picture and coach to his wife Lorraine. He spent many summer evenings acting as bat catcher for Lorraine while she practiced her pitching. Gordon believed in family and was always there in their time of need. He never hesitated to go in the middle of the night and pick up his children or other family members when they asked for assistance. His famous line was “the bus is leaving”. The bus has left, but the memories and love we all felt will last long after the glow of that buses tail lights fade into the nether. The family would like to thank the Venable family for taking such good care of Gordon in his later years. The Roadside Restaurant was his second home. The family would also like to thank the Riverside Long-Term Care Facility Staff in Rainy River for their love and care of him the past five years. A celebration of Gordon's life will be held at a later date in Kenora, followed by an internment in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Rainy River, Ontario. Date to be announced. If desired memorial donations may be made to the Kenora Association for Community Living Endowment Fund or the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation, c/o Northridge Funeral Home, Box 89, Emo, ON, P0W 1E0. Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com

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