We are all gathered here today to remember and honor the long and blessed life of George Wizniuk. I am deeply honored to deliver the eulogy of our dearest George. Our Dearest Gido. Our Dearest Dad.
Gido was born November 14, 1916, to Andrew and Wasylyna Wizniuk. He had 10 brothers and sisters. Gido grew up learning to be appreciative of what he had and that hard work was worth the effort. Gido learned from a young age to make the most of what you had. That could mean knitting your own sweaters, using flour sacks for clothing or being grateful for Saturday night baths. He learned to enjoy evenings with his family by passing time with cards and story telling. Gido was also known to be bossy. He liked things to be done his way or not at all. When it was time to enjoy tea it was expected to stir your tea and remove your spoon. If you were caught with your spoon lingering in your tea cup, you would find yourself stirring salt into your tea rather than sugar.
Many times you hear the saying, Our eyes are the windows to our soul. In Gido's case, it was his hands. His hands worked. His hands played. His hands prayed.
It would be next to impossible to count how many times his hands held a hand of cards or marbles. It would be easier to count the people here who haven't shared a card game with Gido rather than count those who have. Ask George for a game a crib and I don't think "NO" was in his vocabulary. He would take the time to teach you a card game or take the time to skunk you. Really, it didn't matter if you won or lost, "Another game?" would be something you often heard. He had a large collection of cards in the china cabinet but usually pulled out the old sticky deck, that was almost impossible to shuffle. Even when Gido received a battery operated card shuffler, the cards got shuffled in his hands, and the card shuffler collected dust.
One of his favorite places to use his hands was in the garden. There was always work to do in the garden and it didn't have to be his own. If you had a garden, he was going to check it out and offer some experienced advice. If your potatoes needed to come out, he was looking for the shovel before you could tell him "Don't worry." Years after his garden was no longer his own, he was there to help planting. Gido would often share garden lessons year after year. There was a certain way to plant onions. There was a certain way to pick peas. It wasn't uncommon for Gido to plant MUCH more than what could be consumed by him and Baba. 600 Onion plants. 600 hills of potatoes or 83 Tomato plants. He planted his garden in abundance. He found great pride in providing his family with food. Before heading home from a visit from the farm, you were sure to be loaded down with potatoes, peas, squash, carrots and anything extra he thought you might need. Even after you said "That's enough" he was sure to throw in a couple extra.
Saying Gido was a hard working man would be like saying Baba was a good cook. It's an obvious statement. Gido was very giving of his time and energy. He was very involved in helping the community of Glendon grow. He helped in the construction of Kev-Ski-Hi. He helped organize and plan the construction of the RCMP Hall and the Seniors Center. He would ride his bike 3miles to Franchere to delivery his cream. He ensured many of us knew the importance of a hard days work. He would take you to milk cows, chop wood, feed animals and collect eggs and all before breakfast. Just when you thought it was time to relax and celebrate a hard days work, he was there waiting with more things to do. There was never "nothing to do" in Gido' mind. Even when his body was failing his mind was always thinking about the next thing that needed to get done.
Gido was an early to bed and early to rise man. It wasn't uncommon for Gido to find his way to his cot beneath the stairs by 8pm. If you were there visiting, well you just learned to keep it down. If Gido emerged from his bed, you better decrease your decibals, and quickly. Early to bed usually had Gido awake before 6am. His early mornings usually consisted of coffee, cornflakes, and the morning radio playing loudly. Many of us have shared early mornings with Gido not because we had planned too but because his radio didn't allow sleeping in.
As Gido aged, so did his love and affection for animals. Many animals have graced the farm. Some were raised to feed his family. Others were just furry pets that brought him joy. If he was told not to feed a dog table scraps, you could rest assured that dog got extra. He had names for the squirrels that would chase away Baba's hummingbirds. He would even let roosters chase after his grandchildren if it provided a chuckle. He wouldn't think twice about running a mile after a little pig to ensure its safe return back home.
Gido loved a great deal. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence for George to travel from store to store or town to town because each place offered a different deal. We were often told "Don't flush", share the bath water and close the lights. The ironic part of his tight wallet was that it was always open when it came to his children and grandchildren. Five dollars here, ten there or money for gas. Even as we aged and politely declined his offer, he would say "You can't afford it, take it." It wasn't a fight we weren't going to win. Gido always wanted to try and fix something before even giving thought to purchasing new. It didn't matter if he knew how to fix it, he would try or often express his own thoughts on how to fix it. He would happily save you money by fixing your pair of sunglasses, a trusted old shower head, or offer advice on how to fix a motor home.
Gido was a respectful and accepting man. As he watched his children and grandchildren fall in love, he welcomed the newcomers with open arms. He would take you, proudly, on the tour of his farm. You would find a card with your name on it at Christmas even if it was your first visit or you have been in the family for years. Gido loved his family and enjoyed watching his family grow and change. Gido really wanted to be a Great Gido, and he welcomed 13 great grandchildren into his life. Gido loved a good handshake. "Come shake Gido's hand!" was something his said to his Great Grandchildren at every visit. It didn't matter if you were his grandaughter or grandson, you were going to learn the importance of a good handshake.
Gido's greatest love and accomplishment was his 69 year marriage to Baba. Gido was a loving and devoted husband to Baba. As there roles changed and Gido became the caregiver, he never missed a beat. He would ensure she got in and out cars, halls, hospitals, houses with him by her side. If you weren't helping her the right way, he would tell you so. When they were separated, nothing could keep Gido from visiting his Baba. He drove to Bonnyville too fast. He walked from Extended Care to the hospital, often lifting his cane because he was in a hurry to get to her side. She was his whole heart. When Gido spoke of Baba you could watch the tears well in his eyes because there was so much love in him. He missed her dearly but his journey was not over yet. He waited until he was called home.
George loved to raise his hands to cast his fishing rod or share a DY BOY SHA with friends and family. Even as he was preparing to leave this earth, his hands never lost their loving touch or farmer strength. As we say our final goodbye, we are extremely grateful for everything you have given us. Everything you have taught us. And the memories you leave us behind with. May you forever rest in peace and watch over us.
On behalf of the family I would like to extend sincere gratitude to the Bonnyville Hospital, Extended Care and members of the Glendon Community. Though the farm was always home, the staff did their best to make them comfortable and happy. I would also like to invite everyone to join us after the interment, right here, for lunch. Please come eat, browse pictures and share memories of a great man that we called George, Gido and Dad. Thank you!
