SAM THORKELSON

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

SAM THORKELSON Edmonton - Sigurjon (Sam) Thorkelson, 89, died Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Grandview Nursing Home following a brief illness. He leaves his wife of 59 years, Kristin Laura (Thorvaldson) Thorkelson; his son, Kris Thorkelson, and his two daughters, Kjirstin and Kelsey; his daughter, Ruth Thorkelson (Mark), and his two recently arrived twin granddaughters, Beatrix and Madeleine. He was predeceased by his eldest son, Scott Thorkelson. Born and raised in Arnes, Manitoba, on the family farm, he is the son of Siggi and Johanna (Finnbogason) Thorkelson. Sam leaves to mourn his sisters Frida, Metta, Emily, and their families; his brother Harold, and his family; his nephew, Philip, and his family. He had many nephews and nieces, whose company he greatly enjoyed and about whose exploits he delighted in hearing. He was predeceased by his sisters, Jona Gunter-Smith and Gudridur Kristrun Dyck. Sam spent his early working years in lumberyards in Manitoba and southwestern Ontario. He fondly remembered those days, and maintained an admiration for a well-stocked lumber supply to the end of his life. Returning to Manitoba after a stint in Atikokan, he met his wife, Laura, in her home town of Riverton, Manitoba, in 1955, and they were married in September of that year. Sam and Laura ran her father's general store in Riverton, and later moved to various towns in northern Alberta and the North West Territories while he worked as a travelling salesman/store manager for Marshall Wells. Settling in Edmonton in 1972, Sam continued to work as a salesman. He loved the people aspect of the sales business and loved meeting people and making new friends. Sam and Laura supported the Icelandic Club of Edmonton for many years, where Sam was President for a period in the 1970s. In addition to Laura's vinatarta, Sam would also make skyr for club events. Sam loved to go camping and fishing, although in later years, his main focus on these trips was the bonfire and the after-fishing happy hour. Sam had a life-long interest in Icelandic genealogy and with his family, tracked his ancestors in Iceland back to 1044. He loved to read on a wide range of topics, including history and biography, and both he and his wife passed on the Icelandic heritage of a love of reading to their children. Sam was more than a handy man - he could build or take apart just about anything, and loved to tinker with his voluminous store of tools, lumber and equipment in his garage. He taught not only his children but many nieces and nephews what he believed were the essentials in life: how to drive a car; how to build a fire and change a tire; how to make ice cream the old-fashioned way: in a 100-year old wooden, hand-cranked ice cream maker. And of course, how to make a generously proportioned rye and water. Sam loved animals of all kinds, and took special delight in the two Shelties he and Laura adopted in recent years. So he also leaves his beloved remaining Sheltie, Nora. Sam loved a good joke; he loved to tease his friends and family; and he loved a good argument, especially about politics. He was a kind, gentle and loving person in a world that did not always value those characteristics. He deeply loved his family, near and far, and we hope he knew and felt their heartfelt love returned for him. He will be greatly missed. A family memorial service will be held today, October 4, at Johnson Hall, Waterfront Centre, Gimli, at 1:00 p.m.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 04, 2014