GRIMOLFUR BRYNJOLFSON

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GRIMOLFUR BRYNJOLFSON Grimolfur Brynjolfson passed away on January 18, 2004 in Riverton. Grimsi, as he was known, was born in Hecla on September 30, 1928 in the home that his mother and father, Marus and Vilborg Brynjolfson, had recently built, now known as Guesta Hus. He was predeceased by his wife Collie and his parents. He leaves surviving his two sisters and brothers-in-law, Sylvia and Stefan Sigurdson and Solveig and Norman Riddell; as well as his niece, Elaine Sigurdson and his nephews, Eric Sigurdson, his wife Wendy and Glenn Sigurdson and his wife Maureen. Grimsi was an unsung hero. He lived his life quietly, always putting others before himself. He was a profoundly decent man, who touched the lives of many with his gentle warmth. He drew on his deep inner strength in the many lonely hours he spent on his dragline, constructing drainage and roads into Northern Manitoba communities through some of the most difficult terrain of wilderness, muskeg, and swamp imaginable. In the winter he fished with his father Malli, with whom he had a deep and special bond until his passing in 1973. In more recent years, as he phased out of the construction business, he returned to the life of a Lake Winnipeg fisherman into which he had been born. Grimsi had lived in Riverton since his family moved there in 1942. He completed Grade 12 at United College in Winnipeg. His early years in the construction industry were with Monarch Construction. He later formed his own company, Nordic Construction Ltd. which he ran very successfully for over 25 years. Although his work took him across the Province, often to remote locations, Riverton was always his home base. His home along the banks of the Icelandic River, easily accessible to Lake Winnipeg, was always at the centre of his life, and became all the more so after his marriage to Collie in 1980. His sisters had a very special place in his heart. They were always there for him, and he for them. Another of the many visits he made to Vancouver over the years, first to be with Solveig and Norman, and now also Stefan and Sylvia after their retirement to White Rock from Riverton in 1992, had been planned at the time of his passing. Often these visits had been a stepping stone for many wonderful winter holidays he and Collie had taken with Solveig and Norman. Each summer the cottage at Leaside Beach, north of Pine Dock along the very road he had been part of constructing in the early 1950s provided a chance for him to maintain the special connection he had with Glenn, Elaine, and Eric, and their families throughout his life. The untimely death of his wife Collie, in 1997 was a great blow to him. He valued deeply his special relationship with his life long friends and later brothers-in-law, Norman, recently deceased Baldi and Neil. He leaves behind many friends. He always had specific words of gratitude for Josie and Jack Monkman and, his next-door neighbours in recent years, who had opened their hearts and their home to Grimsi, all the more so in this past year when he had been struggling through a prolonged period of ill health. Dr. Kevin Coates also earned a special place in his life as he guided him through these health challenges. The memorial service will be held at the Riverton Lutheran Church at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22. Pastor Trudy Sluth presiding. Interment of cremains will be at the Riverton Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. The Pallbearers are his nephews, Glenn and Eric, Binnie Sigurgeirson, Charles Ostertag, Neil Baldwinson and Jack Monkman. Any donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of the Riverton-Hnausa Lutheran Church. Gilbart Funeral Home in Selkirk in charge of all arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 21, 2004