KRISTJAN PAUL VIGFUSSON (BABE) (KRIS)

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KRISTJAN PAUL VIGFUSSON (BABE)
August 21, 1949 - December 21, 2021

It is with great and overwhelming sadness, we the family of Kris Vigfusson, announce his passing. He passed away peacefully in his home in the early morning hours of the 21st day, in the 21st year, of the 21st century. The true significant meaning of this we are not sure yet, but we know Kris did. He did it in his own way and on his own terms. We often told Kris in his health enforced retirement, to look for a passion, but as I sit and reflect on his life, his passion in life was his family, his community and working. He was a true workaholic. He loved his family completely, warts and all. He was never the type of Dad, Uncle, or Grandfather that would spend hours playing with kids, but his pride in their accomplishments was obvious and evident always.
To Michael he passed his passion for cattle and through the years they enjoyed many a cattle auction and bull buying trips. Kris loved wheeling and dealing, buying, and selling cattle. Nothing gave him as much joy as making a better deal than his dad or brother. Kris also passed another strong trait onto his son Michael and granddaughters Sigga and Steina, and that was his competitive nature. Whether it was playing sports, showing cattle, or just playing a game of cards, Kris went to win. Although Kris did leave Lundar to work construction on the powerline and to work in Fisher Branch, it did not take long for him to return home and buy his Uncle Leifer and Aunt Alice's store. He established Lundar Meats & Groceries and his love for his community was really allowed to bloom. He became involved in all aspects of community life.
He could curl, golf, play ball, be involved in Grettir, The Ag Society, and later when Michael played hockey, he devoted hours to Mike's hockey team. He was never much of a hunter but became very involved in the All-Canada Goose Shoot. He spent hours looking for fields and geese. He was never afraid of a microphone and for years was the announcer, which was a job he gladly handed over to his brother-in-law Virgil. He passed his love for the Goose Shoot onto his son, who has also spent hours looking for geese and fields.
Kris became a school trustee and put all his passion into trying to improve and maintain the quality of education in Lakeshore School Division. This led to many a heated discussion around the kitchen table but he never waivered in his beliefs of what was needed to keep our school community a strong, healthy, and highly functioning unit. One of the highlights for Kris in this role was graduation and he would try and make graduation special for each group of graduates. From dressing up to picking music specifically for each group of students, to dancing for and with the grads, he always did his best. How he performed the way he did for the grads was beyond me. Kris suffered from almost crippling anxiety but on those grad days no one would have ever known. In fact, he had suffered from it his whole life, but with his charismatic personality, no one but a very select few would have ever known what he went through.
When Kris's body started to deteriorate and forced him into retirement, he had to make adjustments that for him were not easy. He was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, and it took away his ability to verbalize which caused him some real issues and affected his mobility which was also very disturbing to him. But every now and then the twinkle in his eye was there and he could get his little digs in. In casual conversation sometime, you can ask Judy and Roy about the twinkle. They saw it often and knew when it was there it was a good day.
His newest partner in crime was his great nephew Kauri and the bond that developed between them in such a short period of time was very special and obvious to us all.
In Kris's life he often enjoyed the company of other women. He loved his Lauraly completely. The addition of a daughter was something new and wonderful for Kris. Kris didn't really worry about hurting your feelings and often had Cathy near tears as a teenager. The bond between Cathy and him was never ending.
Kris loved life, he loved his family, he loved his community, loved to dance, and sing. He devoted his life to making his piece of the world a better place. He was a very grateful member of AA for 47 years and throughout those years he tried to give as much back as he had got from the program.
If Kris touched your life in anyway just know that he appreciated everything you ever did for him. Throughout the years his body had suffered a great deal of trauma and he was always grateful for the support that him and his family received from friends, family, and the community. No one will ever really know what it meant to him, Cindy and Michael but thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Rest easy Kris.
Hope you are wheeling and dealing with Butch.
Sharing a laugh with Lucky and Stan.
Playing a game of crib with Mart.
Getting a lecture from Isabel.
And wrapped up in the love and comfort of family and friends.
Know you were well loved and are truly missed by your family and friends. You never have anything to be sorry for. Love you now and forever.
I won't be long.
Love, me.

Cremation has taken place. A service will be held at a later date.
If anyone wishes to make a charitable donation in Kris's honour please send to the Lundar Agricultural Society, Box 687, Lundar, MB R0C 1Y0 or charity of your choice.

Arrangements by:
ARNASON FUNERAL HOME
Ashern - Lundar
1.204.768.2072 -1.866.323.3593

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 08, 2022