Obituary for Gordon Wayne Pokrant
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Gordon Wayne (Pok) Pokrant
June 6, 1959 – January 13, 2019
Peacefully, at home, and with family by his side, on Sunday, January 13, 2019, Gord aged 59, ended his battle with cancer and went to be with his Lord.
Gord was predeceased by his loving Mom, Marlene, in December 2018.
Left to cherish his memory and the love he shared are his wife and “sweetie” Iris, father Cliff, brother Doug (Karen) Pokrant, sisters-in-law Patti (Marty) Ryan, Pam (Steven), Amanda and Daniel Bembenek. Gord was blessed later in life to be the adoptive father to an upstanding young man named Nsamba Pokrant Vicent (Uganda).
Gord will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by many aunts and uncles, cousins and their families. Years of special family times forged strong and loving bonds – resources upon which to draw in this season of loss.
He developed many deep relationships that birthed extended families of sisters and brothers with nieces and nephews who knew they were loved by Uncle Gord.
Gord was born in Transcona and moved to Charleswood at age nine. By that time he had already been on skates since the age of four and was on the way to having hockey both competitive and recreational be a lifelong passion. He started out in a Tom Thumb league, played for the Califone Cats, Rangers and ended his competitive years playing with the Charleswood Hawks; a team experience that had no rival. For decades beyond that Gord treasured his Thursday and Saturday night skates with his rink brothers. As an ardent Jets fan, he loved sharing time with friends and family watching the games at home over wings and nacho platters. Summer and fall found him cheering on the bombers in True Blue style. Golf became a summer passion and golf trips with friends a yearly tradition where they incorporated the “first shot rule”. Gord relished time at the family cottage sharing sun and water skiing with friends and family, special times with Mum and Dad in Texas, skidooing with his brother and friends. He and Iris often travelled west to his beloved Jasper to camp along the Athabasca. Gord would challenge himself with hiking, cycling and rafting and loved taking long winding walks with his Sweetie.
Gord’s work life began right after high school with various short term jobs. Then he spent a number of seasons with the Canadian Pacific Railway – learning about and then heading up welding gangs and ballast gangs until 1985. Gord had for a number of years thought about working with kids. He began his career in the Educational field as an Educational Assistant at Isaac Newton School where he met Iris, who would become his wife of thirty years. Later, he returned to university, completed his degree and taught various classes until his health dictated that he needed to step down from his Special Education position. He spoke into the lives of his students; giving them a sense of stability and always working for their wellbeing and growth. He was a good role model in their lives as many parents attested. For many years, early mornings would find Gord running drills and practices with the Girls’ volleyball teams in the gym at Cecil Rhodes. He enjoyed helping them to develop skills and think team. He pitched in wherever needed, including with basketball practices. Over the course of his career Gord developed many lasting friendships. He was always there to lend an ear or a shoulder. He had a sense of humour and a non-judgmental way of sharing truth. He was a loyal friend and colleague. He counted himself blessed to have had 20 years in a profession that he loved.
Even with the abrupt and unexpected end to his career, Gord made the best of every “new normal” that challenged him and he did it with a deep and maturing faith in God’s love for him and those around him.
Thank you to Dr. Michael West of the Neurosurgery Department at HSC for his long standing medical expertise and support. Gord trusted and appreciated him so much.
Our gratitude to the nursing staff on GA 4 at the Health Sciences Centre and to the Palliative Care Team for their care and compassion.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Albright Church, 415 Maxwell King Drive, Winnipeg.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Boys and Girls Clubs Winnipeg, or Grannies Gone Global – Student Tuition costs.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Gordon Wayne Pokrant June 6 1959 –
January 13 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba