Obituary for Gordon Sitko
William Gordon Sitko, beloved husband of the late Gertrude Sitko, passed away at Dinsdale Personal Care Home on Friday, February 3, 2023.
Gordon was born in Strathclair, MB to John and Mary Sitko. He was the second youngest son in the family of seven: four brothers, Jack, Frank, Ed and Pat and two sisters, Jean and Bernice.
Gordon attended and graduated from Strathclair School. Through his school years, he worked for Henderson’s Drug Store after school and Saturdays. Sundays would find Gordon working at Salt Lake selling pop, ice cream and other goodies at Henderson Beach.
Gordon enjoyed sports; hockey, ball, and curling from a young age, playing for Strathclair and various area teams. Gordon was a member of the Cardale midget hockey team when they won the Manitoba Championship. Ball and curling carried on through his military career.
Gordon joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1957, and was first posted to 1 Radar and Communication School at Clinton, ON. After completing technical course and graduating, he was posted to CJATC Rivers, MB in 1959 as a Radio Technician.
In 1961, Gordon married Gertrude Dunn of Newdale. From Rivers, Gordon and Gertie were posted to Lawary Air Force Base in Colorado, USA for six months. After that, they made their homes at many Air Bases: Flin Flon, Winnipeg, Calgary and Lahr, West Germany. While based in Lahr, they toured Italy, Spain, France, Holland, England, Belgium and Scotland. The tour of Scotland included Gertie’s parents, Jack and Jean Dunn from Newdale, who had flown from Manitoba to Germany to join them. Jack was able to visit his uncle and aunts who were still living in Scotland. Jean was also able to visit relatives living in Scotland.
From Lahr, Gordon and Gertie were posted to Calgary, AB. During this period, Gordon spent six months serving with the United Nation Peace Keeping Force on the island of Cypress. The final posting was from Calgary to CFB Shilo and the Communication Squadron. After 25 years, Gordon retired from the Military.
After retirement, Gordon went back to the Shilo Communication Squadron to work as a civilian for another fourteen years. On the second retirement, Gertie and Gordon sold their home in Sprucewoods (just outside of Shilo) and started their new home in Brandon in June of 2008.
Gordon was predeceased by his wife Gertrude, parents Mary and John Sitko, parents-in-law Jean and Jack Dunn; brothers Jack, Frank and Ed Sitko; sister-in-law Leona Sitko; and nephew Mel Sitko.
The Celebration of Gordon’s Life will take place at Memories Chapel, 330 – 18th Street North, Brandon, on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with reception to follow.
Donations in memory of Gordon may be made to Diabetes Canada, #401 – 1 Wesley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6.
Gordon was born in Strathclair, MB to John and Mary Sitko. He was the second youngest son in the family of seven: four brothers, Jack, Frank, Ed and Pat and two sisters, Jean and Bernice.
Gordon attended and graduated from Strathclair School. Through his school years, he worked for Henderson’s Drug Store after school and Saturdays. Sundays would find Gordon working at Salt Lake selling pop, ice cream and other goodies at Henderson Beach.
Gordon enjoyed sports; hockey, ball, and curling from a young age, playing for Strathclair and various area teams. Gordon was a member of the Cardale midget hockey team when they won the Manitoba Championship. Ball and curling carried on through his military career.
Gordon joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1957, and was first posted to 1 Radar and Communication School at Clinton, ON. After completing technical course and graduating, he was posted to CJATC Rivers, MB in 1959 as a Radio Technician.
In 1961, Gordon married Gertrude Dunn of Newdale. From Rivers, Gordon and Gertie were posted to Lawary Air Force Base in Colorado, USA for six months. After that, they made their homes at many Air Bases: Flin Flon, Winnipeg, Calgary and Lahr, West Germany. While based in Lahr, they toured Italy, Spain, France, Holland, England, Belgium and Scotland. The tour of Scotland included Gertie’s parents, Jack and Jean Dunn from Newdale, who had flown from Manitoba to Germany to join them. Jack was able to visit his uncle and aunts who were still living in Scotland. Jean was also able to visit relatives living in Scotland.
From Lahr, Gordon and Gertie were posted to Calgary, AB. During this period, Gordon spent six months serving with the United Nation Peace Keeping Force on the island of Cypress. The final posting was from Calgary to CFB Shilo and the Communication Squadron. After 25 years, Gordon retired from the Military.
After retirement, Gordon went back to the Shilo Communication Squadron to work as a civilian for another fourteen years. On the second retirement, Gertie and Gordon sold their home in Sprucewoods (just outside of Shilo) and started their new home in Brandon in June of 2008.
Gordon was predeceased by his wife Gertrude, parents Mary and John Sitko, parents-in-law Jean and Jack Dunn; brothers Jack, Frank and Ed Sitko; sister-in-law Leona Sitko; and nephew Mel Sitko.
The Celebration of Gordon’s Life will take place at Memories Chapel, 330 – 18th Street North, Brandon, on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with reception to follow.
Donations in memory of Gordon may be made to Diabetes Canada, #401 – 1 Wesley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6.