MARTIN GISTI

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MARTIN GISTI

November 14, 1943 - April 14, 2024

Martin Gisti passed away peacefully on April 14, 2024. Beloved partner and cherished dad, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend, Martin will be sadly missed and forever admired by all who knew him.

Martin is survived by his devoted partner Della Maude, son Kevin (Laura), daughter Joanne (Doug Meister), and cherished grandchildren, Darren, Emma, Eva, Alex and Norah. Also left to mourn are his sister Margaret “Toots” (Paul Veldkamp), numerous special nieces and nephews and countless close friends. Martin was predeceased by his wife Marlene in 2005, sisters, June and Audrey and many cherished family and friends.

Martin was born on November 14, 1943, to Jean and Alf Gisti. A spoiled baby brother to Toots, June and Audrey, he loved to tell stories of growing up in Inwood, Manitoba and the special bond he formed with each of his sisters continued throughout his life.

Martin married Marlene Brown October 7, 1967, moved to Winnipeg and settled into their first home - a small duplex which was also home to Leonard and Cheryl who immediately became lifelong friends. Martin and Marlene moved to their home in St. James in 1970, welcomed their son Kevin that same year and completed their family when Joanne arrived in 1973. Martin enjoyed 50 plus years of driving courier for United (formerly Northern) Messenger. He was always up at the crack of dawn and racked-up literally millions of miles delivering electrical supplies to countless businesses and job sites in and around Winnipeg, making friends along the way.

In his adoring children’s eyes there was nothing Dad couldn’t do or fix - or a bolt too tight. He was strong enough to move, lift, or solve anything with just his hands and quiet determination. The Gisti home and garage buzzed with friends, family and neighbours dropping by for a visit. Kevin and Joanne remember helping with many a brake job, splitting and stacking firewood by hand, and planting Dad’s garden on the Monday after Mother’s Day every year. Friendships were forged at the ball diamond, in the schoolyard across the street, and in the local rinks. In the late 1980s the responsibility of a cottage became a family affair with repairs made before they were needed and ample time always set aside for fishing and relaxing. Martin’s grandchildren were a source of great pride. Grandpa kept his calendar current enjoying the boys’ hockey games and the girls’ music and dance recitals and in turn they admired in him the greatest fisherman and gentlest soul they’ll ever know.

Dad’s courage and resilience in moving forward upon the tragic loss of both his wife and his sister set an incredible example for us all. Family and friends ensured the coffee pot never cooled and road trips with dear friends like Leonard and Roy ensured a healthy balance of tears and laughter. Through a comforting friendship, Marty found a kindred spirit for outdoor adventure in Della and his heart made room for the love they have shared through years of companionship. We all looked forward to the colourful stories and photos from their many trips to Maui, annual fishing trips to The Pas, endless pursuit of blueberries and morels, and cottage projects bookended by sunrise and sunset fishing on the Winnipeg River.

Martin to some, Marty to most (and call number 35 for decades), he was always up for a drive after a week of driving. Marty was most at home in the great outdoors: hunting trips to The Point with Gib, Jim, Lloyd and their boys, fishing with Earl or Jim, sledding with Glen, and earlier years camping with Ken and Shirley, Derek and Lorraine and the Tobies. He equally treasured time with those who shared his passion for home cooked meals and fresh brewed coffee. He and John tested many recipes together, Larry always had a short one ready, and his regular coffee visits with Ross are just some of the countless ways he endeared himself to all who knew him. Others have expressed just how much they looked forward to his regular phone calls - thoughtful commitments he maintained for years.

Martin was the one we looked up to and dreamed to be like. We are so grateful to Dad’s close fishing buddy Earl for ensuring he was in good care before filleting the days catch for one special fish-fry his family will soon share together. The family wishes to extend our heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Paradis and the compassionate staff of St. Rose du Lac General Hospital for the professional care that comforted him as he rested from a 10 out of 10 day of fishing.

Memorial service will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at MacKenzie Funeral Chapel, Stonewall, 433 Main Street, Stonewall. Interment to follow at the Inwood Community Cemetery.

MacKenzie Funeral Home

Stonewall

204-467-2525

mackenziefh.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 17, 2024, Apr 17, 2024