DERRICK MAGNUS GUNNLAUGSON

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DERRICK MAGNUS GUNNLAUGSON

(GUNNER, GUNNY, DAD, AFI)

January 11, 1957 - January 10, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Derrick/ Gunner/ Gunny/ Dad/ Afi on January 10, 2025 after a long and difficult battle fought valiantly and with superhuman strength against ALS.

Predeceased by his mother Jeanette and father Lloyd; Derrick is survived by his wife Lori; children, Ainsley (Norm) Espenell, Jill (Jason Ploschak) and Derek (Brittany); and the lights of his life, grandchildren, Jordyn, Brenden, Rylen, Logan and Lucas. He also leaves behind his siblings, Lynette Sanders, Darryl (Shirley) and Alanna (Garry) Van Den Berghe; Lori’s siblings, Guy, Kelly, Grant and Kelly; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as many friends who will miss him dearly.

Derrick was born in Winnipeg on January 11, 1957 and grew up in Charleswood. As a kid, he played hockey, loved to snowmobile and waterski, and developed a love of the outdoors, which he shared with his Dad Lloyd and has passed on to his own son Derek. Derrick had many adventures as a young man, travelling to different places in Canada and the US for hunting, fishing, skiing and scuba diving trips, before he met the love of his life, Lori, marrying her and settling down as a family man. He even got his pilot’s license when the kids were little just for fun! Derrick continued to hunt and fish his entire life; many annual hunting trips to the Interlake were fondly remembered, a hunt in Australia with son-in-law Norm, and multiple trips to Northern Manitoba and even Nunavut with son Derek were happy memories. There were also so many fishing trips with his son, sons-in-law, grandsons, brother, nephews and friends in the Whiteshell and Lake of the Woods area, which he lived for doing until he no longer could.

Derrick had a more than 30 year career in the construction industry in partnership with brother Darryl and sister Alanna until they sold their business in 2010. Each of the siblings had their role, with Derrick being the hands-on site foreman. Working together every day meant they were especially close. Derrick spent several more years working in the industry as a consultant and mentor before he had to stop working due to the effects of ALS.

The Gunnlaugson family loved curling. Derrick spent many Thursday nights with his buddies at the Valour Road Curling Club. He later coached his daughters as they pursued their own curling dreams. He was so proud and never missed watching his Dad, brother Darryl, brother-in-law Garry or nephew Jason play and carry on the family tradition. When spring and summer came, Derrick traded in his curling broom for golf clubs. A member of Southwood Golf & Country Club for many years, he especially loved his Friday afternoon golf games with brother-in-law Garry, followed by hitting Hwy. 1 east to Whiteshell where you might also find them on the Falcon Lake golf course.

West Hawk Lake had a piece of Derrick’s heart. He spent his childhood summers there at the family cottage at High Rock, and as the family grew, countless weekends were spent with the entire family boating, swimming, waterskiing, scuba diving and just being together. Derrick and Lori later purchased their own family cottage near Toniata Beach at Falcon Lake; this was Derrick’s happy place where countless hours were spent with his kids, grandkids, extended family and friends. He turned his cottage into his home where he and Lori retired before ALS caused him to have to move back to Winnipeg.

When Derrick became an Afi (Grandpa), he spent every moment he could chasing, chauffeuring, coaching (the Afi way), encouraging and attending every sporting event, school activity or life milestone he could. He visited multiple hockey rinks each week and provided post-game analytics, and when he could no longer attend in person, he watched every game from whatever device was streaming it. A lifelong sports fan, he never missed a Jets or Blue Bomber Game. He looked forward to hosting a huge fish fry at the cottage for the Labour Day Classic every year - the more people the better…Gunner loved a good party. The first to arrive and the last to leave, always.

Derrick was tough and stubborn, which is probably why it took almost eight years for ALS to win its fight. He was pragmatic and called a spade a spade. He was also unbelievably loyal and selfless. Despite being dealt a totally unfair hand with ALS, Derrick never complained - his inner strength and ability to roll with the punches was both inspirational and incredibly humbling.

There are so many people who have been by our side during this journey. Firstly we would like to thank the staff at the Deer Lodge Motor Neuron Clinic, WRHA Palliative Care Team, especially nurses Chanelle, Jen and Tanya, WRHA Homecare, Dr. Frederic Ball, and the ALS Society of Manitoba. A special thank you to Harsh, Derrick’s respite worker - we are so very grateful for the care you provided Derrick in his final months. Lastly, we are so grateful to Dr. Adrian Robertson and team for their care in allowing Derrick to pass with dignity and on his own terms.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held in early June 2025 with details to follow.

If you wish to support, we will be participating in the Walk to End ALS on June 7, 2025 so donations can be made to Derrick’s team once registered. Arrangements entrusted to Ethical Death Care.

A photo-biography video honouring Derrick’s life is accessible through the 'tributes' link below.

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Simple Cremation & Life Celebrations

204-421-5501

Tributes: EthicalDeathCare.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 18, 2025