OLI NARFASON

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OLI NARFASON

August 29, 1925 - April 14, 2023

On April 14, 2023, Oli passed away peacefully at 97 years of age. Even at 97, Oli was an amazing storyteller and continued to enjoy a full life of love, laughter, and independence with his wife Marjorie, of 35 years.

Oli leaves to cherish his memory, a large and loving family: his loving wife Marjorie; his caring children, daughters, Candace, Janice (Cameron), Laureen and son Clifford (Shelley) along with Marjorie‘s children, Jim (Melanie), Stan (Linda), Rob (Valerie) and Rick (Catherine) Gendron; sisters, Gerda Harris, Dilla Narfason and Olan Isfeld; along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Oli was predeceased by his first wife Gudny (Gwen) (nee Johnson), sisters, Emma Wilkinson and Alda Mackenzie, sons-in-law, Bob Savage and George Hamilton; brothers-in-law, Jim Harris, Joe Wilkinson, Jim Mackenzie and Paul Isfeld.

Oli grew up at Vidivodllur in Minerva, near Gimli, the grandson of Icelandic immigrants. He maintained his cultural connection to Iceland throughout his life, never losing the ability to converse in fluent Icelandic. He loved his frequent conversations with relatives and friends in Iceland and was an active member of the Icelandic National League. Oli had a wealth of historical knowledge and loved to tell stories of the Icelandic immigrant people in the area he grew up.

In the 1950s, Oli started developing a purebred Holstein herd of cattle. His success with this endeavour won him a two-time Canadian Master Breeder Award. Later he was sought after for Holstein judging assignments both nationally and internationally. After leaving the dairy business in the late 1990s and his home farm, Oli took to acquiring many acres of land to farm, working these until the age of 93.

Oli was an amazing entertainer! Throughout his life, whenever there was a piano or accordion, (which he learned to play by ear), Oli was on it, brightening up any social occasion. He continued to entertain into his 90s. Family and friends loved going for the ‘Happy Hour’ at Betel Home in Gimli on Friday nights to listen to Oli entertain the elderly residents who eagerly looked forward to his music and song. He did this right up to March of 2020. He was an active choir member of the Gimli Lutheran Church where his beautiful tenor voice was heard.

Oli’s philanthropic spirit led to the development of the Westshore Community Foundation, whose vision is to help community organizations and students in the Westshore Community Foundation catchment area.

In 2021 Oli was a recipient of the Manitoba 150 Volunteerism Award for this and countless other community endeavours. He was a man that gave not only financial generosity but also of his time, energy, appreciation, and care for many deserving organizations.

Oli was a dedicated husband, father and community member who lived a long fruitful life which is testimony to the rewards that are inherent in a life well lived.

A funeral service will be held at the Gimli Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 p.m.

For those who wish, donations can be made in memory of Oli to the Westshore Community Foundation at www.westshorefoundation.ca

Honorary pallbearers: Raymond Sigurdson, Dennis Carlson, Rob Gendron, Joe Wilkinson, Duncan Harris and Robin Mackenzie.

The obituary may also be viewed at neilbardalfuneralhome.com

NEIL BARDAL

FUNERAL CENTRE

204-949-2200

neilbardalinc.com

OLI NARFASON

With deep sadness we mourn the the peaceful passing of Oli Narfason on Friday, April 14, 2023.

A longer obituary will follow.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 15, 2023, Apr 29, 2023