EYOLFUR RONALD (RON) EYOLFSON

It is with great sorrow that our family announces the passing of Ron on Monday, Sept. 15, 2003 at the age of 56 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
He will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Dolores (nee Beauchemin); and sons, Daryl (Colleen) and their children, Brett and Dustin, of Fort Frances, Ont., Todd (Joy) of Windsor, Ont., Todd’s son, Tyler J and his mother, Christine Mann, of Dryden, Ont., and Brian (Marla) Beauchemin and their sons, Matthew, Stephan, and Cody of Arborg, Man.
He also leaves to mourn his sisters, Gloria (Jack) Zacharias of Winnipeg, Man, Carol (Bob) Thordarson, and Jackie (Wayne) Ireland of Gimli, Man.; his sisters-in-law, Judy (Tom) Hall of Skagway, AK, and Marlene Cochrane of Whitehorse, Yukon; brother-in-law, Roger (Michelle) Beauchemin of Watson Lake, B.C.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and close friend, Rick Siedel.
Ron was predeceased by his father on Aug. 15, 2000; his mother on Oct. 24, 2001; his father-in-law, Lionel, on Dec. 24, 1982; his mother-in-law, Ionia, on Feb. 11, 1995; and his great niece, Samantha Zacharias, on Feb. 14, 1990.
Ron was born in Geysir, Man. on Jan. 12, 1947, the only son of Svein Eyolfur Eyolfson and Gudrun (Loa) Anna Eyolfson. He lived for a short time in Geysir and Pine Falls, before the family settled in Gimli, Man., where he grew up. He worked summers at his Afi Joe Thordarson’s mink ranch.
He married Dolores on Oct. 16, 1965 in Gimli. They moved with their two sons, Daryl and Todd, to Emo, Ont. in 1970, when Ron joined the Ontario Provincial Police force. They relocated to Fort Frances in 1971 and lived there with their sons and Dolores’ brother, Brian, who came to live with them at the age of 12, until 1983, when Ron was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to Bradford, Ont.
His career later took them to Red Lake in 1988, and then back to Fort Frances in 1993. He retired from the O.P.P. in 1998.
Ron’s greatest passion was his grandsons, Brett, Dustin, and Tyler J.
Ron was an excellent curler and enjoyed the fellowship with his buddies during the many bonspiels and playdowns in which he participated. It was during high school curling that he met his wife, Dolores.
His curling ability took him to the Ontario Tankard as well as, on an almost yearly basis, to the provincial playdowns in the Canadian Police Curling Championships.
He twice reached the national playdowns and in 1998, his last year of curling, he was awarded the all-star second award in St. John’s, Nfld.
He also was an avid golfer and enjoyed this game over the years with his family and his close friends. One of the golf hi-lights was his yearly golf vacation to Myrtle Beach with Rick, Brian, Don, Larry, and Randy. Many other trips included Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba with family and friends.
He passed his love of these games, as well as boating and fishing, onto his sons and his cherished grandsons, Brett, Dustin, and Tyler J.
Ron’s involvement in the communities he lived in was not limited to sports. He was a member of the Red Lake Lions Club and served on the Red Lake Hospital Board. He also was an elder of the Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Frances.
Ron was made a Mason at Granite Lodge # 446 in Fort Frances and later was master of the Chukuni Lodge in Red Lake. He also was a member of Alberton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Ledger Preceptary, Knights Templar of Canada, and the Border Shrine Club.
As per family wishes, Ron is being cremated prior to services.
A memorial visitation took place Friday, Sept. 19, 2003 from 7-9 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, beginning with a short Masonic service.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003 at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Frances, with Pastor Brian Keffer of Zion Lutheran Church officiating.
Honorary pallbearers were Rick Siedel, Brian Lowry, Larry Indian, Don Robertson, Doug Judson, Randy Ronnebeck, Ross Chessell, and Larry McCoy.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to Cancer Care Manitoba—MacCharles Unit, 675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, Man., R3E 0V9 or to the La Verendrye Hospital Memorial Fund, c/o Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc., 100 Victoria Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2B7.