Charles Edward Gate passed away on Wednesday evening, Sept. 25, at the Rainy River Health Centre surrounded by his family.
Chuck was born May 17, 1932 in Bergland, Ont. The eldest of 12 siblings, Chuck learned to work hard and take responsibility at a young age.
He began working away from home at age 14, helping his Grandfather and Grandmother Broman at Miles Bay Camp.
At age 16, his father, Cecil Gate, took him to get a guide license and he began guiding out of Clark and Crombies Resort.
Following his lake work, he found jobs in the area cutting pulp wood for different operators. The last wood camp he worked at was Jack Finch’s operation.
He frequently worked more than one job at a time. He worked for his brother-in-law, Joe Carswell, building the Woodland Freezer Service. He also ran a cruiser for the Forest Service.
While working at Clark and Crombies in Nestor Falls, he met a young, beautiful, blue-eyed brunette who worked in the dining room.
On April 11, 1958, he married this catch of his life, Dorothy Mae McNally Gate. On April 22, 1961, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the St. George Temple.
Art Whiting offered jobs to Chuck and his brothers and sponsored Chuck and Dorothy to immigrate to and work in the United States.
Chuck subsequently ran several gas stations in Utah.
Chuck and Dorothy lived in Utah from 1959-1970. During this time they raised their children, Richard Charles Edward Gate, Dean Walter Gate, Melanie Mae Gate, and Nicole Gate who lived only a few hours away.
While raising these children, Chuck and Dorothy ran Whiting Brother’s Gas Stations, bought and ran the Twin Pines Motel, ran the Hyland Dairy route, and bought and ran a cement plant.
In 1970, they decided to return home to Canada. He bought and ran a farm in Bergland and managed the Makabi Inn in Fort Frances for Jack Markeson. In 1974, they bought Buena Vista Resort in Northwestern Ontario which they ran for 45 years.
Over the years, Chuck served in many capacities in the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, including serving in the Bishopric in Kanab, Utah (1968), branch president in Fort Frances (1972) and branch president in Bergland in 2009.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Gate, and children Rick (Natalie) and Dean (Carla).
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Anna (Rick), Alison (Rick), Chris (Rick), Ryan (Rick), Mae (Rick), Nikki (Rick), Mireya (Dean), Dana (Dean), Dean Jr. (Dean) Willie Mason (Melanie), and Cody Mason (Melanie).
Chuck is also survived by siblings, Larry (Diane), Billy (Caroline,) Joyce (Dell) Jensen, Fred (Nancy), Alfred (Sheila,) and Elaine (Don) Beyak; as well as sisters-in-law, Mert and Donna; and brother-in-law, Leslie McNally.
He is also survived by eight-plus great-grandchildren and 80-plus nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Mabel and Cecil Gate; and daughters, Melanie and Nicole.
He is also preceded in death by siblings, Anne and Joe Carswell, Ronnie, Doris and Norman McNally, Gary, and Keith.
There will be a visitation on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019 at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Bergland.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, at 1 p.m. at Buena Vista Resort in Bergland.
If desired, donations in Chuck’s name may be made to: Rainy River Long Term Care, c/o Northridge Funeral Home, Box 89, Emo, On P0W 1E0
CHARLES GATE
