GEORGE GORDON EMES

It is with great sadness that the family of George Gordon Emes announces his unexpected passing, peacefully in his sleep, on Tuesday, May 6, 2014.
George was born March 6, 1945 in St. Boniface, Man. to George Sr. and Alice Emes (Barbour).
As a child, George lived all over Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba as a railroad brat; the most memorable for George being Mine Centre, Ont.
In 1955, George’s family moved to Fort Frances, Ont. to live in their first permanent home on Crowe Avenue. George completed his education in Fort Frances; the happy times of his youth spent with his friends in the Happy Syndicate (you know who you are!)
It was during these happy days that he met the love of his wife, Cathy Pidlubny.
George and Cathy were married Dec. 17, 1966 in Fort Frances and started their married life in Winnipeg. Man., where vocal Deborah joined the family. Later, they returned to Fort Frances and George joined the Fort Frances Police Department.
Then at the age of 25, he and Cathy started their real estate empire—new house, 16-unit apartment complex, and a new red-headed bundle of joy, Kimberly, was added to the happy family.
Always being an entrepreneur at heart, George and Cathy purchased their first retail business, The Book Stop, then later moved on to Emes Office Essentials.
George and Cathy joined the Kinsman and Kinette club during this time, actively working to improve the community alongside the great friends he made. George also was a founding member of the Downtown Business Improvement Area.
George touched many people through his work as an Immigration officer, college instructor, and Community and Social Services worker. His most enjoyable sabbatical was his time driving tourist shuttles for his friends, the Bocks, at North Air.
The career he enjoyed the most was his retirement career as a financial advisor for Edward Jones, and most recently as proprietor of Emes Financial—IPC Securities.
George’s community involvement continued when he joined the board of the Rainy River District Future Development Corp., most recently serving as chairman for the past several years. It also was at this time that he renewed his involvement with the Downtown Business Improvement Area to continue the revitalization of our downtown core.
George’s proudest achievement in life was his family—loving wife, Cathy; daughters, Deborah, and Kimberly and son-in-law, Paul; his beautiful granddaughter, Paige; his special boy, grandson Joshua; and special granddaughter of choice, Jaime Taylor.
For 42 years, George loved to share time with his family and friends at our family cabin on Bad Vermilion near Mine Centre, where George enjoyed the best times of his life.
George is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cathy (Pidlubny); daughters, Deborah Emes and Kimberly (Paul) Nicholson; grandson, Joshua, and granddaughter, Paige Silver of Waterloo, Ont.; sister, Joan (Gordon) Nazvesky of Dryden Ont.; and nieces, Allison (Sean) Anderson and their children of Toronto, Ont., and Kerry (Corey) Nazvesky of Dryden, Ont.
He also is survived by his brother-in-law, Bill Pidlubny and nephews, Ryan (Jamie) and Kyle (Jen) and their children, Kurtis, and their mother, Kathy Pidlubny, all of Calgary, Alta.; brother-in-law, Ron (Pearl) Pidlubny of Fort Frances, Ont., and nephews, Clint (Jacqueline) Pidlubny of Minneapolis, Mn. and Cliff Pidlubny of Fort Frances, Ont; sister-in-law, Donna Pidlubny of Toronto, Ont. and her daughters, Adrien and Samantha; brother-in-law, Greg Pidlubny and daughter, Erin, and her son of Winnipeg; Man.; and mother-in-law, Dixie Pidlubny of Fort Frances, Ont.
Also surviving are his special cousins and friends, Ina (Glenn) and Amanda Ruttle of Sprague, Man., and James (Jane) Barbour of East St. Paul, Man.; his special sisters from another mother, Madeine Brown and Cathy (Rob) Tysz; as well as numerous cousins on the West Coast and special aunties and uncles, Nonie Thomson, Reg Emes, and Lorne and Anne Emes.
He was predeceased by his parents, George (1997) and Alice (2007) Emes; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A celebration of George’s life was held Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Knox United Church in Fort Frances.
A reception followed downstairs in the McMillan Hall.
A private interment will follow at a later date.
The honourary pallbearers were Ron Pidlubny, Bill Pidlubny, Greg Pidlubny, Allen and Barbra Molstead, Roy and Marilyn Brown, Roy White, Dan Livingston, Geoff Gillon, James Barbour, Bill Tryhuk, Gary Silver, Madeline Brown, and Gord McBride.
To honour George’s dedication to community services, the family requests that in memoriam donations be directed to The Emes Entrepreneurial Fund.
Donations can be made at the TD Bank or by cheque to the Rainy River Future Development Corp., 601 Mowat Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 1Z4.