June 6, 1938 - December 25, 2022
In loving memory ~
Tony passed peacefully away in the North Okanagan Hospice on December 25th, 2022, with family by his side.
Tony was born on June 6th, 1938, in Broadacres, Saskatchewan on the family homestead. He was the youngest child of Moritz and Julianna Gutenberg. During his younger years, he loved track & field in school and playing goalie for hockey on the frozen pond in the winter. He was a tad mischievous as the janitor and postmistress could attest to! In later years, his co-workers would also see how mischievous he really was. At 16 years of age, Tony left school and worked on the family farm for the next four years. From there he worked for other farmers for a couple of years before heading west to B.C. Once there, he originally settled in Kelowna and worked for Stewart's Planer, Jaschinsky Orchards and Stuart's Nursery. He then moved to Lumby and worked for the Jaschinsky's at Echo Lake Ranch, before being hired on with Weyerhaeuser Sawmills. Here he worked for 38 years in a variety of positions: in the bush, on the green chain, as a carrier and finally as lead saw filer.
Tony met and married the love of his life, Christine MacDonald on July 3rd, 1965. Together they raised three daughters on Whitevale Road, where Tony enjoyed decorating the yard for Christmas. Tony loved to go camping, fishing, huckleberry picking and enjoy scenic drives around the back roads of the Lumby area. In his early years, he enjoyed curling and volunteering with the Lumby Lions and helping out at Lumby Days until the shift work made it too difficult to continue. He enjoyed the season tickets that he and Christine held for many years watching the Vernon Vipers play. Tony did many things anonymously for families and neighbours to help them out, such as buying groceries, plowing snow, and dropping off a truckload of firewood. He instilled this value in all of his three daughters.
Tony's memory will be cherished by his daughters, Ellen (Rick) Leyk, Marlene Lang, and Angie (Randy) Meier; grandchildren, Joseph and Alice Leyk, Sidney Lang and Daniel and Justine Meier; one brother, Frank (Connie) Gutenberg; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Christine on January 18th, 2021; and his siblings, Helen O'Neal, Barbara Veller, Peter Gutenberg, Mary Schmidt, Joe Gutenberg, Andrew Gutenberg, Veronica Sauerwald and Katie Gutenberg.
The family extends thanks to Dr. Barss and Dr. Michaud for their medical care over the past few years. A special thank you to Dr. Croft, Dr. Smith, and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital 7th Floor staff for providing such wonderful care to Tony for the past two months. His final two weeks were difficult but made it easier to bear with the loving support and compassionate care from the Hospice House staff. You made us all feel welcome, and we were able to create a home away from home for Tony. For a man who never ate soup, he sure liked yours! As Tony mentioned before he passed, "Heaven will never be the same now, with me hanging with my buddy Ray Cover."
In respecting Tony's wishes, he was cremated, and a family Memorial will be held at a later date. As an expression of sympathy, those who wish to do so may send donations in memory of Tony to the North Okanagan Hospice Society or the Kidney Foundation of B.C. - Kelowna Branch.
Cremation arrangements were made with
BETHEL FUNERAL CHAPEL LTD.,
5605-27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5
250-542-1187