Gordon Tiessen
Posted Mar 26, 2024 | 10:42 AM
March 13, 2024
It is with heavy hearts we announce the peaceful passing of Gordon, lovingly known as Popsi, a month shy of his 94th birthday. We rejoice that he is now with his Lord and Savior along with family and friends that have gone on before.
He was born in Warman, Saskatchewan to Henry and Mary Tiessen, where his father owned and operated the general store until 1946 when the family moved to Abbotsford, B.C. Gordon was the sixth of eight children and was predeceased by his parents, his wife Muriel, after 42 years of marriage, and his second wife Leone, after 26 years of marriage.
Gordon is survived by 3 children with his wife Muriel (Mix): Brian (Sharilyn) Tiessen, Rod (Rena) Tiessen, Barb (Larry) Boss, along with seven grandchildren: Amy (Mark) Megyesi, Nathan (Elise) Tiessen, Clinton (Laura) Tiessen, Richard Tiessen, Cale (Naomi) Tiessen, Larson (Jodi) Boss, Kari- Lynn (Phil) Koehoorn and ten great grandchildren.
Gordon is also survived by four stepchildren: Robert (Adrianna) Andrews, Glen (Margit) Andrews, Carol (Bruce) Ritchie, Lori (Dale) Stobbe, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition, Gordon is survived by his brother Don (Edith) Tiessen.
Gordon met Muriel in 1949 at Western Canadian Bible Institute in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were married in Vermilion, Alberta where Gordon worked for his father in-law as an equipment operator. In 1951, he started driving tanker trucks for John Rempel Transport until 1954 when he returned to work for his father-in-law’s house moving business in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. Along with his brother-in-law, Ben Francisco, he purchased the business and eventually sold it in1960.
Gordon then moved the family to Kamloops. He worked driving tanker trucks for Rempel Trail Transport, becoming branch manager until his retirement in 1989.
Gordon was active in the Kamloops Alliance Church where he served as an elder and was involved with various choirs, quartets, and other ministries.
After a career as a long-haul truck driver, he took great pleasure pulling his fifth wheel RV throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico. Often these adventures were with friends from the church and, eventually, they ended up at Good Life Resort in Mesa, Arizona where he spent his winters for over twenty years.
Gordon enjoyed many activities such as water and snow skiing, hockey, golf, and playing the piano. Gordon bought an upright grand piano and had it shipped across Canada for his mom when he was only 18 years of age.
In 2009, he published his memoirs in a book appropriately titled, “POPSI”. Gordon loved life and made lasting friendships wherever he went; he was one of a kind and will be missed by all who knew him.
Special thanks to the kind and loving staff at Hillside Village in Salmon Arm. A Memorial Service followed by a lunch reception will be held at the Kamloops Alliance Church, 200 Leigh Rd., Kamloops, B.C. V2B 2L6, 11:00 a.m., May 3, 2024.
You may offer a message of condolence at Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services for the Tiessen family.
- Date : 2024-03-13
- Location : Kamloops