Gordon Kleef passed away suddenly Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital. He was born January 22, 1940 in the Old Nelson Hospital, the youngest of seven. He lived in Salmo until the age of seven. His family moved to the North Shore where he grew up on Heddle Road on the Kleef farm.
In 1963, he met and married Jeannette Makella in Vernon, BC. He returned to Nelson in 1964 with Jeannette and son Gordon to pursue a career in life insurance. Kari was born in 1967 and Richard in 1972.
Gordon loved to socialize and connect with family and friends. He enjoyed camping with his grand children along Kootenay Lake. He had a great sense of humor, with a sparkle of creativity and mischievousness. He would get a hoot out of witty exchanges. He loved to joke around to get a rise out of people, all the better if they came back with a smart alec response. He was an honorable businessman with a professional drive to do the best for his clients. He had a great passion for music and of course for sports.
He will be sadly missed by his wife of just over 50 years, Jeannette, his children Gordon, Kari (Tim) and Richard (Jill). Grandchildren Steven, Austin, Kassidy, Violet and Avery. Sisters Audrey (Fred) Heddle, Helen Mukanic, Maude (Clay) Sealy, Margaret (Al) Dawson. Gordon is predeceased by his father Theodore Kleef, his mother Vada Mary Kleef, brother George Kleef and sister Janie Seifrit.
Special thanks to the doctors and nurses in the Nelson Emergency and to the doctors and nurses in the ICU in Trail.
There will be no service by request.
Donations may be made to the BC Lung Association, PO Box 34009 STN D, Vancouver V6J 9Z9.
Online condolences may be expressed at
www.thompsonfs.ca
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd.