Snow day.

I remember returning from some trip, likely a bowling tournament as it was during a blizzard.  We had left the 401 and were running down a secondary road when we came to a bit of a valley that was heavily drifted in.  Cars were lined up on both sides, and one or two were being pushed out, and the cars waiting, were afraid to try their luck.  

Of course, Ed did not mind driving in the winter, and I think he rather enjoyed it.  The Ford pick up truck he drove was very good in snow as he cared to put good snow tires on in the winter and some extra weight in the box.

So he moves to the front, talks to a couple of the people out of their cars helping the ones that were stuck and are now out.  He said he would clear a path for the remaining cars.  Off we went, snow was over the bumpers in a few places, but his momentum and weight of the truck we smashed our way through.  We stopped on the other side and watched as several of the waiting cars followed his trail through the snow and made it to the other side.  

Didn’t take too long for the gale-like wind to blow a lot more snow across his path.  And cars started backing up on either side again.  What did Ed do?  Turned around and plowed through yet again.  Letting several more cars follow to the other side.

Waited a bit longer, made sure cars could go through before we made our final pass and went on our way.

The afternoon Ed stopped to help someone.

I remember the family driving to a restaurant for an evening meal.  Came to an intersection on a steeper hill and noticing a large tractor hauling 2 very full gravity buckets (grain wagons).  It wasn’t moving.  Brief puffs of dark smoke from the exhaust told us something wasn’t quite right and we should move around them.

As we cautiously drove around we saw a younger woman in the cab frantically waving to come to her.  Without hesitating, my dad stopped and went to see what the matter was.  

I don’t remember exactly what happened, if my dad asked my mother to move the car around the corner, or if he did, but the car was moved.  Then my dad accompanied the woman around the corner and over the bridge in the cab of the tractor.

The woman’s story was, she was helping out her husband on the farm and didn’t have much experience with tractors.  He had sent her to the feed mill with very basic instruction on his tractor.  Left her in a high gear to get her there fastest.  Well, that didn’t work on that hill as she did not know how to shift to a lower gear and when she tried to take off in a high gear it would just stall the tractor hauling that heavy load.  

I remember my dad being upset that she was sent with so little instruction.  He put the tractor into a lower gear, got her going and told her not to worry about the higher gear for now, just get there.

Dad was always involved with Ron and I with sports and later our families. We have many memories of Dad stopping to help someone or help out where there was a need. I remember one time Kim and I and the boys (toddlers, still in strollers etc.)  were on our way to Darien Lake Park on the other side of Buffalo. We made it to St.Catherines when my Transmission flywheel shattered on the QEW. Mom and Dad were at the trailer park near Grand Bend at the time (about 2 and a half hours away). When we finally got a hold of them, Dad was on a mission to come to our rescue. Needless to say it was a long wait and long day but so grateful. Another time, I was out driving in early winter with both my boys who were toddlers at the time in the back of my van when my transmission broke. It was in the later evening (dark) and we didn't have a second vehicle to have Kim pick us up. I only had reverse for a gear that worked and I was able to get myself and the boys off the busy street and into a Canadian Tire parking lot. I made a call to Dad and he dropped whatever it was he was doing to come get us and sort out a plan to get the van fixed and get us home for the night. That was Dad 100%. Selfless, patient, and reliable.

Miriam and family.
Please accept our sincere condolences in the passing of Eddie. 
You both were very pleasant neighbours and Dukey enjoyed our visits when we stopped by to say hi.
May he RIP.
Gary and Janet

OBITUARY

Edward Carl Gole

13 August, 1943 – 5 October, 2026

Westmount Memorial Celebration Centre

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