Gordon Arnold

Gordon Arnold passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on August 10, 2021. Gord was predeceased by his father Gordon Arnold. He is survived by his wife Arleene; and their children Len and Katie (Rene); his three grandsons Noah, Trail and Sunny; and daughter-in-law Kusuma; his mother Beryl; and two sisters JoAnne (Greg), Lori (Roy); nephew Brad; and niece Taya. There are also numerous other relatives and friends who will all miss him.

Gord was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan on March 7, 1959 and lived most of his life in Regina. Gord graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Administration in 1985. He became a Certified Management Accountant in 1989. He worked as an auditor for the Canada Revenue Agency from 1988 to 2018, when he retired.

Gord married his lifelong partner, and favourite travelling companion, Arleene, in 1987, though they lived together for three years before making it official. Together they brought Lenard and Katie into the world.

Gord was blessed to watch Katie blossom into a beautiful and vibrant woman and mother, to watch Rene and Katie provide a happy, adventurous home for three beautiful boys. Another high point of Gord’s life was the years Len and Kusuma lived with Gord and Arleene while Len pursued his education. The movie nights, motorcycling, Kusuma’s cooking, the laughter: what fun!

Gord had a lifelong passion for music, playing guitar, harmonica, and singing with friends at jam sessions, entertaining in the Regina music scene, in bands and solo, and on various recording projects. Gord was an avid scale model builder, building 1/25 scale cars, 1/35 scale WW2 military vehicles, and 1/48 scale WW2 aircraft. Gord was pleased to bring the joy of model building to grandson Noah, and wished he could have stayed around do the same for his younger grandsons. Gord was a motorcyclist, travelling far and wide, often over rough terrain, sometimes with friends, with daughter Katie, son Lenard, and with his best travelling companion, Arleene. Gord had fond memories of camping off an overloaded KLR650 with Arleene on numerous adventures. Gord was so fortunate to have a rough and tumble, adventurous partner, Arleene, who could help him lift the KLR659 off the ground after it went down in loose gravel, and who withstood rain, cold, heat, and wind, and could still pitch a tent at days end. Not many men were as fortunate. Gord also enjoyed travel adventures planned by Arleene. Gord was an enthusiastic history buff, and enjoyed power walking, swimming, and weight lifting. Gord cherished his many friends from the worlds of model building, music, motorcycles, and work. Gord enjoyed the many family suppers and BBQs over the years. The BBQs at Gord Sr. and Beryl’s were especially tasty!

Gord was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous starting in 1998. Gord owed his life to this organization, which gave him a renewed passion for life and previously unimaginable joy. The fellowship provided Gord with countless friends whom he valued dearly. Without his AA family, Gord could never have had the rewarding life he received.

Gord wishes to thank the doctors and staff at the Family Medicine Unit, The Regina Pain Clinic, and Exit International, which is a leading non-profit, voluntary assisted dying organization. Gord especially wishes to thank Arleene for her love, support and compassion over the years.

Gord wishes his family and friends peace and joy. He hopes they can accept that he is now at peace, free of pain and sickness. At the end, the pain and illness were a burden he could no longer carry. His death is not a tragedy, it is deliverance. Gord was grateful for the good run he had, but also accepted that all good things must come to an end. Or do they? Gord’s favourite song lyric, composed by the late, great Jimi Hendrix: “If I don’t meet you in this world, I’ll meet you in the next one. And don’t be late! ‘Cause I’m Voodo Child…lord knows I’m a Voodoo child”.

A private family service will take place at a later date.