Edward Andrew Gunther

Edward Andrew Gunther was born on a cold wintry day, February 26, 1964, in Steinbach, Manitoba. The family lived in Landmark, a small town, and when the time came they had to make a 60 km trip, much of it on gravel roads to get to civilization and the nearest hospital. On arrival at the hospital Mom was rushed to the delivery room and their 5th son, Edward, was born almost immediately. After they were home with the new baby, a storm blew through the region, 4 foot high snow drifts and no power or water for several days. Baby Edward was bundled so snuggly that all you could see was his nose but he was content. His bottle was warmed by holding it over a lit candle and he ate and slept like a baby. So content in fact that an Auntie, who was a nurse, was worried that something was wrong.

In 1966 the family moved to BC where they bought a poultry farm on Queen Street and lived in an 800 sq. ft. home with 5 boys and only ONE bathroom. The farm grew and so did the boys and many hours were spent doing chores. Ed’s love of sports was developed early and he wanted to play hockey like his brothers but he was too small in stature. He did play softball though and coached a women’s softball team to victory and was score keeper and statistician for the church hockey team on which his brothers played.

Here on Queens he found his life-long friend, Gary Thiessen, who lived across the street and together they attended Simpson elementary. Ed may have looked angelic with his blue eyes and blond curls but mischief hovered beneath the surface and twinkled in his eye and the 2 boys got into their share of trouble.

This was also the time when the family adopted Ruth… the long awaited little girl, and the family was complete. Eventually the house was bursting at the seams with all this growing testosterone and a new house on the corner of Queens and Peardonville was purchased. It was at least twice the size of the old house with a full finished basement and TWO bathrooms.

Ed went on to attend high school at MEI and transferred to Mouat for his senior years. Here he met Becky and suddenly he had to quit school, get a job and get married… all within 9 months.

On October 18, 1983 their daughter Rachael Leanne was born and Ed was a Dad. Rachael proved even at a young age to be just as independent and private as her father. After Ed and Becky split, Rachael lived with her Dad in a small trailer on the farm and he did his utmost to be the best Dad to his little girl.

He became an avid collector of sports trading cards and other paraphernalia and went to shows where he could buy and sell products to and from other enthusiasts. It was at one of these shows that he met Brea and before long she was hanging out at the trailer and it was apparent that she was someone special to Ed. Together Ed and Brea had two daughters, Kristen Rose on June 3rd, 1993 and Jessie Marie on March 24th, 1996.

Maybe they couldn’t live in the same house together but Ed and Brea were still civil with each other and cared for their daughters jointly. Even when Brea moved on, Ed remained a part of the family and would often take the girls, including Willow and Faith (Brea’s daughters), whom he treated with love and respect even though they were not his own. Gary and his family remained an important part of Ed’s life as did Brea’s family and he probably spent more time with the family he chose than with the family he was born into.

Ed was a quiet, private person from childhood on. He kept his thoughts and feelings to himself, sharing when HE felt like it but clamming up if the person became too intrusive. He liked to read and watch sports, formula 1, animal and history shows.

On June 10, 1998 Ed became a Grandpa at the age of 34. He thought he was way too young to be called Grandpa and so he instructed Sydney to call him Master E, which she did. Another girl for his family. The guy who was so uncomfortable talking about private things and now he had to deal with 3 daughters and a granddaughter and puberty and all that entails.

Jessie satisfied Ed’s passion for sports as she was developing her talents on the basketball court and Ed became the consummate “basketball Dad” helping and driving and attending almost every game. Ed may not have played a lot of sports himself but he was smart in the ways of the game and the strategies and stats that went along with it.

Years ago, a summer trip to Osoyoos was taken and so enjoyed that it became an annual tradition that everyone loved. Ed and the girls, when they were younger, would collect pop cans and bottles all year and all the proceeds were for the trip.

Last year Ed was able to take all his girls, Rachael and Sydney, Kristen and Jessie on the family vacation and this year it was part of his bucket list to go to Osoyoos one more time. Brea and Brian helped make it happen and they took Ed, Kristen and Jessie for one last holiday… a shorter holiday but maybe more meaningful than any of the others.

Approximately 2 years ago Ed complained of a nagging back ache and after many trips to clinics and doctors, was finally diagnosed with cancer. He was told that it was terminal and the most they could do was give him some treatments to alleviate his pain and give him more time. He chose to bear the burden of that information on his own so as not to worry his girls or anyone else.

He became a full time Dad, chauffeur and friend. He was able to attend Jessie’s basketball games even though it probably was not always very comfortable sitting on stands for hours, he didn’t complain because that’s just how Ed was. He appreciated visitors with Timmies coffee cups in hand, meals and goodies delivered to his door and was bold enough to start requesting his favorites: Rollkuchen, cinnamon buns, strudel… to name a few.

He went through several rounds of chemo and radiation and it became obvious that although the treatments offered some temporary relief, maybe this wasn’t going to end well and the truth came out. As hard as it was for everyone, it was probably harder for Ed, knowing that he would possibly become a burden to those he loved the most and who would take care of his girls when he was no longer there. He wouldn’t be there when they need him, he wouldn’t be there to witness their achievements, he wouldn’t be there to celebrate their accomplishments, he just wouldn’t be there….

When times were the hardest his old friends that had stood by him forever stepped up. Gary, Brea and Brian, as well as Kristen and Jessie took on the roles of caregivers and he was amazed at the strength, love and time they were willing to give.

On August 22 Ed came into hospital as his homecare became more than the family could manage. He just wanted to go home but after a rough night where things got decidedly worse, he came to realize that he would probably not go home again. His condition worsened and his pain meds were upped but when he was awake he was still his usual joking self, wondering if people could break him out of there or when was Wayne Gretzky going to make an appearance, which nurse he wanted for his sponge bath and claiming abuse when bruises appeared.

He valued visits from family members and wanted to “keep it light” and positive. He wanted Kristen or Brea there with him all the time and so they set up a “home away from home” and did more than many could. Kristen filled his bulletin board with all the things he loved, pictures of his girls and friends, Timmy’s cup, Rollkuchen (yes, that’s right), Juicy Fruit, Sticky’s. On Wednesday night all the family came for short visits and he was still joking and being himself… what a blessing for all of us.

Friday morning at 7:50 Ed left us quietly with Kristen, Brea and Gary at his side.

He will be remembered with love by his girls Rachel (Mike and Sydney), Kristen and Jessie, his parents Peter and Melane, his best friends Gary, Brea and Brian (Willow and Faith), his siblings Peter (Marita), John (Ingried), Dave (Teresa), Phil (Janine) and Ruth (Craig) many nieces and nephews as well as friends in Jessie’s basketball circle.

On Thursday, Brea wrote a Thankful Thursday post on Facebook that sums it up.

“As I sit here in this hospital room, looking at a man who has been such an amazing father to my 2 beautiful daughters, I can’t help but be thankful for the life journey I have been a part of. Ed has given so much of himself to all his daughters, never asking for anything in return. Just knowing that his girls were happy was all he ever needed. These last few months, Ed has taught me so much, all of which will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have seen kindness and generosity in people I never thought was possible. Even though this has been a hard time, there have been some amazing bonds formed, relationships healed and a fragmented family made whole again. So in the end I have to say I am most thankful for Ed.”