Norman Humphrey Gelpke

Dr. Gelpke was predeceased by his father Herman and his mother Constance, his wife Susie and his brothers Robert and Peter and Peter's wife Joan. He will be sadly missed by his brother Paul (Mary) his sister-in-law Joan, and his nephews and nieces: David, Vivien, Paul, Patricia, Elaine, Sarah, Mark, Alice and Sally and their children: Emma, David, Elizabeth, Simon, Stephanie, Hannah, Molly, Gillian, Sam and Jak. Dr Gelpke was very well loved by his family, his patients and his wide circle of friends around the world.

Norman was born in Croydon in 1927 and educated at Epsom College and St Mary's Hospital in London, U.K. In the 1950's he joined the RCAMC as a medical officer serving in the Korean War. Subsequently he settled in West Vancouver and commenced a long professional career on the North Shore, ultimately becoming the Head of Orthopaedics at Lions Gate Hospital.

Norman was very adventurous and had a lifelong passion for medicine and for skiing. In the 1970's he helped to set up the "doctor on the hill" service at Whistler and became a founding member of the annual Zurs Orthopaedic conference in Austria. Norman and Susie enjoyed an active life together in Deep Cove and at Whistler, with a menagerie of animals over the years. He was a very kind and generous man and always interested in everyone he met.

We would like to thank all those who participated in enabling Norman to have a dignified and happy quality of life over the past few years. A celebration of Dr Gelpke's life will be held at Hollyburn Funeral Home, 1807 Marine Drive, West Vancouver on Friday 04 March at 11am.

In lieu of flowers donations could be made to Lions Gate Hospital or North Vancouver SPCA in Norman's name.