Obituary of Rev. Gordon Ivan Fulford

In loving memory of Reverend Gordon Fulford who passed away on February 24, 2021. A small funeral with family and a few close friends will be held at 2pm on Saturday September 11, 2021 at the Neepawa United-Anglican Church. The family invites you to join them online by FaceBook or Youtube for the service. (Select and copy the links below and paste them into your browser to be able to watch the video stream.) FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1948719878695253 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=neepawa+united+anglican+shared+ministry Our hearts are saddened as we share the news that Gordon Ivan Fulford passed away unexpectedly, Feb 24, 2021 at home in Emerson, MB at the age of 82 years. Gordon will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by his daughters Renee, Nicole & Neysa; his father, centenarian Ivan Glenn Fulford; his son-in laws Martin Jeffrey and Wayne Neault; his precious friend Cristina Alvarez (Spain); and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Pat, Lois, Betty, Dawn and brothers Doug and Ken. He was loved and cherished by many friends, colleagues and parishioners throughout Manitoba and Spain. He is predeceased by his mother Bernice Fulford (Godin) and daughter Holly Fulford-Jeffrey. Gordon was born in Swan River, MB and grew up in rural Manitoba. As a young man he at-tended the University of Winnipeg and was ordained a minister for the United Church in 1963. He ministered in the Rossburn Parish, the Neepawa Area Parish (with 1st wife Ann Nielsen), Grey Street United Church (with 2nd wife Julia Fulford), and the Atlantic - Garden City United Church. He retired in 2001, after serving the United Church for 38 years. Gordon spent his retirement in Spain. In 2018 he returned to Canada and worked with the Valley Pastoral Charge until his death. Gordon loved the ministry and had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and meaningful way, inspiring them. He always had a welcoming smile followed by a big backbreaking hug or strong handshake. He loved a sing-a-long and shared his deep bass voice singing “Be present at our Table Lord” when we gathered for an extended family meal. He enjoyed a good philosophical debate and was not one for laying down arms when it came to his ideals. The love of nature and the outdoors were of great importance to Gordon and the Fulford family. We have many good memories of fishing, camping, hiking, skiing, gardening, or just driving through the countryside on a Sunday afternoon. His mischievous, charming, tenacious, hardworking, handsome, polka dancing, ice cream loving self will be forever in our hearts. As one of his grandchildren shared, there is a little piece of him in all of us. We will miss you Gordon, see you in the Heavens. The family plans to have a memorial service in the future, hoping for an outdoor event in the summer of 2021 if Covid-19 restrictions make that possible. Please accept the family’s heartfelt thank you to all those who were there for him during the Co-vid-19 pandemic with generous gifts of food, phone calls, words, prayers, gestures of love, care and concern. We will be forever grateful. Donations may be made to Canadian Cancer Society or charity of your choice.