John Gordon Kelly
May 4, 1933 ~ July 24, 2020

Gordon Kelly, late of Prince Albert, SK, passed away at the age of 87 at the Victoria Hospital with his family by his side on Friday, July 24, 2020.

Gord was born on May 4, 1933, in Elstow, SK to Patrick (Pappy) & Eva Kelly. The Kellys moved to Prince Albert in 1941.

Gord’s first job was with Sick’s Brewery – which later became Molson’s. Gord also started a fund-raising project to build a new rink in Prince Albert. He started a lottery called “mini-stakes” and in 1971 the Communiplex was born, with Gord as manager. While managing the rink, he took courses and was hired to start up a pilot project called Life Skills in Drumheller, Alberta, at the Penitentiary. The family moved to Drumheller and Gord worked for Correctional Services for almost 10 years before moving back to Prince Albert, SK. In 1981, Gord was hired to work at the Penitentiary in Prince Albert, SK, where he remained until his retirement.

During his employment with Corrections in Prince Albert, Gord was one of the first people involved in the Employee Assistance Program for federal employees. He also started an Alcoholics Anonymous program for the inmates. Gordon was also heavily involved with PACADA (Prince Albert Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse) and was Chairman for 8 years. During this time, Gordon was also involved in the development of the substance abuse program that is offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, formally SIAST.

While in high school, Gordon met the love of his life, Thelma Zimmerman. They would have been married 67 years in October.  Gord and Thelma’s union blessed them with three children: Karen, Kevin and Kimberly.

In his early years, Gordon was very active.  He was involved in hockey (played for the Mintos), bike riding, golfing, bowling, cross-country and downhill skiing, and jogging. In his later years, he was still an avid golfer, golfing almost every day.  Gord became active in the church as well. Not only did he run the sound, but he also served on council and was part of the acting group “Wesley Players” at Wesley United Church.

Gord loved to travel and was lucky enough to have seen several parts of the world from South America, United States, Europe, Mexico, and Canada coast-to-coast.

Gordon was very involved with his children and grandchildren’s lives and he attended every swim meet, dance recital, band concert, hockey game, and baseball game.

For 53 years, Gord was a strong member of the Alcoholics Anonymous Program and never missed a meeting, even during all of his travels. He was the member in Prince Albert that had the most years of sobriety!

 

 

 

Gord leaves to mourn his wife Thelma and their children: Karen (Ron) Pikaluk and children Milan (Matt Walters), Brennan (Kendra Brown), Landon (Jessie Depeel) and Daylin; Kevin (Karina Yustiz) and children Ryan, Reid and Isabella; Kim (Lonnie Skiffington) and children Vanessa, Brayden and Cade; sister Mildred Garson and family; sister and brother-in-law Bev (Keith) Bellan and family; brother-in-law Dave Kenney and family; eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and countless dear friends and fellow members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 8, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Prince Albert Memorial Gardens. Due to COVID-19, the celebration will be by invitation only.  If you would like to attend, please email Kim at: kimberlykelly444@gmail.com by August 5, 2020 due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

In lieu of tributes, donations can be made to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca.  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel.

• Date : 2020-07-24
• Location : Prince Albert, SK