23-May-1952 - 25-Dec-2023
Gary Wayne Mansfield, age 71, passed away on December 25, 2023, while celebrating Christmas with family in Quebec City.
Gary was a kind, considerate and fun-loving man who will be greatly missed by his friends and family. High-school sweetheart and husband of Kathleen, nee O’Keefe, since 1969. Devoted father of sons Kevin, John and Todd, Gary is also lovingly remembered by daughters-in-law Brandy and Monica, grandson Joshua, sister Elaine (Terry), nieces Melanie (Jacqueline) and Michelle (Chris), and great-nieces Leanna, Brady and Aspen. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Ronald and Caroline as well as his brothers-in-law, Harry, Kevin and Tim and Mother-in-law, Kathleen, who was crazy about him, from the get-go, and fondly called him “Derwood”; a “Bewitched” reference.
Gary was born in East York on May 23, 1952. He was raised in Scarborough, attending Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute and then Seneca College. A Boilermaker, by trade, he had a long and fulfilling career at Ontario Power Generation, working in Nuclear Power at The Bruce and at The Darlington Stations. Gary was a proud member of the Power Workers Union.
After leaving Scarborough, Gary and Kathleen raised their family in Southampton and Port Elgin, where he was a fixture at the hockey arena and baseball diamonds, before moving to Peterborough in 1999. He spent many wonderful summers and much of his time, since his retirement, at the cottage on Salerno Lake.
Outside of work life, Gary was a beloved family man, friend, and community member. He touched the lives of many with generosity and willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need. He was the most loyal of friends.
Gary was mechanically gifted and could be found most summers passionately leading a building project at the cottage. It was widely known that there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. He loved a good movie, enjoyed travelling, particularly seeing the world on cruise ships, and was a lifelong fan of JRR Tolkien. Beyond enjoying summer days with friends on the dock, he loved touring the lake on the pontoon boat, euchre nights at the community centre, and exploring the back roads on his ATV.
A celebration of Gary's life will be held on Sunday, January 7th at 12pm at the Taylor Funeral Home in Newmarket, Ontario. Lunch provided. Family and friends are invited to join in remembering and honouring his legacy. Feel free to dress in a way that reflects the joy and vibrancy that Gary brought to everyone’s lives.
Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice may be made in Gary’s memory.
Gary will be deeply missed, but his generous spirit will endure in the cherished memories shared by all who were fortunate enough to know him.