GERARD RICHARD JOSEPH MANITOWABI

GERARD RICHARD JOSEPH
MANITOWABI
January 27, 1945 – May 7, 2019
In Loving Memory of Gerard Richard Joseph Manitowabi born on January 27, 1945 in Blind River and died on May 7, 2019 in Little Current, 74 years. Gary, aka Dad, Dada, Pops, was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Florence Manitowabi (Fox), by his parents, Blanche Manitowabi and Alexander Jacko and his siblings Enoch and Donald. He is survived by his siblings, Mary (Robert), Marcel, Terrence, Roland, James, Marilyn (John) and Joan Trudeau; and his special sibling Eugene (Josephine). Cherished brother-in-law of Michael (Rita predeceased), Doris (Phillip), Margaret (Howard) (both predeceased), Jesse (Dave predeceased), Jennifer (Moon) and Andy (Alice) (both predeceased). He is survived by his children, Robert, Dale, Michelle, Shannon and Paul (Patricia); and his special children Duke (Nicole), Rosalind, Lyndon (Kendra), Linda (Noel) and Teresa (Dennis). He leaves a legacy of 34 grandchildren: Christopher (Carmen), Tracy (Jason), Gerard, Stacy (Duke), Dwayne, Mookmaan, Kenneth, Delores, Dakota (Wahss), Dalton, Caleb (Elizabeth), Honor, Cheyenne, Ezra (Cindy), Samantha (Haiden), Zoe, Derrick, Silas, Elijah, Isaiah, Adrian, Mary (Aaron), Anna Bella, Michael, Jason, Isla, Raven, Landon, Connor, Lacey, Lyndra, Kennlyn Ronnie and Rylan. He leaves 19 great-grandchildren: Juliana, Raelyn (predeceased), Alayah, Kylee, Ava, Dustin, Kaneshia, Kane, Autumn, Wasaaya, Sapphire, Sawyer, Lucas, Natalia, Lincoln, Laazar, Haven, Hayden, Micah and many special grandchildren. Pops leaves his beloved dog, Rosco P. Coltrane, best friends Tracy and Stacy, and his pals Stuart, Conrad and Albert. He had a very close friendship with his sister Mary. He was raised in Wiikwemkoong and had a colorful life; living in Toronto, Chicago, Wawa, Terrace Bay, working as a millwright, on factory lines, logging, bus driving, carpentry, maintenance and internet technology. He stayed involved in the community with hockey and refereeing. He enjoyed participating in the annual pow-wow in singing, dancing and event management. He enjoyed making bustles and dance outfits. Music was a constant in his life, whether he was drumming in his basement with his friends, having a jam session in the living room, dancing on the side of the road with his mom or making scone in his kitchen, there was always music. His favourites were Luciano Pavarotti and Christopher Duffley. He was an interesting cook, a hell of a dart player and an avid reader. Partnered and married to Betty for 60 years, they had a hobby farm, ran a sawmill, kept a garden, managed a pow-wow chipstand, went camping, took road trips, went hunting, gathered wild vegetables and mushrooms, fished a lot and spent most of these moments with extended family. He is a residential school survivor and proud member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. He will be greatly missed. Baa maa pii kaa waab min, Noos, Nimishomis, Nisayenh, Niijikiwenh, Wiidookaagewinini. Visitation from 4 pm on Thursday, May 9 at St. Ignatius Church, Buzwah.
Funeral Mass was11am at Holy Cross on Saturday, May 11, 2019. Cremation followed.