Gordon Turner Hamilton (born 1914 March 24) died peacefully and painlessly of prostate cancer in his 97th year. He had a full retirement (31 years) and led an active life until very recently. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Peggy and his daughters Gayle and Linda (Eric Carnegy), his grandsons Trevor and Tyler Haigh and by numerous nieces and nephews. Gord was the youngest child of Wilmot Turner Hamilton and Mary Elizabeth Victoria Ramsey of Madawaska, Victoria Lake, Ontario. He is predeceased by his 8 brothers Guy, Dave, Tom, Curt, George, Herb, Edgar and Art and his 6 sisters Alma Strub, Lila Skuce, Bertha Haskins, Hester Willis, Laura Bean and Cassie Taylor.
He had the pleasure of being raised on the shores of Victoria Lake and had many stories to pass on about his childhood, working in the lumber camps as a ‘cookee’, playing ‘hookey’ from school in Madawaska and all the antics that the Hamilton boys managed to fit in after the chores were done.
Gord was a World War II veteran, joining up as a sapper in Montreal in June 1940 (2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Engineers), served overseas with the 16th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers in the 8th Brigade, attached to the 21st British Army. He landed on D-Day on Juno Beach at Bernieres sur Mer and was part of the Canadian push to Caan and beyond. He took part in the liberation of Holland. He was discharged in 1945 with a wealth of stories to share and his war service was a time of which he remained most proud. Gordon met his wife Margaret (Peggy) Bowman while in England; she immigrated to Canada in April of 1948 and they were married in Pembroke, Ontario in October 1948.
The experience of growing up “back at the lake” prepared him well for a 31 year career (1948 to 1979) as a conservation officer with the Department of Lands and Forests, Pembroke District. He had been an excellent poacher as a young man and perhaps this aided in his superb skills as an enforcement officer: many poachers were very relieved when he retired.
Gord and Peg lived in Pembroke until 1980 when they then retired to a lovely home on Pigeon Lake near Ennismore, Ontario. During their retirement years Gord and Peg travelled across the United States and Canada. They spent a decade of winters in Florida and moved to Kitchener in 2002 to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. Gord never stopped doing his ‘chores’, as he liked to call them, including snow blowing his driveway at the age of 95 and tending to his bird feeders on a daily basis.
The family would like to sincerely thank all of the doctors and medical staff who supported him throughout his battle with prostrate cancer especially the nursing team at Freeport Hospital. We can’t say enough about how wonderful you all are and how much we appreciate all that you do for not only your patients but the families as well.
We would also like to thank the Veterans Affairs for their assistance over the years.
As expressions of sympathy and to honour his life-long commitment to nature, donations can be made to the Canadian Wildlife Federation and may be placed by contacting the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 519-749-8467.
Gord would want everyone to celebrate his life - so raise a glass and toast his 96 wonderful years!!!!
Cremation has taken place and there will be no ceremony at his request.

The family would love to hear stories about Gord and receive pictures at myladysoul@hotmail.com.