George Molyneux

Molyneux, George Walter age 86 of Swift Current, passed away October 27, 2020 at Clover House with his family at his side.  At George's request his memorial service was held at the First United Church officiated by Reverend Annette Taylor at 2:00pm on November 9, 2020.  Due to COVID 19 the service was by invitation only. 
George was eulogised by his family; scripture was read by his granddaughter Kaitlyn Gruetzner and a PowerPoint was prepared by his granddaughters Taylor Molyneux and Kaitlyn Gruetzner.  The interment of George's ashes will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery close to his beloved grandson Bryce Molyneux. George is survived by his cherished wife of 63 years Eva Molyneux, his daughter Brenda Gruetzner and her husband Roland, his son Brent Molyneux and his wife Lorraine.  He is also survived by his granddaughters Kaitlyn Gruetzner and Taylor Molyneux her fiance Joel Denning and his daughter Mia and Lorraine's children Ali, Marcus, and Bailey. George was honored to be a part of Eva's large family and is survived by her sister Helen Harder (Jac) and brothers Peter Penner (Kathy), Henry Penner (Diane) and sisters in law Nettie Penner and Doreen Penner along with many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
George was preceded in death by his precious grandson Bryce Molyneux.  George was predeceased by his parents Walter Molyneux and Robertina Molyneux, his bothers Robert Molyneux, David Molyneux, sisters Margaret Dowhanuik her spouse Alec and Ellen Weston her spouse Maurice, nephew Dale Weston and niece Carol Dowhanuik.  He was also predeceased by Eva's parents Johann Penner and Maria Penner, her brothers Jacob Penner and Dick Penner.
George was born near Beinfait Saskatchewan in a coal minors shack on October 30, 1933.  He was from a family of coal minors but always knew he wanted a different career than his fathers and uncles before him.  As a young man he worked briefly for the mine, but in 11th grade he met John Rittinger who asked George if he could swing a hammer and did he have a few friends he could bring to a jobsite in the area.  George took up the hammer and a career in construction began.  Even on the that first job George's leadership skills shone through and Rittinger's Construction offered George work in Swift Current. George soon moved in with the Rittinger family and John and George have remained lifelong friends.  
George met the love of his life Eva at a dance in Stewart Valley, she was working at the Swift Current Hospital as a nurse, just until she could figure out where she wanted to land.  Soon they were a couple attending dances in all the surrounding towns almost every weekend.  They were married at the First United Church in Swift Current on June 29, 1957.  
In 1959 George enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force with a trade, his rank was Leading Air Craftsman.  After basic training, George and Eva were posted to the Comox Airbase on Vancouver Island in BC.  Brenda was born in Comox in 1960 followed 2 1/2 years later by Brent in 1962.  While in BC, George owned a small boat and spent hours on the ocean catching cod and salmon, he always said there was no comparison to the fresh caught salmon Eva prepared when he returned from a successful fishing trip.  Later George was transferred to bases at Pagwa River and North Bay Ontario.  George left the Air Force in 1964 returning to Swift Current, where in 1967 they built the home they have lived in for 53 years.
George was very proud of his career in construction, he built several bridges on the #1 highway in the 60s, the Civic Center now the IPlex and worked on many schools, hospitals, and care homes in and around Swift Current.  His largest building was the Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw and his tallest the TD Bank Building in Regina, the longest bridge crossed the Old Man River near Fort MacLeod Alberta.  He worked for several companies, large and small in his career, Rittinger's Construction, Noddwell Construction, Knutson Construction and Graham Construction before deciding to take the leap and be his own boss forming Reliable Contracting in 1978.  This allowed him to work on smaller jobs that showcased his fine carpentry skills.  Dad has left us many treasured pieces, the cradles we rocked our babies in, doll houses and hope chests. 
Even more special was the time dad spent with family.  He came to our houses almost daily when our babies were born and attended every ball, soccer, or hockey game his grandchildren played.  He went to plays, recitals and Christmas concerts.  He was so proud of his grandchildren often saying if he knew how awesome grandchildren were, he would have had them first.  He especially liked to share his love of golf with his family.  He wondered what one would do in retirement if they did not golf.
George was a member at Elmwood Golf Club.  He golfed daily, often playing more than one round a day on the weekends.  He had several holes in one with his most recent in July of 2018 at almost 85 years of age. His favorite vacation spot was Palm Springs and later Thousand Palms, California.  Every winter George and Eva made the drive to southern California where George could extend his golf season by a couple of months.  George lamented that no one wanted to golf 7 days a week, most of the regulars took weekends off to do other things.  In the last couple of years, we are so thankful to Ed Yee who picked George up for golf and for Ed Taylor and Lyle Rempel who golfed rounds with him listening to his endless tales.  George golfed his last round this season about a week before he went to hospital what blessing to be able to do what you love.
George was an avid Bronco fan, attending every game when he was in town and watching them online when he was not.  George played a mean game of rummy, no table talk allowed, learned cribbage from his mom at a young age and when alone at home played solitaire in front of the TV.
George believed in exercise and was out and about on his three wheeled bike several times a day during the warm weather and would even ride in winter if the sidewalks and roads were clear.  He would proudly tell everyone he met that he would be 87 on his next birthday and then say to them everyone must exercise.  Mom and dad walked together almost every evening since March this year, he rode his bike on the Tuesday before he went into hospital.  
On October 15th George was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the hospital his body was not able to recover even though he fought hard to return to the home and life he loved. George will be dearly missed by his family and friends.  Dad never let any of us leave without telling us he loved us.  So, we love you dad rest easy and we will see you again.  
Donations to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #56, Swift Current would be appreciated by the family.
 Warren's Funeral Home were entrusted with the arrangements. For further information call 306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606 or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy on the family tribute wall.  
 

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