February 26, 1937 – April 17, 2026
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our dear father, Gordon (Gordie) “The Garlic Man” Hopko, on April 17, 2026, at the age of 89 years.
Gordon is predeceased by his parents, Peter and Doris, and his brother Cecil. He will be lovingly remembered by his three children; Lyal (Karen), Kimberly (Brian), Pamela (Jason) and seven grandchildren; Ryan, Andrew, Riley, Brinly, Tristan, Noah and Peyton.
By day, Gordon worked for 34 years in Winnipeg as an Industrial Arts Teacher at the Manitoba School for the Deaf, and, in the evening, he was a proud farmer with his brother Cecil in Rockwood, Manitoba. When he lived in Winnipeg on Lipton Street, Gordon was regarded by many as the neighbourhood Mr. Fix-it, a landlord to rental properties, and chief mechanic to the vehicles his children drove. Needless to say, Gordon was a busy guy!
Awake and out of the house early each day, Gordon valued the meaning of hard work and would rarely stop to eat lunch as he felt the need to accomplish as much as possible while the sun was shining. He enjoyed keeping himself busy, making ends-meet, and only resting when it was too dark to see what he was doing. Renowned for his work ethic, Gordon was routinely seen farming, tinkering in his yard, or repurposing old lawnmowers to sell at auctions.
Once retired, Gordon traded city life for a more relaxed pace by returning to his roots in the Interlake. He loved the fields of green and gold, the open space, and the peacefulness of country life. Here, he adopted the title of “The Garlic Man” as he enjoyed planting fields of garlic to harvest and sell at fairs and local groceries. With each growing season, Gordon grew increasingly passionate about his hobby, yielding much satisfaction and pride.
Gordon found his greatest joy in life’s most simple and meaningful moments. Some of his cherished memories were fly-in fishing trips with his son Lyal and family in Northern Manitoba, where he embraced the rugged outdoors – living with few amenities, cooking over an open fire, and taking pride in catching and preparing meals with fish from the surrounding water. In contrast, Gordon enjoyed spending winters in Texas with his special friend Judy, where he enjoyed good company, local markets, and a welcome escape from the Manitoba cold. Closer to home, he treasured his daily routines – morning drives to his favourite McDonalds in Selkirk for a bran muffin and coffee, afternoons at auction sales where he was likely to return home with more treasures than he brought, and his well-known habit of collecting and restoring discarded small engines, giving them new life. These passions reflected his resourcefulness, independence, and appreciation for both adventure and the everyday pleasures of life.
Gordon was a remarkable man; a true role model to his 3 children and 7 grandchildren. He instilled values they each hold dear and try to uphold in their own lives. Gordon will be greatly missed by many friends and family.
As per Gordon’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a service will be held on June 13, 2026 @ 1pm at St. Joseph’s Church, 2 Olive Street, Stony Mountain, MB.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Betel Care Home in Gimli for the exceptional care Gordon received throughout his 3-year stay.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice in Gordon’s name or to Betel Care Home in Gimli.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Gordon’s memorial page using the comment field below.
