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Dr. Gerald W. REMPEL
Dr. Gerald W. REMPEL
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Gerald REMPEL Obituary
REMPEL, Dr. Gerald W.
January 2, 1942 - August 5, 2014
Suddenly, on August 5. Our Gerry grew up in small town Manitoba, and although not favoured physically by Nature and Fortune, endowed with a gift for learning, he graduated as a Medical Doctor in 1966. A gentle soul, compassionate to those he treated, he won the Best Bedside Manner award among the new interns at St. Boniface Hospital. He said that, at his first position in Winnipeg's North End, the doctors were frequently paid with homemade sausage rings and other delicacies, and for the rest of his life he could never equate doctoring with the accumulation of wealth. Eventually he found a niche with CN and Air Canada in Winnipeg, acquiring Flight Surgeon Qualifications, and looking after the well-being of all those who shepherd us through the skies. For the last thirty-five years he continued this good work in Vancouver, where he lived his idiosyncratic private life on Beach Avenue, and more important public life at his airport clinic. His family in Manitoba always looked forward to his visits, arriving in an enormous rented Lincoln Continental, filled with his generous spirit. Thanks to all those who made his life pleasant, and all those who tried their best to keep him in this world. Vivere est laborare. He lived for his work. Left to remember are his son Matthew (Karen), two grandsons Jackson and Maxwell, two brothers Ryan (Yvonne) and Melvin, nieces Tara, Marisa, Leslie and their families, his extended family members, his friends and colleagues, and many appreciative patients.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
18 Entries
melvin rempel
March 29, 2020
When you are finished dying,
I will have finished living.
Til then we spirits of memory
and anticipation,
must pace at that limit,
that fence migrating creatures
in a reserve soon find.
When you have said a last word,
this prayer will end.
All our long-ago talk become dust,
settled as silver or gold
on younger tongues.
When you have had a last look,
this mirror will turn to glass.
Seen through it the night fallen,
the creation's stars.
Melvin Rempel
December 25, 2018
Time's snowfall has nearly covered both our tracks,
Future perfects thinned out to a simple past.
Photos there are, paper prints
drifting from house to house,
But my tired eyes no longer strain to see what's lost,
the battle, and the peace, beyond the gloss.
So, in my ancient snowy evenings,
I try to feel again
your endless warm vancouver rain,
to say
some slow words, some slow words
to unconditional love and subsiding time,
limping all the way.
As something lasting, it's not much
before we lastingly lose touch.
Melvin Rempel
December 26, 2016
I missed you at christmas, brother,
emptying the old man's liquor cabinet
to the last half bottle of peach brandy.
In the solitude of old age
The pain of memory is a fire,
leaving nothing but ashes.
The ashes that fell from our cigarettes,
burning holes in our new white shirts,
the ashes from the old coal furnace,
that we dumped on the snow in the garden,
the ashes that float,
like the lights of vancouver,
on english bay.
In the solitude of old age,
I am told we each must die alone our own death,
But still, Gerry, it's midnight on christmas eve,
and there's a half bottle
of peach brandy to talk our way through....
Nice to know you, Dr. Rempel.
Jim Feaver
April 16, 2016
Dr. Rempel had been doing my medicals since 1990. He was a friendly, thoughtful person and he will be greatly missed.
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Scott Stewart
February 2, 2015
Dr. Rempel was a wonderful man.
Jerry Cutler
October 21, 2014
Dr. Rempel was a kind, caring, wonderfully practical man - and he never "judged". R.I.P., my friend.
Stephen St Pierre
October 21, 2014
Very sad to hear...
Doctor Rempel maintained my FAA and Canadian licenses for many years at Air Canada and after retirement.
A great loss. I also can attest to his caring manner / treatment of his patients.
Brent Meyer
October 14, 2014
Sorry to hear of the passing of a Great Flight Surgeon. I will miss my doctor.
Capt. B Meyer
John Caruso
October 6, 2014
Dr. Rempel – Did my medicals for many years. He also helped me with other medical issues/questions over the years which was very kind of him. He was always so positive, took a personal interest and remembered a lot about me for some who only saw me twice a year.
Dr. Rempel was truly one of the good guys in this world.
I will miss him.
John Caruso
Chris Evans
October 6, 2014
I phoned in today to make an appointment for my medical and was very sorry to hear that Gerry had passed away. Dr. Rempel was a special fellow. I always enjoyed seeing him for my pilot medicals at Air Canada before my retirement and Ultima clinic after. A very pleasant man. Gerry, I listened to you and lost some weight after my last medical!
You won't soon be forgotten.
Chris Evans, AC Ret. Still flying corporate!
islay rempel
September 30, 2014
He was unique...a special human being....
Wayne Mahar
September 11, 2014
Always enjoyed my medical with him , very nice gentleman!
August 22, 2014
Dr. Rempel was my flight surgeon since 1994. I can attest to his "bedside manner" and his quiet dignity. I will truly miss him.
- Gord Andrews (Vancouver)
Vi Barker
August 18, 2014
Will miss seeing Gerry in the elevator in the mornings on his way to work.
Tenant from Beach Towers
Kirsten Brazier
August 15, 2014
RIP Dr. Rempel - you were a good and kind man with a great sense of humour and I appreciate the privilege of having known you for over 20 years. You always remembered what was going on in your patient's lives and took the time to care. I was always glad to return to YVR and find you still there after all these years and now I just feel damn sad that won't be true any more. And I won't be able to share the news that I got my US Airline Transport License - Helicopters right after my last visit with you. Thanks for being there.
Best Regards,
Kirsten Brazier
Professional Pilot ATPL A/H
Robert Jackson
August 14, 2014
Such sad news. Dr Remple did every one of my aviation medicals since age 17. I always enjoyed our visits every year, for the last 23 years.
John Sinclair
August 14, 2014
Doc Rempel did almost all of my Transport Canada medicals, he did some of my Son's as well. My father in law remembers him doing his CN medicals over the years. He has generation of pilots and rail workers who are all thankful for his grace and style, he will be missed. Thank you Doc, you were one of the best!
Wendy Andre
August 11, 2014
Matt you know what your dad meant to me. We shared the same year of birth and joked about it frequently. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him until I retired. We were both suppose to retire at the same time, but he enjoyed his time with the pilots and wanted to stay as long as he could, and he did. He will be missed by both Wilson and myself and all the pilots who came to see him
- Posted by: Wendy Andre and Wilson Andre (Work colleague) on: Aug 10, 2014
Showing 1 - 18 of 18 results
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