W. Gordon BUCHANAN

BUCHANAN, W. Gordon
W. Gordon Buchanan passed away October 19, 2014 at home at the age of 85 after a 20-year battle with Parkinsons Disease. Gordon was born in McCreary Manitoba, the son of Arnold and Irene (nee Butterfield) and moved to High Prairie with his family in 1957. Gordon was in the lumber business all of his life, and it was nearest to his heart. He was a leader in the industry and created models that are used today. Gordon was an entrepreneur, a risk taker and philanthropist. He loved to support new ideas and believed in giving people a hand up. Several successful business people today are the result of Gordon's help. He was involved in everything from a New York Railway to Cryobionics. He often said two things he truly enjoyed was his 11 years as a director of The Alberta Opportunity Company (lender for startup businesses) and being part of the Edmonton Oilers Group. Gordon said they were a group of like-minded men whose only interest was to keep the hockey team in Edmonton.
He was a member of many organizations and volunteered when he could. He was a Life Time member of THE ELKS and THE ALBERTA FOREST PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION. Gordon was honored with Alberta Business Man of the Year in 2002. He was also a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence. The Province built an Arboretum in his honor, and he received the keys to the town of High Prairie. His employees were treated like family and over the years many hundreds came to know him. He felt you should give where you live. School bursaries, a recreation center, and an indoor swimming pool were just a few of his gifts to High Prairie, a town he called home. Gordon felt team sports taught a person much about living life. He felt if you had a healthy body it promoted a healthy mind.
In his later years, Gordon liked to golf; he also enjoyed baseball and skiing, but his first love was always hockey. His quick wit and great sense of humor got him through the more difficult times in his life and made it easier for others.
Gordon is survived by his wife of 28 years, Diane. They were fortunate to have a full and fun life together. He is survived by his sister Verna Wilson. He had four children Lois (Dave) Baroldi, Wanda Wishart, Greg (Donna) Buchanan and Kim Buchanan (Rod Bobke). Gordon's grandchildren were very close and special to him: Lisa Baroldi, Garrett Buchanan (Nicole Pinard), Davis Baroldi, Chelsea (Mike) LaGrange, Brennan, Brett and Brooke Wishart, and Kaitlyn Bobke and recently blessed with two great grandchildren, Gage Buchanan and Hudson LaGrange. He is predeceased by his parents Irene and Arnold Buchanan, his brother Roy Buchanan, his sister Leona Murphy, and by his first wife Carmel Buchanan.
Diane and family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Dr. Armstrong and the Shirley's. A very special thank you to Gordon's caregivers who made his life so much easier. Gordon was a gentlemen and a humanitarian who supported over 100 charities and was noted for saying "if you put back just a little more than you take out, you will leave a better world" …and he did.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Cathedral, 10035 – 103 Street. Edmonton. Gordon's final resting place will be at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gordon and Diane Buchanan Family Foundation, 34 Airport Road, Edmonton, T5G 0W7, for the Buchanan Centre for Parkinson's.