Travis Jason Thorvaldson

Travis Jason Thorvaldson, aged 87 years of Moose Jaw and formerly of Bredenbury, SK, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, November 23rd, 2012.  He was predeceased by his parents, Kristjan and Jonina Thorvaldson; brothers: Thorgimor, Wilbert, John, Edwin and Walter; sisters: Elin, Lillian, Bertha and Beatrice; grandsons, Jason Nelson and Rodney Thorvaldson; great-grandson, Tyler Scott Keyowski and great-great-granddaughter, Alivia Jordon.  Travis will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy; his children: Sandra (Jim) MacPheat, Chris (Sherry) Thorvaldson, Linda (Terry) Lavineway, Sharon Thorvaldson (Frank), Dianne Thorvaldson (Marc), Cindy (Greg) Broadis and Elaine (Brent) Knuttila.  He also leaves 20 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; his sister, Ruby Heinrich and numerous other relatives; and loving dog Meggie.  Travis was born March 26th, 1925 in Bredenbury, Saskatchewan.  He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and returned home in 1945.  He married Dorothy Davis in 1948 and they farmed for a few years and then moved into town, where Trav worked with CP Rail.  He also worked for Esterhazy Potash Mine.  The family moved to Moose Jaw in 1972, where he worked in sales.  Travis will always be remembered as being a very creative man.  He had an amazing ability to figure out how things worked, and then found a way to fix it, repair it, or just make it his own way.  He enjoyed tinkering on vehicles, always buying an old clunker and fixing it up.  He spent most of every day in his garage, finding projects to work on.  He was also a big prankster, especially trying tricks on all his grand-children.  He loved garage sales, playing crib, running his grandchildren to school or picking them up to head off to another activity.  Hockey games would always find him on the bench cheering them on.  He liked camping and especially loved company.  Family was very important to him.  He enjoyed his music and would try to play just about any instrument.  The piano was his favourite, but also the banjo, the harmonica and of course the comb or the spoons.  He loved watching the birds and squirrels, boating and fishing.  He especially enjoyed a good fire.  Travis will be sadly missed by those who knew him.  The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, November 28th, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in Moose Jaw Funeral Home.  Reverend Doug Shepherd will officiate and interment will take place in Sunset Cemetery at a later date.  Legion Rites will be conducted by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #59.  Flowers are gratefully declined.  Donations in Travis’ name may be made to The Moose Jaw Humane Society, Box 1658 Station Main, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 9Z9.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Todd Sjoberg, Funeral Director. 693-4550.