The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1971, Page 18

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
WINTER 1971
1934. Lara provided the calmness and
wise counsel when enthusiasm might
have carried him away. And who can
guage the effect upon a man of return-
ing year after year, to a house fault-
lessly kept, to a table beautifully set
and laden with good food, to a home
that maintained an air of tranquility
even in times of crisis? Certainly Jon
was fully aware of his good fortune.
It is a comfort to know that now Lara
has the love and support of three
grown and happily married children:
John Anthony, Joanne Maria Wiebe
and Shirley May Jopp.
Jon Kristinn Laxdal passed away on
Steptember 19th, 1971, in Vancouver,
B. C. Since his retirement he had suf-
fered ill health intermittently. But he
always managed to pull himself up
again and make the long trip every
summer to Winnipeg and New Ice-
land from Vancouver. He looked for-
ward to these reunions with old
friends all through the winter. He
was prepared to make the trip once
more this past summer, but in July
suffered a set-back from which he
did not recover. His funeral took place
in Gimli in the Lutheran Church on
on September 24th. He was laid to
rest in the community cemetery. Upon
this sad occasion it was good to see
so many friends gathered to honour
his memory and to show their affection
for his family. —H.V.L.
AN ICELANDIC CULTURAL CORPORATION
An Icelandic cultural corporation
has been formed at Gimli, through
the initiative of local citizens. It was
incorporated in May, 1971. The aim
is to work for the preservation of Ice-
landic culture in North America
through developments at Gimli.
The first project will be the estab-
lishment of a museum of North Am-
erican Icelandic culture. Another pro-
ject ds the preservation of the pioneer
cemetery at Gimli, the oldest Iceland-
ic cemetery in Canada, except for the
Icelandic graves at Kinmount, Ont.,
which date back to 1874-75. A third
important project is the building of a
full-size Viking ship replica as a com-
panion piece to the Viking statue
which is a recognized feature of the
Gimli scene. The teaching of the Ice-
landic language at summer school in
Gimli is yet another objective.
The corporation will seek to raise
funds for these projects among Ice-
landic people from all parts of Am-
erica. The hope of the founders is
to make Gimli an important Icelandic
cultural centre in North America.
S. J. Stefanson, of Gimli, has been
named chairman of the board of
directors of the Corporation; Mrs.
Margaret Rankin, of Gimli, is Vice-
President; Timothy Samson, of Win-
nipeg, is Secretary, and Don Bjorn-
son, of Gimli, is Treasurer.