Martin Richard Gunvaldsen

Born January 6, 1943 in Guelph Ontario, Mart chose to be released from pain on March 10, 2020, age 77. Mart grew up in Saskatoon and settled in Viscount SK. He was an adventurer. Some proven facts about Mart:  he spent many happy childhood summers with aunts and uncles at the farm in Grenfell, biked to Beaver Creek to camp out, was lost and found in the woods of Northern SK, made skis out of 2 x 4s, skied straight down a mountain, worked as a surveyor in -40 near Meander River AB. He studied as an engineer and reinvented himself at the age of 49 as a CAD/CAM-er.  He was a prairie gardener and a photographer, loved gruel and was famous for his flax bread.

In 1967 he broke his back in a car accident, was told he’d never walk again but he farmed, fixed machinery, built his own woodworking shop, biked and walked for 52 years anyway, always doing it his way.  He also raised three daughters to be strong and independent women even though he always said “woman”.

Mart is lovingly remembered by his daughters: Rayna, Lawana (& Rick) and Tonja (& James); his grandchildren Oliver, Ira, Camilla, Chet and Leo; and by his friends Scott, Eddie, Heather, Larry, Joan, Dana and Branden and by many dear relatives and friends.  Many people came to know him as Uncle Mart and Grandpa. A special thank you to all his caregivers over the last few years of his life.

Waiting for him are his parents Kaare and Ruth, his sisters Carol and Mary, a grandson Kaare, aunts and uncles, and his friends Lawrence, Ed and Janice.

A Celebration of Life was held at Bruno Hall, on Friday March 13, 2020 at 2 p.m. He worried about the world we’re leaving our kids; in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in honor of his grandkids to: Bruno Wildlife Federation, Verba Ukrainian Dance Club, Wakaw, SK and the David Suzuki Foundation.