It is with profound sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of our husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather J. Eldon Hood.
Eldon is survived by his wife of 69 years 4 months, Phyllis, daughter Charlene (Glen), son Gordon (Linda), son Keith (Pamela), brother Orv Hood, seven grandchildren Elizabeth (Mike), Matthew (Michelle), David (Angie), Mark (Crystal). Mike (Jenna), Megan (Dustin), Warren (Heather) and step-granddaughter Tamara Yanisiw (Chris) and 13 great-grandchildren, Layne, Evva, Zander, Jaxson, Axl, Ainsley, Gracie, Robyn, Neva, Tessa, Maximo, Kane, Sawyer and step great-granddaughter Sarah Kellie Yanisiw.
Eldon was born in Swan River to Wes and Fran Hood on December 27, 1930. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Marion and her husband Bill Shipley, sister-in-law Katherine Hood and Phyllis’ siblings and family members.
Eldon began employment with Natural Resources in 1948, manning a fire tower, fighting forest fires and cruising timber in the Duck Mountains. In 1950, he continued his employment with Natural Resources as a forest ranger, as they were known then. His first assignment was Whitemouth.
In 1955, Eldon married Phyllis. In 1961 they were transferred to Sprague where he and Phyllis made life-long friends. Eldon felt that the timber operators of the southeast were the best people he’d dealt with. Their second son, Keith, was born during this posting in the nearest hospital at Roseau, Minnesota, which makes him an American citizen.
The next move was to Lac du Bonnet, which was a good move for the family. Then Seven Sisters for a short time, then to Gimli. Next a promotion with a transfer to Rennie to supervise the Whiteshell Park, a very busy region for Eldon.
They had a home built on their farm in Elma in 1978, where they took up an agricultural lifestyle in a small way, with beef cattle and hay land. They raised a lot of their own food, including chickens and pork along with produce from a huge garden. Eldon took early retirement in 1986, in order to spend more time with family and friends.
They enjoyed nearly 40 years on their farm and had many friends in the Whitemouth/Elma area. Eldon enjoyed hunting and taught his sons, grandsons and their friends to hunt. Many opening mornings were spent hunting on their own property. The grandchildren enjoyed being at the farm and helping with chores, even helping Eldon with a cow having trouble calving.
It was a life well lived!
The memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.