Barry Godwin
April, 20 1935 – May, 4 2024
As published in the May 20, 20224 World-Spectator
Barry Gilbert Godwin was predeceased by his parents Ruby (McMillan) and Charlie Godwin; wife Caroline (née Olafson) (1990); sons Kevin (1990) and Neil (2009); brothers Ivan, Murray and Melvin; sisters Jean (Gunn) and Donna (Perry); and special friend Patricia Anderson (2023).
Survived by his children Susan (Ted) Rieseberg, Wesley (Sharon) Godwin, Ruby (Guy) Jeaurond, Sandra (Ron Chow) Godwin, Terry (Mark) Pillon; grandchildren Tanner, Lindsay, Justin, Darren, Haley, Ashley, Erik, Sarah, Krystal, Dion, Zacary, Caroline and Tristan; 13 great-grandchildren; and brother Lloyd Godwin.
Barry left home at the early age of 14 moving to Ontario, Manitoba, and B.C., where he worked at a variety of jobs before returning to Tantallon, Saskatchewan, to marry Caroline and start his family. There was not a lot of work in the area so he packed up the family, bought a welding rig and started a life in the oilfield, moving throughout Alberta, B.C., and Saskatchewan.
Always a perfectionist, his welding skills were renowned and sought after, along with his uncanny ability to figure out virtually any problem and machine anything you needed. He was a man of many talents including pipefitter, mechanic, millwright, heavy equipment operator and truck driver.
Always a man of the land and an entrepreneur, he left the construction world and settled in the Candle Lake area in 1969.
Barry’s father, Charlie, held the very first trappers’ license in Saskatchewan and following in his footsteps, Barry took over the trapline at Summit Lake. With a dog sled and compass in hand, he began building trails, utilizing his skills, and learning as he went.
Barry hunted, trapped, fished, cruised timber, prospected and logged. He fought forest fires and shared his knowledge of its course when called upon for support. He loved the north and all that it had to offer and his adventurism and respect for nature are shared by many family members today.
Barry invented and patented the Godwin Leg Hold Humane Trap which he produced, marketed, and sold worldwide all the while navigating the necessary red tape bureaucracy. Sadly, all it took was a change in government to squash the most creative, humane and sensible trap invention of its time.
Quick witted with a creative tongue, Barry never attended “Luniversity” and questioned the logic of a world that pumps out more lawyers than laymen. He was an avid reader and news hound whose keen interest in world affairs left him very concerned about the future. In the words of one of his nephews, “Uncle Barry was a forward thinker, many of his views on life and politics are certainly playing out.”
He was a leader and mentor among his family, friends and community and he took immense pride in sharing his vast knowledge—be it prospecting, gardening, fly fishing, hunting, knife making, gun smithing, machining, welding, forest and fauna, or world politics.
In the 70’s, Barry set up a saw mill and embraced the task of building his current home on Torch Lake with the help of family and friends. He later built a beautiful log cabin from the ground up at Summit Lake. He took pride in using local materials and living off the land and in helping establish the original Candle Lake Gun Range and the building of the community hall, alongside his teenage sons.
Poor health slowed Barry down in his 40s until Dr. Meier discovered his iron levels were so high that they were destroying his liver, among other things. One of the first in Canada to be diagnosed with Hemochromatosis, Barry made it his mission to work with the Hemochromatosis Society and to share information on the genetic disorder with family members and others.
Barry was productive and would typically accomplish more in a morning than many do in a day—weeding his garden, cleaning his garage and repairing someone’s gun all before noon on any given day and be ready to sit and visit when company stopped by.
Barry loved the outdoors and enjoyed watching the changing wildlife and eagerly awaited the return of the wood ducks and hummingbirds to his meticulously groomed yard. He took great pride in his garden and loved having the grandchildren share the bounty of fresh carrots, cucumbers and peas.
Family was everything to him and he looked forward to all the phone calls and visits from relatives and friends and holiday gatherings.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hemochromatosis Society or Tantallon Rink Fund in his name, would be appreciated.
A memorial service will be held at 1 pm, on June 22, 2024, at the Tantallon Rink Hall, followed by interment at Holar Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of River Park Funeral Home, (306) 764-2727, Carla Jesso, Funeral Director, and Sarah Naytowhow.
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