Obituary for Carl Bertil Andersson
Bertil's smile, positivity and cheerful personality could light up a room, and his kindness and generosity touched many.
He passed away peacefully at his home in Creemore, Ontario surrounded by the love of his family, just three weeks shy of his 93rd birthday. He was predeceased by his siblings Görel, Matts, Margit, Lennart and Majris as well as parents, Jenny and Emil.
He was a loyal and loving husband to his wife Gunhild, with whom he celebrated 70 years of marriage in August 2020. Proud father to Monica, Ingrid and Erik. Grandfather to Adam, Brian, Mark, Kristin, Christopher and Andrew. Great-grandfather to Jessica, Isabella, Joshua, Gian-Michael and Vivienne. Big brother to surviving siblings Arne and Britt. Uncle to many nieces and nephews in Sweden - Marianne, Annette, Anna, Christer, Göran, Daniel, Magnus and Maria.
Bertil was born and raised in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden to parents Jenny and Emil Andersson. He attended university and began his career in the pulp and paper industry. At 22, he married Gunhild and his first daughter was born the year after. A few years later, Bertil made the brave decision to set-sail across the ocean to Canada with his family. Accompanied by his wife and toddler daughter, he had nothing more than $150 in his pocket and one suitcase. He settled in Toronto with his family, where two more children were born.
A hardworking husband and father, he became a chemical engineer at the Wallberg building at University of Toronto. His office was beside a huge laboratory and he worked closely with students earning their degrees. He impressed the students and staff by running the 6 minute mile.
He was responsible with budgeting and made smart investments which allowed him to provide for his family, and be generous and supportive of his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren until the very end.
He made sure to bring his wife and three children to Sweden every three years to visit their families. He also took his family on annual cottage trips. He woke up early every morning with his daughter and paddled around the lake, teaching her how to fish.
Although living far from family in Sweden, Bertil and his wife were never lonely. They had a tight-knit circle of mostly Swedish friends in Toronto, called "The Iron Gang" who alternated hosting get-togethers at each other's homes. Their best friends were Maria and Thore, with whom they celebrated Christmases and took their families on vacations together.
In the early 80s, Bertil was in search of a second property. When his daughter pointed out an ad for a farm outside Creemore with a wrap-around deck, he originally thought it was out of budget. However, he agreed to take a look at it. When he arrived at the ranch, he was immediately captivated by the view of rolling farm-hills and the blue Georgian Bay against the wintery sky. He then remembered something his late mother, Jenny had once told him - that she pictured him one day living in a place with a view. He decided this farm was home, and he bought it in time for it to be a venue for his daughter's wedding.
The farm has since been a location of countless gatherings of their wide circle of friends and family - Christmases, birthdays, anniversaries and parties. During the 80s and 90s, Bertil and his wife divided their time between their Toronto home and the farm. They often picked up their grandchildren and brought them there on weekends.
Bertil was famous for his refreshments which he prepared and carried out to the pool area for everyone on a platter. He was often seen riding on the tractor with grandchildren, and later great-grandchildren on his lap.
Bertil and his wife were active and involved with the Swedish Lutheran Church and the Scandinavian Canadian Club. He volunteered his time putting together goodie bags for the children for the annual bazaar, and stayed late after events to help clean up. He took his grand-childrens' hands and danced with them around the Christmas tree, singing Swedish Christmas songs.
A generous and involved grandfather, he never missed a recital, graduation, or performance. He helped his grandchildren with their homework, gave driving lessons and was sought after for advice on many of their important life decisions.
In the late 90s, Bertil and his wife sold their Toronto home and moved to the farm full-time. They continued to be active by landscaping and the upkeep of the apple trees and gardens into their old age. He loved tending to the potatoes and picking berries. This kept Bertil and his wife young and healthy for many years. They woke up every morning for a cold swim in the pool, and went for walks and jogs around the 50-acre property.
After his move to Creemore, Bertil continued to make weekly drives to Toronto with his wife to play bridge at the Scandinavian Canadian Club. They are still the highest scoring couple of all time.
Bertil loved to play soccer and watch hockey. He was an avid Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He loved watching his grandson's tournaments, and woke his grandson up early to go to hockey games.
A proud Swede, he nurtured his granddaughter's interest in Sweden and the language. He arranged for her to sing in the Toronto Swedish Lucia choir, and several visits to Sweden. His last trip to Sweden in 2009 was with his grand-daughter. He was very proud when her daughter, his great-granddaughter, started singing in the Lucia choir and he attended as many performances as he could. The night before he passed away, his 8 year old great-granddaughter sang one of the Swedish Christmas songs to him that she'd learned from the choir. We know this filled his final moments with joy.
Bertil, known as "Morfar" by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always had a positive attitude and wanted those around him to be happy. Even in his final days with his family, he asked his children many times if they were happy. His big smile, songs and optimism will be deeply missed, but forever remembered and cherished.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Swedish Lutheran Church, Creemore Cats or the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.
A service at the Swedish Lutheran Church will be held in the spring. A memorial will be held in Creemore.
He passed away peacefully at his home in Creemore, Ontario surrounded by the love of his family, just three weeks shy of his 93rd birthday. He was predeceased by his siblings Görel, Matts, Margit, Lennart and Majris as well as parents, Jenny and Emil.
He was a loyal and loving husband to his wife Gunhild, with whom he celebrated 70 years of marriage in August 2020. Proud father to Monica, Ingrid and Erik. Grandfather to Adam, Brian, Mark, Kristin, Christopher and Andrew. Great-grandfather to Jessica, Isabella, Joshua, Gian-Michael and Vivienne. Big brother to surviving siblings Arne and Britt. Uncle to many nieces and nephews in Sweden - Marianne, Annette, Anna, Christer, Göran, Daniel, Magnus and Maria.
Bertil was born and raised in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden to parents Jenny and Emil Andersson. He attended university and began his career in the pulp and paper industry. At 22, he married Gunhild and his first daughter was born the year after. A few years later, Bertil made the brave decision to set-sail across the ocean to Canada with his family. Accompanied by his wife and toddler daughter, he had nothing more than $150 in his pocket and one suitcase. He settled in Toronto with his family, where two more children were born.
A hardworking husband and father, he became a chemical engineer at the Wallberg building at University of Toronto. His office was beside a huge laboratory and he worked closely with students earning their degrees. He impressed the students and staff by running the 6 minute mile.
He was responsible with budgeting and made smart investments which allowed him to provide for his family, and be generous and supportive of his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren until the very end.
He made sure to bring his wife and three children to Sweden every three years to visit their families. He also took his family on annual cottage trips. He woke up early every morning with his daughter and paddled around the lake, teaching her how to fish.
Although living far from family in Sweden, Bertil and his wife were never lonely. They had a tight-knit circle of mostly Swedish friends in Toronto, called "The Iron Gang" who alternated hosting get-togethers at each other's homes. Their best friends were Maria and Thore, with whom they celebrated Christmases and took their families on vacations together.
In the early 80s, Bertil was in search of a second property. When his daughter pointed out an ad for a farm outside Creemore with a wrap-around deck, he originally thought it was out of budget. However, he agreed to take a look at it. When he arrived at the ranch, he was immediately captivated by the view of rolling farm-hills and the blue Georgian Bay against the wintery sky. He then remembered something his late mother, Jenny had once told him - that she pictured him one day living in a place with a view. He decided this farm was home, and he bought it in time for it to be a venue for his daughter's wedding.
The farm has since been a location of countless gatherings of their wide circle of friends and family - Christmases, birthdays, anniversaries and parties. During the 80s and 90s, Bertil and his wife divided their time between their Toronto home and the farm. They often picked up their grandchildren and brought them there on weekends.
Bertil was famous for his refreshments which he prepared and carried out to the pool area for everyone on a platter. He was often seen riding on the tractor with grandchildren, and later great-grandchildren on his lap.
Bertil and his wife were active and involved with the Swedish Lutheran Church and the Scandinavian Canadian Club. He volunteered his time putting together goodie bags for the children for the annual bazaar, and stayed late after events to help clean up. He took his grand-childrens' hands and danced with them around the Christmas tree, singing Swedish Christmas songs.
A generous and involved grandfather, he never missed a recital, graduation, or performance. He helped his grandchildren with their homework, gave driving lessons and was sought after for advice on many of their important life decisions.
In the late 90s, Bertil and his wife sold their Toronto home and moved to the farm full-time. They continued to be active by landscaping and the upkeep of the apple trees and gardens into their old age. He loved tending to the potatoes and picking berries. This kept Bertil and his wife young and healthy for many years. They woke up every morning for a cold swim in the pool, and went for walks and jogs around the 50-acre property.
After his move to Creemore, Bertil continued to make weekly drives to Toronto with his wife to play bridge at the Scandinavian Canadian Club. They are still the highest scoring couple of all time.
Bertil loved to play soccer and watch hockey. He was an avid Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He loved watching his grandson's tournaments, and woke his grandson up early to go to hockey games.
A proud Swede, he nurtured his granddaughter's interest in Sweden and the language. He arranged for her to sing in the Toronto Swedish Lucia choir, and several visits to Sweden. His last trip to Sweden in 2009 was with his grand-daughter. He was very proud when her daughter, his great-granddaughter, started singing in the Lucia choir and he attended as many performances as he could. The night before he passed away, his 8 year old great-granddaughter sang one of the Swedish Christmas songs to him that she'd learned from the choir. We know this filled his final moments with joy.
Bertil, known as "Morfar" by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always had a positive attitude and wanted those around him to be happy. Even in his final days with his family, he asked his children many times if they were happy. His big smile, songs and optimism will be deeply missed, but forever remembered and cherished.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Swedish Lutheran Church, Creemore Cats or the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.
A service at the Swedish Lutheran Church will be held in the spring. A memorial will be held in Creemore.