Jerry Norman Gothard CLU, CHfc, CFP
November 19, 1943 - February 16, 2016

At age 72, with a zest for life and a long courageous battle with multiple health issues, Jerry rode off into the sunset from the highway of life on his own terms.

Jerry will be sadly missed by his biggest fans, Grandsons Connor and Denver McKinnon, his daughter Kelli Gothard McKinnon and her husband Brad McKinnon, Jerry will also be missed by his "travel buddy" and special friend Diane Drake.

One could never say that Jerry did not live life to it's fullest. Often, it was the opposite. Jerry took great pride in trying new things, and traveling to new and exciting places. He and Bev travelled the world with each other with work and for pleasure. They enjoyed things such as riding the Orient Express, finding hand carved music boxes in Switzerland, taking a cruise ship down the Rhine River.

Jerry was an amazing dancer and he and Bev would often be found on the dance floor being admired by those who watched them dancing their way through life together. His biggest pleasure was introducing his friends and family to new experiences and watching them being rewarded by those same pleasures. The cottage at Dog Lake was never full enough for he or Bev. He would often say to Kelli, "invite your friends out to stay, the more the merrier". He was the consummate entertainer. Give the man a BBQ and he could do magic.

Jerry was the founder of Giant Bay Realty then changed careers in 1972 to enter into the Life Insurance business. Jerry became co-founder of Capital Insurance Agencies Ltd o/a Capital Financial Services in 1980 with Partner B. David Ringius. He was never more proud than the day his daughter Kelli became partner and took over running the business.

Jerry was very community driven and always gave back. Described as a true visionary, Jerry looked to the future, thinking about changes in the Business Community, and the way that business would develop in the future. As Jerry once said "The pathway to success is a long and windy road and the turns are becoming sharper and more frequent."

When he became involved in something inevitably he was all in. Jerry usually became Chair of a Board not only locally but usually Nationally as well. The Thunder Bay Diving Club, Canadian Amateur Diving Club, Thunder Bay Executive Association, Thunder Bay Dragon Boats, Spokes person for Colorectal Cancer at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre, Past President of the Nor West Gyro Association & Past Governor Gyro International. Chair of the Cardiac Classic Golf Tournament, Chair Port Arthur Rotary Radio Day, and Chair of the Port Arthur Rotary Italian Feast, National Chairman of the Agents Advisory Council for Manulife Financial and a past Unit Manager for Sunlife Financial to name a few.

Jerry was very blessed and worked hard to receive the highest education in his field and received many awards through his lifetime achievements such as the Port Arthur Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship Award, the Quality Life Award and the Business Excellence Award as well as Honorary Member of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce. Jerry was a 5 star Master Builder with Manulife Financial an Elite Award only presented to handful of Advisors across the Country.

Jerry enjoyed the simple things in life. His number one priority was his boys. You could often find him watching them play hockey, baseball, and even basketball. He would spend hour upon hour in his wood working shop, carving toy guns, carving birds, and making furniture and in later days welding anything and everything that could or couldn't be welded. Jerry loved his machinery and with a smile on his face could often be found digging holes somewhere on the property with a trail of debris/destruction to be cleaned up by Brad and Kelli when they arrived. When they arrived they would find him sitting in his machine with the largest smile on his face knowing exactly what he had done.


Jerry was predeceased by his wife of 43 years Beverly Gothard, his Mother Minnie and Father Ernest Gothard, Stepmother Helen Gothard, Sister Joan Gothard, In-laws Laura and Eino Erickson.

Jerry is also survived by his Sister-in-Laws Brenda (Raymond) Innes, Karen Erickson, Brother- in-Laws Ralph (Diane) Erickson, Gerald Erickson, Raymond Erickson, Joel (Julie) Erickson, Kenny Erickson, multiple nieces and nephews, Daughter Shannon Gothard Ramirez (Uli), Grandsons Payton and Ethan.

Jerry will be missed by his many friends from all facets of his life including but not limited to his special friends he made in the Financial/Life Insurance Industry, Nor West Gyro Club, Port Arthur Rotary Club, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, riding his motorcycle across Canada and the United States and his special friends from his place of solitude at Dog Lake.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday February the 20th, 2016 at the Sargent and Son Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 21 N. Court Street from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm with words of tribute being offered at 1:30 pm. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jerry's name to Camp Quality Northwestern Ontario. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.

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