George Hilton Gerber

George was born in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan, on March 19, 1942. He grew up on the family farm, where he developed a great love of and respect for the land and the creatures who lived on it and in it.

Excelling in the sciences, George enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan and earned the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1964. Continuing in his specialized field of Entomology, his work on his masters degree grew into a PhD thesis. He graduated with his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan in the spring of 1969. Throughout his studies and career he received a number of scholarships and awards, including the A.R. Brooks Memorial Prize in 1965, given by the Entomological Society of Saskatchewan, and the C. Gordon Hewitt Award in 1981, given by the Entomological Society of Canada for recognized accomplishments in the field of Entomology in Canada.

George worked for Agriculture Canada as a research scientist, focusing on the biological control of insect pests, specifically in later years on the insect pest of canola. In 1969 his employment began at the Agriculture Canada Research Station in Belleville, Ontario. In 1972 he came to the Agriculture Canada Research Station at the University of Manitoba. During his career he mentored a number of students working on advanced degrees, and he served as an Adjunct Professor for the University of Manitoba Faculty of Agriculture. George participated at length in his professional organizations, including the Entomological Society of Manitoba and The Entomological Society of Canada where he served three years as Secretary and one year, 1993-94, as its President.

Retiring from Agriculture Canada in 1996, he transitioned smoothly to his other passions; curling, gardening, photography, and more recently family genealogy. He was an avid and competitive curler for over fifty years, holding the position of skip for many of those years. He played every call of every Scotties, Brier or other competitions he attended or watched. He provided our homes with beautiful gardens. He spent many hours as a member of Fort Whyte Alive photographing the ducks and geese, as well as the flowers and insects in our own gardens.

Despite his many accomplishments, George never used his earned title of Dr. Gerber; he was known as George H. While he was a humble man, he loved to discuss local or world issues with others, and to share his knowledge and experiences with those who sought it. He was a caring and giving husband. I shall miss him greatly.

George will be fondly remembered by his mother-in-law Lois Elliot, sister-in-law Katherine McCracken, brother-in-law John Spencer, sisters Pat Spencer and Donna Beaton, sister-in-law Candy Gerber, his nieces and nephews, many cousins, as well as his friends. He was predeceased by his parents Frank and June Gerber, his step-father Walter Turner, his brother Gary Gerber, his father-in-law Fred Elliot, and brother-in-law Ian McCracken.

An honouring of his life will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2016 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Fort Whyte Alive, 1961 McCreary Road in Charleswood.

George would be pleased if a tree were planted in his memory.