Obituary for Owen Victor, Thorstein Eyolfson
OWEN VICTOR THORSTEIN EYOLFSON
It is with broken hearts and tear-filled eyes that we announce the passing of Owen Victor Thorstein Eyolfson, beloved son of Pat (Palsson) and Victor Eyolfson, the youngest of their three children. Owen was born in Arborg, Manitoba, April 8, 1985, and he passed away December 16, 2022, due to diabetic complications. Although he left this world far too soon, he left it a far better place.
Owen is survived by his two sisters, Tracy Eyolfson (Sebastien Tremblay), Magnus and Thorstein and Michelle Eyolfson (Rick Slaney), Nickolas, Henrik and Willow, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, staff and countless friends, young and old from all around the world. He is predeceased by his grandparents, Afi and Amma Eyolfson, Steini and Swanlaug (Swanbergson); his Afi and Amma Palsson, Pall and Sigurros (Vidal) and Uncle Raymond Palsson.
Owen grew up in Arborg where he attended school, kindergarten to grade 12. He was intelligent, quick-witted, enjoyed and excelled in all sports. He captained volleyball and basketball teams and coached many junior teams. He enjoyed being on the Arborg Collegiate Student Council and served in his senior year as a Youth Member of the Arborg Town Council. After graduation Owen attended the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Science, returning to his beloved hometown of Arborg to purchase the Arborg Hotel which had been levelled by fire in 2006. On this site he built the new Arborg Hotel and Eldhus Restaurant which opened September 15, 2009. Ever the entrepreneur, Owen purchased the Travelling Inn in 2014. He was owner and GM of both establishments at the time of his death.
Owen was a visionary, ambitious and community minded, passionate, and positive about his hometown, its past and future potential. He tried his very best to make it an even better place to live. He participated on many boards and was an integral member of the Community Development Corporation, an active member of the Arborg Chamber of Commerce since opening his businesses, serving as President and Vice-President and was instrumental in establishing the Central Interlake Chamber of Commerce. Owen worked tirelessly to establish the Central Interlake Training Centre in Arborg. He was the East Zone Director of the Manitoba Hotel Association the last 6 years, served as President of the Interlake-Gimli Constituency of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party and continued to serve as Past-President. He was a proud promotor and volunteer at the Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village since its inception, helping his mom with so many projects.
Always the explorer, Owen was widely travelled, had a keen interest in history and collecting artifacts from his globe-trotting adventures and getting to know people. He made friends easily and enduring friendships with people around the world, touching so many lives. Since his death, friends have reached out from across Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Australia, Argentina, Italy, London, Minnesota, and North Carolina.
Owen possessed a magnetic personality and quickly charmed everyone he met. He was a loving, kind, caring and devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. Owen was passionate about helping others, well known for his enormous heart and generosity, someone to lean on, a trusted, compassionate, and objective listener and a wise advisor. A communicator, he thrived on engaging conversations and the exchange of ideas, whether provocative, radical or creative, with friends, family and colleagues. Children adored Owen and his beautiful, loving soul. An “animal-whisperer”, he cast the same spell on animals with his calm and gentle ways.
Owen had a special love and affinity for his Icelandic roots, culture, and artifacts. He was involved in organizing many Icelandic events in the community. Owen took great pride in his home, designing it to reflect his personality and to showcase his eclectic tastes, his treasures, and collections whether Icelandic artifacts, Egyptian and Italian antiques, crystal, paintings, and photographs, restored furniture or plants.
His contagious smile, big bear-hugs, and witty banter made everyone fall in love with him. With a twinkle in his baby-blue eyes, and a sense of humour like his Afi Pall, Owen loved sharing random and obscure pieces of information, often leaving you guessing if it was fact or fiction. His mind and heart were full of ideas and plans, some just waiting to take form and many now left as dreams.
In the spirit of his grace and his selfless caring nature, Owen’s wishes were respected with love and dignity, and he gave the ultimate gift of life as an organ donor.
Life was never dull with our beautiful Owen and will never be the same without him. Owen will forever be remembered with joy and pride by his family, especially his warm embraces and his comforting bear-hugs.
Góða nótt elsku sonur minn.
We will love you forever, miss you always and never forget you, our dear, dear Owen.
We would like to thank the Arborg Health Care Centre and Staff, most especially Dr. Donnelly and RN Tammy Jonasson for their expert, compassionate care and for accompanying Owen on his ambulance transfer to HSC in Winnipeg. Thanks to the Arborg & District Ambulance EMTs for their expert and compassionate response. Final thanks to the doctors and nurses at HSC 4th Floor Critical Care Unit for their care, kindness, and compassion.
“Celebration of Owen’s Life” will be held later in 2023.
Condolences may be left on Owen’s Tribute Wall at www.neilbardalinc.com.
Donations in Owen’s memory may be made to: Arborg and District Multicultural Heritage Village, Box 4007, Arborg, MB., R0C 0A0 or e-transfer to admhv4007@gmail.com, Diabetes Canada, 1300-522 University Ave., Toronto, ON., M5G 2R5
It is with broken hearts and tear-filled eyes that we announce the passing of Owen Victor Thorstein Eyolfson, beloved son of Pat (Palsson) and Victor Eyolfson, the youngest of their three children. Owen was born in Arborg, Manitoba, April 8, 1985, and he passed away December 16, 2022, due to diabetic complications. Although he left this world far too soon, he left it a far better place.
Owen is survived by his two sisters, Tracy Eyolfson (Sebastien Tremblay), Magnus and Thorstein and Michelle Eyolfson (Rick Slaney), Nickolas, Henrik and Willow, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, staff and countless friends, young and old from all around the world. He is predeceased by his grandparents, Afi and Amma Eyolfson, Steini and Swanlaug (Swanbergson); his Afi and Amma Palsson, Pall and Sigurros (Vidal) and Uncle Raymond Palsson.
Owen grew up in Arborg where he attended school, kindergarten to grade 12. He was intelligent, quick-witted, enjoyed and excelled in all sports. He captained volleyball and basketball teams and coached many junior teams. He enjoyed being on the Arborg Collegiate Student Council and served in his senior year as a Youth Member of the Arborg Town Council. After graduation Owen attended the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Science, returning to his beloved hometown of Arborg to purchase the Arborg Hotel which had been levelled by fire in 2006. On this site he built the new Arborg Hotel and Eldhus Restaurant which opened September 15, 2009. Ever the entrepreneur, Owen purchased the Travelling Inn in 2014. He was owner and GM of both establishments at the time of his death.
Owen was a visionary, ambitious and community minded, passionate, and positive about his hometown, its past and future potential. He tried his very best to make it an even better place to live. He participated on many boards and was an integral member of the Community Development Corporation, an active member of the Arborg Chamber of Commerce since opening his businesses, serving as President and Vice-President and was instrumental in establishing the Central Interlake Chamber of Commerce. Owen worked tirelessly to establish the Central Interlake Training Centre in Arborg. He was the East Zone Director of the Manitoba Hotel Association the last 6 years, served as President of the Interlake-Gimli Constituency of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party and continued to serve as Past-President. He was a proud promotor and volunteer at the Arborg & District Multicultural Heritage Village since its inception, helping his mom with so many projects.
Always the explorer, Owen was widely travelled, had a keen interest in history and collecting artifacts from his globe-trotting adventures and getting to know people. He made friends easily and enduring friendships with people around the world, touching so many lives. Since his death, friends have reached out from across Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Australia, Argentina, Italy, London, Minnesota, and North Carolina.
Owen possessed a magnetic personality and quickly charmed everyone he met. He was a loving, kind, caring and devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. Owen was passionate about helping others, well known for his enormous heart and generosity, someone to lean on, a trusted, compassionate, and objective listener and a wise advisor. A communicator, he thrived on engaging conversations and the exchange of ideas, whether provocative, radical or creative, with friends, family and colleagues. Children adored Owen and his beautiful, loving soul. An “animal-whisperer”, he cast the same spell on animals with his calm and gentle ways.
Owen had a special love and affinity for his Icelandic roots, culture, and artifacts. He was involved in organizing many Icelandic events in the community. Owen took great pride in his home, designing it to reflect his personality and to showcase his eclectic tastes, his treasures, and collections whether Icelandic artifacts, Egyptian and Italian antiques, crystal, paintings, and photographs, restored furniture or plants.
His contagious smile, big bear-hugs, and witty banter made everyone fall in love with him. With a twinkle in his baby-blue eyes, and a sense of humour like his Afi Pall, Owen loved sharing random and obscure pieces of information, often leaving you guessing if it was fact or fiction. His mind and heart were full of ideas and plans, some just waiting to take form and many now left as dreams.
In the spirit of his grace and his selfless caring nature, Owen’s wishes were respected with love and dignity, and he gave the ultimate gift of life as an organ donor.
Life was never dull with our beautiful Owen and will never be the same without him. Owen will forever be remembered with joy and pride by his family, especially his warm embraces and his comforting bear-hugs.
Góða nótt elsku sonur minn.
We will love you forever, miss you always and never forget you, our dear, dear Owen.
We would like to thank the Arborg Health Care Centre and Staff, most especially Dr. Donnelly and RN Tammy Jonasson for their expert, compassionate care and for accompanying Owen on his ambulance transfer to HSC in Winnipeg. Thanks to the Arborg & District Ambulance EMTs for their expert and compassionate response. Final thanks to the doctors and nurses at HSC 4th Floor Critical Care Unit for their care, kindness, and compassion.
“Celebration of Owen’s Life” will be held later in 2023.
Condolences may be left on Owen’s Tribute Wall at www.neilbardalinc.com.
Donations in Owen’s memory may be made to: Arborg and District Multicultural Heritage Village, Box 4007, Arborg, MB., R0C 0A0 or e-transfer to admhv4007@gmail.com, Diabetes Canada, 1300-522 University Ave., Toronto, ON., M5G 2R5