Gerald Robert Earle (Gerry) died of old age in the early hours of Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Victoria, BC.
Gerald was predeceased by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Katherine Margaret Earle (nee Macdonald); and sisters Elaine Burke and Dorothy Fagan. He is survived by his daughters Katherine (Ryan) in Calgary, and Jennifer (Paul) in Victoria; granddaughter Caitlin (Mark) and grandson Riley (Renae); and two great grandchildren, Erwin Jones and Rockwell George.
Gerry, as most people knew him, was born at home on Christmas Day, 1934, in Cornwall, Ontario, to Rose Alma Earle (nee Gauthier) and Harold James Earle. He often spoke fondly of his adventures with his friend Corbet Vasbinder and his dog, KC, growing up in Cornwall in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s. After attending the University of Toronto, he met and married Margaret in Montreal, and began his career as a food scientist and chemist specializing in yeast production (“saccharomyces cerevisiae”, which he enjoyed talking about even in his final days). In 1974, Gerry, Margaret, and their two daughters moved west to Calgary, where Gerry worked as the plant manager for Fleischmann’s Yeast. In 1984, Gerald and Margaret moved back east to Niagara-On-The-Lake where Gerry was plant manager for the Nabisco Shreddies factory.
In 1987, and after many years of hard work and frugal living, Gerry and Margaret retired to Vancouver Island in their early ‘50’s. There, they lived happily ever after in the waterfront house they built in Nanoose Bay, BC. He was especially glad that from his living room window he could see his favourite Gulf Island: Gerald Island. Over the almost 40 years that he lived in Nanoose Bay, Gerry and his neighbour, Don Graham, spent countless happy days beach-combing logs and producing firewood (“Pacific Supply”, he called it), using the derrick and log-splitters that he crafted, to heat their homes for the duration of his time in Nanoose Bay.
Gerry had deep gratitude and respect for his family, a sophisticated sense of humour, and a serious fondness of all dogs (“There are no bad dogs.”), all of which stayed with him until his last breath. Gerry had at least one of every tool known to man and invented many of his own. He enjoyed creating and repairing anything when there was a need or an idea. He had a keen interest in any vehicle or vessel that had wheels or floated, including his cherished ‘50’s Jaguar, bicycles, sailboats, and powerboats. He cycled regularly with the PGOSA, taking an 80+km ride the year he turned 80. He was also a longtime member of the PQFG Henry range, where he was awarded his prized “Target Master” title and was an accomplished shooter, along with his friend and event partner, Alex Storimans.
In the summer of 2024, Gerry moved to Victoria, to be closer to medical care and family.
In addition to those mentioned, Gerry’s daughters acknowledge and thank special friends Ron and Marg Snyder, Sharon and Randy Lafferty, Scott and Carol Sokol, Janice Booth, and Donald Ferguson (“Uncle Donald”) for their important and lasting friendship with their parents.
Gerald will be fiercely missed and forever remembered by his family and friends. Respecting Gerry’s preferences, a memorial service is not planned. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation for dogs at BC SPCA in memory of Gerry.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Earle” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
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Bob Briscoe
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Valerie Burke Dear Kathy and Jenny,
We were so saddened to hear of uncle Gerald’s passing. He was such good fun to be around, his unique sense of humour always had us in stitches. My mother adored him, she loved recalling the escapades he would get up to growing up in Cornwall, and she thrilled in the visits and phone calls with him and your mother. What a wonderful couple they were. I’m so grateful for the generous hospitality they showed me over the years.
My deepest condolences to you and your families.
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Scott and Carol Sokol It was with a heavy heart that I learned of the passing of my dear friend, Gerry. Ironically, I was thinking of him on the very morning he passed, feeling a pang of sadness that we hadn’t been in touch recently.
Carol and I have such fond memories of the special times we spent with Gerry and Margaret. Whether we were out on the water in our kayaks or riding bikes, Gerry’s company was something we always looked forward to. He was a man of great wit and intellect, and the friendship we built over those miles and through those years is something we will always treasure. We will miss him dearly.
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Cheryl Shoji Jennifer – sad to receive your dad’s obituary. But reading about his life’s travels and accomplishments….amazing! All of that packaged into one Man’s time on earth- 90 years!
He had such an eclectic, successful, interesting and full life.
And, I know that he was blessed with two daughters who cared for him and looked after his needs both while he was on this earth…and beyond. He was very lucky to have the family that he did.
I am sorry for you and your family’s loss, Jen. With heartfelt condolences ~Cheryl
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Nigel Hurford What a super guy. I only had the pleasure of knowing Gerry since 2014 when I joined PQFB Henry range. Gerry organised one of the regular monthly shoots. It was always fun!!
He was very much missed when he stopped shooting. A lovely man, none of us know how much he’ll be missed by his family and close friends,
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Heidi Roy This is a beautiful obituary. It is what I would expect from the Earle daughters. I will miss my contacts with a younger man.
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Ernie Reigle 2502405690 Jennifer and Katherine
My thoughts are with you at this most challenging time.
I feel so privileged to have a wealth of memories of countless cycling kilometers and enriching coffee breaks. Neither of us usually had coffee, we shared cycling, old English car, mathematical, shooting and Quebec experiences. We had fun doing this periodically en français.
Gerry was an inspiration to his fellow cyclists with his intrepid commitment. He clearly established guidelines for us. Encouraging us to focus on the ride, talk later. CHEAT but within Gerry’s guideline parameters. When you became seventy you could but a lighter carbon bike. When you turned eighty it was permissible to ride an e assist bike.
Rest in peace mon ami “ Gerard.” Merci pour les bon temps.
Ernie Reigle
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Dan Burke Uncle Gerald, my mom’s brother – what a guy! Deepest condolences to Kathy and Jenny.
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Zabine Van Ness I too feel a sense of loss even though we never met! I want to leave a special rememberance on behalf of his brother in law Robert MacDonald residing in Arizona. He will be hugely missed as of course is his sister Marge.
Be assured of prayers for the eternal journey of his soul.Much love and condolences to his surviving family.
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Peggy Fagan My condolences Kathy and Jennifer for your loss. I remember him as intelligent and so witty and upbeat. He and your mom had something special. My thoughts are truly with you in this difficult time having just gone through it.
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Stephanie Lange Your parents have a very special place of love in my heart as do you – God bless you forever
Love, Aunt Stephanie and daughters Laurie and Christine.
In Memory of Gerald Earle
Raye and I wish to send our condolences to Gerry Earle’s daughters Katherine and Jennifer, and their families.
I worked with Gerry at Standard Brands (Fleischmann’s Yeast) in the quality control laboratory from 1962-66. I was the Assistant Lab Supervisor working for Gerry. We often played Chess at lunch with the other lab technicians. We became very good friends, and we followed Gerry and Margaret on family camping vacations to Fish Creek Ponds and Rollins Bay in upstate NY. Our eldest daughter, Lorraine remembers Katherine and Jennifer fondly.
Gerry had a unique commonsense view of life that was charming and very entertaining. His perspective on any issue was well thought and respected. He always seemed to know things, that today, you can only find on Google. When I left Standard Brands we kept in contact for years and I followed his career to Calgary and Niagara Falls. His logical, but informal, management style probably did not sit well with the aggressive gunslingers that took over at Nabisco Brands, so he retired prematurely. I was surprised that he had taken up golf in retirement.
Gerry was fond of cars and loved having owned a powerful Jaguar. He introduced me to car rallying by speaking of rallying a Volvo with his buddy Don Ferguson. I became addicted, winning the Quebec navigator championship in 1968 and 1969 in a Volvo.
Living thousands of miles apart we lost touch with each other in recent decades, yet I feel I have lost a good friend.
I don’t usually buy the Globe & mail, so I was surprised to see Gerry’s Obit. Thanks to the family for posting it.
Bob Briscoe