The Guadalajara Reporter

Obituaries - February 7, 2014

Glenwood (Glen) Ralph Gordon died on January, 29 at the age of 77. Born June 24, 1936 in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, Gordon was educated at Shelburne District High School and Georgian College, Barrie.

In 1955 Gordon married Joanne McDermott and started his own plumbing, heating and air conditioning business with a partner. After ten years, he went out on his own working exclusively with new home builders in the Barrie area.

After 32 years  Gordon went to work in maintenance for the Simcoe County School Board. Four years later he became maintenance supervisor for a building complex in Picton, Ontario, for the Ministry of Government Services.

In 1996 Gordon and his wife became “snowbirds,” traveling to the Lakeside area for 11 years before settling permanently in Chapala Haciendas.

Gordon enjoyed working with his hands and wood, often surprising friends and family with gifts he had made.

He is survived by his wife Joanne of 58 years; four children: Brent (Marlene), Barry (Carol), Scott (Gwen), and Nancy (Shawn); 11 grandchildren; his brother, Howard Hamilton and sisters Ruth Marie Cruikshank and Elizabeth Firth.

A celebration of life will be held at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Riberas del Pilar on Saturday, February 8, 10 a.m. He will be buried in Laurel Cemetery beside five generations of the Gordon family.

Leroy (Leo) Dietz

Leroy (Leo) Dietz  died on December 3 at his home in Jocotepec at the age of 78.

Born April 29, 1935 in Seattle, Washington, Dietz studied at the University of Washington but dropped out to join the U.S. Army after his sister Joanne died.

Dietz married Judy Price and had two sons. He worked in the food industry and soon had purchased a grocery store in Ballard, Wa. In the 1970s Dietz moved to Mount Vernon, Wa., where he opened Pharo’s Pizza Restaurant. Dietz really enjoyed the art of creating a good pizza and later opened Leonardo’s Pizza Bakery in Burlington, Wa. which became his main concern.

Dietz loved to travel, and did so extensively in the United States, Canada, China, and Mexico. In 1999 Dietz retired to the Lake Chapala region.

Dietz is survived by his two sons, Jeff of Surprise, Arizona, and Jamie of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and his three grandchildren, twins Ashley and Andrea, and Colton.

Dietz loved Mexico, its friendly people and warm climate. He enjoyed cockfights and dogs, and had a special place in his heart for the last street dog he rescued, Pepper.