In loving memory of
Gordon Carl William Mader
The family have chosen this music to commemorate their loved one.
It is with broken hearts that the family of Gordon Carl William Mader, 89, of Dartmouth, share the news of his passing on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Dartmouth General Hospital. Born in New Germany, he was a son of the late Dennis and Virginia (Tanner) Mader.
Gordon began his working career as a young man of sixteen in the sawmill in Newburne, where he suffered a workplace injury which claimed his left arm. For many this would have been a major setback, but for Gordon it simply meant learning how to do things another way. He went on to work for The Corporals Club at CFB Greenwood as he married and began a young family, eventually moving to Lake Echo where he began working with L.E. Shaw Brick in Dartmouth where he remained until he retired as company foreman. There was not much he could not do, very capable around the home he built his own brick hearth fireplace and alongside his wife Thelma remodeled their basement, built his outbuildings on his property, and taught his daughter Donna how to tie her shoes onehanded. He had a love of classic cars, his baby being a 1956 Mercury Monterey, and was a member of the Halifax Antique Car Club since 1988. He and Thelma often enjoyed many drives and taking part in club activities, such as club nights at the Chicken Burger in Bedford. He also had a fondness for Ford Mustangs having owned a few over the years, most recently a fiftieth anniversary Mustang GT Convertible. Gordon loved his family immensely and cherished spending time with them all and will also be remembered for his charitable nature, having given to many over the years.
Gordon leaves behind his loving wife of 71 years, Thelma, daughters, Cheryl (Randy) Smith, Middleton and Donna (Daniel Harrington) Silmarie, Eagle Head; much loved grandchildren, Jenna (Jamie) Sampson, Kristina (Scott Moreau) Silmarie, Bradley (Charlene) Smith, and great-grandchildren, Amelia Sampson; step-great-grandchildren, Quentin, Ashyah, Dreamera; brothers, Ivan, Dartmouth, Ross, Squamish, BC, Dennis “Denny” (Wendy), Lunenburg, Richard, Chilliwack, BC, Eric (Annette), New Germany, Alan (Valerie), Kentville, Barry (Ken), New Germany; sisters, Dawn Corkum, New Germany, Faye (Darrell) Penney, Kingston, Judy (Joe ) Mullen, Kitchener, ON, Patricia Wentzell, New Germany, Dianne Frittenburg, Bridgewater, Kimberley Smith, also of Bridgewater, as well as many many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings, Doris Dauphinee, Marilyn Eisnor, Carol-Anne Stevens, David Mader and Theodore “Teddy” Mader.
A graveside memorial service will be held at a later time in Lakeside Cemetery in New Canada. Arrangements entrusted to Personal Care Cremations and Memorial Services.
In keeping with Gordons giving nature, donations in his memory made to the Canadian Red Cross or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.
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SERVICES & GATHERINGS
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A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date in Lakeside Cemetery in New Canada.PHOTOS
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Dear Thelma, Donna, Cheryl, I am sending my deepest sympathy to you and your families. He will be remembered, to me, as a good friend of mine.
He instilled driving top of the line cars as our daily love.
Sincerely
George Lyons