Gary Waltho was born on September 23, 1943, in Montreal, Quebec. He grew up in this lively city and enjoyed a childhood filled with football games and taking on leadership roles, showing his drive to succeed. In high school, Gary stood out as the captain of Montreal High’s senior team and even got a tryout with the Alouettes. His early years were spent focusing on sports and academics, during which he met Patricia, his high school sweetheart who was also the head cheerleader. Their relationship flourished, leading to their marriage on May 29, 1965, right after Gary graduated from McGill University as a Physical Education Teacher.
A new chapter began when Gary and Patricia moved to Ontario. He started teaching before joining the Ontario Provincial Police as a motorcycle officer. For eight summers, he patrolled Wasaga’s sunny beaches along Georgian Bay while balancing work with adventure. The OPP required him to stay in one location for three years; so in 1976, Gary and his young family moved to Armstrong, a remote northern community that was eight hours from Hurkett via rough dirt roads. Life there was challenging but fulfilling; Gary embraced it wholeheartedly. With help from those at Little Caribou, he picked up trapping skills, woodworking techniques, and learned how to solve problems creatively,he became quite adept at coming up with solutions.
The stories from his time in Armstrong became well-known among friends and family. There was the time he cut ice blocks (with his kids acting as counterweights over icy water) or when he expanded a cabin at McKenzie Lake (using his children for balance once again). He even built an impressive log home on Caribou Drive,all the joints and beams crafted by hand using his Oregon sawmill showed off his hard work and skill. Always eager to learn new things, he taught himself how to fly and even built his own aircraft. He took pride in owning a Chinook Ultralight with skis and floats,adventures that often stayed under wraps from Pat.
After two postings with the OPP, Gary felt it was time for something new but remained connected to his community. He retired from the police force in 1982 and went back to teaching. Summers turned into chances for new projects despite music classes being somewhat challenging for him. His creative side came out when he developed the Modified Intermediate Service Program (MISP), which changed how local students learned. Together in makeshift classrooms outside, they read trapping guides, made snowshoes, set up a classroom bank for real-world math lessons, and focused on reusing materials found around them. Biology lessons were hands-on too; students learned about animal behavior while gaining practical skills that would serve them well.
As students graduated and moved on, so did Gary; he took over as principal at Armstrong Public School during its exciting transition into new facilities. Later on, he returned to teaching where he helped secondary students as well as adult learners in Whitesand while stepping in as a substitute teacher whenever needed. His understanding of different learning styles along with his belief that every student could succeed made an impact on everyone he taught.
Bear Paw Lodge became central to the Waltho family’s life; it combined work with fun and outdoor learning experiences. For Gary, the lodge was more than just work; it served as an outdoor classroom where guests learned about boating or jig tying next to campfires or out on Garden Bay’s calm waters. He loved sharing these moments with family members like his granddaughters,teaching them how to fillet fish so well that even seasoned anglers were impressed! There was always laughter around them too like when one granddaughter carved her initials into a brand-new cabin wall.
Anyone wanting to learn found an enthusiastic mentor in Gary whether they were visitors at Bear Paw or local friends nearby. Every boat ride across the lake turned into its own story full of laughter and friendships,the kind that brought people together through shared experiences tied closely to nature itself. Each season spent at Bear Paw Lodge reflected what mattered most: community strength through hands-on learning while enjoying nature’s gifts together with others who appreciated these moments just like him.
After retiring in 2010 following Bear Paw Lodge’s sale so they could move closer to their grandchildren in Thunder Bay; Gary discovered a motorhome online one day which led him into another exciting chapter alongside Patricia traveling south during winters like “winter Texans.” New adventures awaited them everywhere,from Texas highways buzzing with activity down east coast cities bustling all way west among sequoia forests,they enjoyed exploring Louisiana too where days blurred together amidst southern warmth & hospitality! But their journey didn’t stop there either because open roads stirred up old passions once more,motorcycling! Dusting off riding skills allowed both him & Pat embark upon cross-country trips through Mexico adding international tales onto collection adventures already formed over years spent making friends along way wherever they went.
On December 17th,2025,Gary took his final journey home reuniting now peacefully alongside loving parents while taking place among stars above beginning new role watching over all loved ones left behind here below. According wishes expressed beforehand; family will gather privately honoring extraordinary life lived well. For anyone wishing show support can donate towards Alzheimer Society Thunder Bay instead.
Gary was predeceased by both parents Dorothy & Ernest Waltho. He will be missed greatly by wife Patricia; sister Joyce (Dale); daughter Jodie (Dean); son Jonathan leaving behind grandchildren Adriana,Ashley (Caleb), Andrea (Tyler) along great-grandchildren Wesley & Lucille who provided endless pride throughout entire life experienced together
Illegitimi non carborundum
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
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