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Lloyd Grant Zwicker’s Farewell Party |
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 03 April 2009 |
Lloyd Zwicker was a larger than life character. With a special emphasis on character.
A number of years ago he informed his wife, Annette that he was going to have the biggest funeral ever witnessed in Windsor. He then proceeded to reel off his wish list for that final day. Annette quickly let him know she wasn’t presenting any funeral director or minister with such demands and told him he would have to leave a written request.
And write it down he did. All 28 pages of instructions.
For years Lloyd was the heart and soul of the Valley Jets junior hockey team. Over the years he was involved with every level of minor hockey in Windsor and with baseball and softball in the summer months. Thousands of young men and women benefited from his generosity.
He passed away on March 22, 2009.
Last Friday I attended Lloyd’s farewell party, as one of 58 honorary pallbearers. Earlier in the week, Dan Boyd, a close family friend of the Zwickers, had called and asked if I would serve as an honorary pallbearer. I quickly consented because Lloyd was a friend of many years and I had also gone to school with Annette, who passed away just over a year ago.
Travelling to the Valley town of my youth, I expected to be one of six. I should have known better, this was Lloyd Grant Zwicker and he always did things up big.
Windsor United Church was filled with family and friends. The service, conducted by Rev. Bill Gibson, followed the script that Lloyd had prepared closely. The minister did, however, confess to leaving out one of Lloyd’s requests.
It seems he had wanted a country band up on the platform to play a few tunes. Then when the service had ended, the band would climb aboard a flatbed and lead the hearse to Maplewood Cemetery, playing country tunes along the way.
He did get one of his musical wishes, with Glen Parker and Matthew Lunn singing a Merle Haggard song, Rainbow Stew. The piece had a special spot in his heart, as Lloyd had been in Nashville to attend the 1981 release party.
There were a number of tributes. Dan Boyd brought the remembrances of a friend. He, and others who spoke, kept alluding to Lloyd’s wit and devilish pranks.
One scorching July day, Lloyd was driving home and noticed an RCMP card parked by the Co-Op store, laying a trap for speeders. He rushed home, grabbed a winter parka from the closet, pulled up the hood, wrapped a scarf around his face, donned mittens and drove back to where the Mountie was parked.
Lloyd got out of the car, approached the officer and asked for directions to the downtown. As he was leaving, he turned to the now baffled cop and said, “Is it always this cold in Nova Scotia this time of the year?”
His son Darrell offered insights from a family perspective, also highlighting his Dad’s wit. He recalled his mother spending a great deal of time skimming the bones out of a pot she was using to make turkey soup. When she had carefully removed them all and stacked them on a plate, Lloyd walked by, picked up the plate and - you guessed it - poured them back into the pot!
Lloyd was also a dreamer. He liked doing things up in a big way. He also loved to travel.
One day he was describing a vacation he had in mind. Annette listened intently and when he finished, suggested they couldn’t afford the holiday.
“Yes we can,” he said. “We’re goin’ down on Visa and comin’ back on Master Card.”
In recent years a brain disease robbed Lloyd of his memory. But the memories of the contributions he made to his community will linger for many years to come with all who were fortunate enough to know Lloyd Grand Zwicker.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist and broadcaster)
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