Memorable Manitobans: Grimolfur “Grimsi” Grimolfson (1913-1986)

Fisherman, ferryman.

Born on Hecla Island on 5 April 1913, he lived there and worked as a commercial fisherman on Lake Winnipeg until moving to Riverton in 1966. He was the Captain of the Hecla Island Ferry from its inauguration in 1953 to its replacement by a causeway in 1971. He later operated the renamed ferry MV Edgar Wood at St. Georges on the Winnipeg River, from the mainland to Matheson Island, and around Lake Winnipeg. On 10 August 1940, he married Dolly May Forbister (1920-2000) and they had three sons and two daughters. He died suddenly at Riverton on 27 July 1986 and was buried in the Riverton Cemetery. In June 2011, the Hecla Island Causeway was renamed the Captain Grimsi Grimolfson Causeway in his honour.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Hecla Island Ferry (Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park)

Sources:

Marriage registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 29 July 1986, page 38.

Obituary [Dolly May Grimolfson], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 May 2000.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 18 November 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:

Custom Search

Browse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Browse deaths occurring in:
1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca

Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements

Help us keep
history alive!