Gypsy Hornbeck
🖤🤍🤎
2011 - 2026
Gypsy peacefully parted ways with her loving warden of 13½ years, Madison Hornbeck, on June 8, 2026, at the age of about 15.
Gypsy came to the Winnipeg Humane Society in 2012 from Selkirk, MB. This is where she met Madison, coming home to the RM of Rockwood with her that same December evening.
Wherever Madison would roam, Gypsy would follow, including moving into the town of Stony Mountain, briefly back to Selkirk, then to "The Gem," the perfect home and acreage nestled in the RM of Ste. Anne.
Gypsy tagged along as a welcome coworker in Madison's office workplace and to the field, going as far as Oxbow, SK, The Pas, MB, Thunder Bay, ON, and many rural towns in between. In her later years, she enjoyed the shift to Madison's home-based office, where she could comfortably supervise the work between naps.
Travel for work was only surpassed by travel for pleasure. She adored visiting family in Winnipeg, Gimli, Tolstoi, and "Grandma and Grandpaw" Monica and Dale Hornbeck in East St. Paul, MB. She brought joy to residents at Holy Family Home when visiting Stella Yakiwchuk or Peter Koralewicz, and could be found delighting patrons and staff wherever she went, including many small-town bars—some as far as Deadwood, SD.
Gypsy enjoyed road trips, taking in sights like The Sleeping Giant, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore, but it was the smaller, regular outdoor adventures that greatly filled her years with enjoyment and memories. Despite not being a hunting breed, she enjoyed tagging along for waterfowl hunts in the marsh and kept watch over deer camp at Betula Lake during the day while the hunters were out in the Whiteshell. Gypsy was no stranger to watercraft; she floated Pinawa Channel and Lake Winnipeg on inflatable rafts and took many (much less likely to rupture and sink) canoe trips; though her preference was always Dale's fishing boat at his cabin on Lake of the Woods. She thoroughly enjoyed quad rides, bonfires, nature hikes, and camping—whether in a tent, camper, or the boler—and was an easy companion for longer trips that involved backwoods portage routes or the Caddy Lake tunnels. She even braved the cold for winter camping, nestling in the bottom of the sleeping bag at night.
At home, she loved to be wherever her people were, inside or out, doing chores or relaxing. She was always right there as the woodstove fire marshal or lying around the kitchen corner while dinner was cooking.
At the lake, boat rides were just as fun as supervising Dale’s latest project, but she also enjoyed stealing space on Madison's brother Dan's bed. She thinks she's better than you Dan, and no, she doesn't want to be picked up!
Monica (AKA T-Bone) shared a very strong bond with her grandpup Gypsy. When Madison would go where Gyps could not follow, T-Bone would spoil her princess with sleepovers, zoomies in the park, walks to the river, full-body massages and leg rubs, and endless hours watching T-Bone dig in the dirt of her beautiful gardens. Every stay included hot breakfast skillets or a drive for Egg McMuffins, along with taste testers or even her own plate of T-Bone's delicious cooking. During most visits to grandma's, you could find T-Bone baking a batch of her legendary dog biscuits while Gypsy waited patiently nearby on the kitchen floor. T-Bone was a walking vending machine for dog treats, needing only a wet‑nosed boop to be activated. Gypsy was Monica's sweetie, and in Gypsy's golden years, Monica would lovingly refer to herself and Gyps as "the old ladies".
Gypsy found a devoted friend and dog-dad in Matt Irwin. It was trial by fire for these two when Madison left them together while she went to the East Coast on vacation very early on in their relationship. Matt jumped in with both feet, proving to be a perfect fit for both girls. He was always doting on Gyps, giving her love and face mushes, making her blush until her forehead felt like a red-hot boiler, and flapping her ears until she almost had lift-off. Without fail he would save a bite of his snacks or dinner to share with her. He was attuned to her thoughts and could translate her wishes. In her later years, Matt reveled in her increased desire for cuddles, which he gave generously. Matt was Gypsy's ally and protector, and he cherished his sweet little nugget.
Mukwa came to join the pack at the Gem as Gypsy's "younger brother" from Manitoba Underdogs Rescue in December 2021. Gypsy was regal, ever a lady, but Mukwa showed her another side of being a dog, introducing her to fun hobbies like chewing on sticks or refueling their barks by snacking on tender birch kindling from the wood box. He would "yip" in frustration while running full tilt trying to catch her, but she was too fast. He added years to her life and life to her years. She trained him well to fill her pawprints, including her comically strange habit of nibbling. He's a good boy because of her.
When Gypsy was happy, she'd nibble. When you weren't listening—usually because she wanted treats—she would thrash like a shark, dart, and evade the hand trying to pet her. When she hadn't had enough pets, her rattletail would shake and she'd strike at you like a snake. Quirks aside, she loved to learn and please, she was a smart girl. And a damn good dog. Ever present. Ever easy. Ever loving.
Gypsy had a great number of family and friends, all of whom would light up at the sight of her, no matter what nickname they knew her by. Gyps, Schnoodler, Gypster, Doodler, Kid, The Dude, Miss Gyps, Oodles of Schnoodles, Shneedle-nose Ploomer, Gyps and Chips, Gypsy Queen, Patchkew, Sweet Nugget, Gypserellie, My Girl. My shotgun rider and soul dog. The deep trust between us made possible so many great adventures. My heart bursts with gratitude and love for you.
The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of her warden. And that is where you shall stay with me.
