Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

Gordie Howe passed away with a serenity that befitted his legend.

Howe died Friday morning after a long battle with dementia. He was 88.

In a text to the Free Press, son Murray sent the message that, "Mr. Hockey left this morning peacefully, beautifully, and with no regrets."

Howe's legendary career will be honored during Sunday's Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Free Press there will be a moment of silence and a tribute.

Howe was known, simply, as Mr. Hockey. His career spanned five decades and lasted 2,421 games. He practically is synonymous with the Detroit Red Wings: He played for them from 1946 to 1971, leading them to Stanley Cup championships in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955. He is the longest-tenured player in Wings history. A statue of him graces the concourse at Joe Louis Arena.

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His last visit to the Joe was March 28, when fans serenaded him during a game against the Buffalo Sabres by singing 'Happy Birthday,' just a few days before his March 31 birthday.

That he could stand tall again at the Joe had looked improbable a year-and-a-half earlier. In October of 2014, Howe suffered a stroke, compounding his health problems as he'd already been suffering from dementia, and had gone through a summer punctuated by mini strokes. At the time, Howe was living with his daughter, Cathy, in Lubbock, Texas. He spent the last part of his life with his son, Murray, in Toledo, Ohio.

Murray Howe is a doctor specializing in radiology. His knowledge of medicine helped prompt a visit to a stem cell clinic. Howe underwent treatment again in June of last year.

The revival was remarkable. As late as this past March, Howe would accompany Murray on excursions. A favorite was shopping at a local Kroger's, where Howe would push the cart. Murray also described the breakfast his father consumed daily: Four eggs, toast with butter, a banana, four sausage links and a bowl of oatmeal.

At the time of the October 2014 stroke, former longtime Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman reminisced about the first time he met Howe.

"I was walking in the hallway outside the locker room at Joe Louis Arena," Yzerman said. "He introduced himself to me and I was kind of in awe. I was 18 years old. He was very nice and very humble and down to earth. You're talking, at the time, to the best player ever to play.

"It was a neat thing, at that time, for me."

Steve Yzerman thanks 'icon' Gordie Howe in statement

The next summer, Yzeman and Howe were at a charity event in Halifax, Nova Scotia, when Yzerman realized he'd under-packed.

"I'd forgotten my shin pads, and he let me wear his," Yzerman said. "Then he left before I could give them back, so I carried them around for quite a while."

Howe's wife, Colleen, died in 2009 from Pick's disease, a neurological condition that causes dementia. Howe is survived by his four children, Marty, Mark, Cathy and Murray, and nine grandchildren.

President Barack Obama said in a released statement Friday Howe’s “productivity, perseverance, and humility personified his adopted hometown of Detroit.”

“The greatest players define their game for a generation; over more than half a century on the ice, Mr. Hockey defined it for a lifetime.”

Wings owner Mike Ilitch mourned Howe’s death.

“Today is a sad day for the Detroit Red Wings and the entire hockey world as together we mourn the loss of one of the greatest hockey players of all-time,” Ilitch said in a statement. “The Red Wings organization and the National Hockey League would not be what they are today without Gordie Howe. There is no nickname more fitting for him than 'Mr. Hockey.' He embodied on and off the ice what it meant to be both a Red Wing and a Detroiter. He was tough, skilled, and consistently earned success at the highest level. His achievements are numerous and his accomplishments immeasurable. It is truly a blessing to have had him both in our organization and our city for so many years. He will be deeply missed.”

More Gordie Howe coverage

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement saying Howe was "a remarkable athlete whose mastery of our sport was reflected by the longevity of his career."

In a statement, Lanny McDonald, chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame, where Howe was inducted in 1972, called Howe "a true legend who not only inspired so many people by his achievements on the. Ice, but to all of those who interacted with him throughout his life."

Here's Gordie Howe's final career goal.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Check out our Red Wings Xtra app on Apple and Android!