KARL GUZEJ

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KARL GUZEJ Tough guy until the very end. Karl left this world on Monday, August 14, 2006, to join the love of his life his radio , as he would often lovingly refer to our mother Matilda and to be with his eldest daughter Silvia Wilkie. Karl was born in Slovenia October 21 1921. He served in the Second World War and shortly after met and married Matilda. They began a family and left Solvenia for Canada. With their daughter Silvia and six month old son John they began a new life in Winnipeg. Karl and Matilda then had Betty and Karla as the family prospered. Karl found work in construction until he injured his back. He then worked for Monarch Industries for twenty five years. When he retired the foreman told Karl that he would have to hire three men just to replace him. Karl loved to be outside with nature but more than anything he loved to be with his family. Life with Karl was full of fun activities: camping, fishing, drives to the beaches and lakes, canoeing, down hill skiing, cross country skiing, mountain biking and long nature walks. His daughter Silvia bought a cottage at Sandy Hook. Most Sundays, mom and dad would show up with donuts and dad would mow the lawn and help work on the cottage. When he retired his daily routine would be a swim at Sargent Park Pool every morning followed by a bike ride to Assiniboine Park. In the winter after his swim he would drive to Birds Hill Park and cross-country ski. The family would like to thank Lazy H ranch in Birds Hill Park for always watching out for dad when he went skiing even on the coldest days well into his late 70s. His son-in-law Dana, whom our dad was very fond of and often said Dana runs like a deer, had inspired dad at the age of 66 to train for the Manitoba half marathon. It was one of the hottest days on record and our father and family friend Doris, 40 years younger, decided to run it together. It was our dad that pushed her to keep going, she told us later, and he would have been a lot faster if he would have just left her but that was not our dad. He still got second in his age group. We were all so proud. Throughout his family life he instilled the philosophy to enjoy the simple things in life and do not worry about the pursuit of materialism. Sports, Cowboy Movies, and the love of his family was all that really mattered. Also Karl will be greatly missed by his daughter-in-law Maureen Guzej, grandchildren Marc Guzej, Michelle Guzej, Tracy Wilkie and Jamie Wilkie; great-grandson Michael Wilkie; sisters Justina Krajnc and Slavica Perus, numerous family in Slovenia and many friends. A special Thank you to the Deer Lodge Centre for their care and compassion. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church, 510 River Ave. with Fr. Sam Argenziano presiding. Interment will follow in Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers donations in Karl's memory may be made to the War Amputations of Canada (Manitoba Branch), 113 Marianne Rd. Winnipeg, MB, R2R1W4 GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery Hwy. #1 E. at Navin, (204)222-3241

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 16, 2006