LAWRENCE PETER WARWARUK

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LAWRENCE PETER WARWARUK Lawrence Peter Warwaruk Sr., 68, died of heart failure on February 19, 2007 in Surrey Memorial Hospital while visiting family in Vancouver, BC. Dad was born on December 11, 1938, in Erickson, MB. He grew up attending the one-room Westmount School, and regaled us with stories of playing baseball and catching heck from Uncle Wes for cutting through his field of brome grass on the way to school! Dad went to St. Paul's High School in Winnipeg in 1954-1955. He returned to Erickson where he claimed that he got his education in the local pool hall; he was fond of laughing that he never went to finishing school! Dad absolutely loved farming! He left school and started farming full-time with his family. Dad had incredible drive and ambition - he always wanted to be out on the farm, expanding and improving it! Like the rest of his family, Dad had an astonishing work ethic. He was very proud of the work they all put into their operation. He never felt hampered by his lack of formal education. He had an absolute zest for life and optimistically believed that success was built on hard work, period. We have a deep respect for Dad's strong sense of family, morals and his keen sense of knowing right from wrong. He had solid ethics - standing up for the little guy , helping those in need, never being wasteful. Dad loved the simple things in life and appreciated every blessing, be it good health or fresh vegetables from the garden. We loved Dad's farm stories and especially those about Grandma and Grandpa. We learned of Grandma's strength, working tirelessly in the house and in the fields. Dad astonished us with tales of Grandpa's hardships as an orphan, teaching us how fortunate we were. It meant a lot to see Dad's respect for his parents and see how their influence made him the man he was. Dad revered his Ukrainian heritage the people, music, history, and especially the food! If Dad really enjoyed a meal, he would exclaim it was fit for Lady Di! His culture was his connection to the land and nurtured his love of farming. Dad and our mother, Dorothy Seredynski, married in 1967 and had seven healthy kids in nine years Bridgette, Lawrence Jr., Linda, Christopher, Eugene, Bernadette, and Eric. Dad and Mom gave themselves completely to us kids and the farm. Dad suffered an anhydrous ammonia burn to his lungs while fertilizing a field in 1982. This complicated asthma that he battled for the rest of his life. Uncle Paul, Uncle Julian and the rest of the family rallied around during Dad's numerous hospital stays. Dad had a natural curiosity and never stopped learning. If he was interested in something, he would read books and make numerous inquiries. He had a keen interest in politics and took initiative to keep on top of local, provincial, national and international events. Dad was a quiet but determined activist. He shunned the limelight but spent hours on the phone with politicians and other activists, working hard against injustices in farm policy, the cause he was most passionate about. Dad faced numerous challenges through the '80s. Along with his severe breathing difficulties, Dad and Mom endured many financial struggles on the farm, but they didn't give up. While Mom chased after seven young children and worked as a substitute teacher, Dad spent many winters selling fruit out of our van at auction marts around Manitoba. Dad loved selling fruit - he recently reminisced how he enjoyed meeting all kinds of people, chatting and joking with them. He was proud to be his own boss his entire life. He made us think of the possibilities, not the limitations in everything we did. No matter what we all do now, this motto is a part of us! Mom and Dad separated in 1989. Although this was hard on everyone, Mom and Dad always came together for the family during special occasions. Everyone who knows Dad knows that he LOVED bluegrass, old-time fiddling and especially polka music! Over ten years ago, Dad discovered the polkafests in the Yorkton-Melville, SK area...and his world changed! Dancing dramatically improved his health. He started driving out there as often as he could and met many wonderful people. Dad would drive anywhere for a good dance and great music, like Regina, Fargo, Rochester and Wisconsin. He finally made it to a big polkafest in Las Vegas just last week. In recent years, Dad shared his passion for farm life with his grandchildren - Jack, Brielle and Dimitri. Dad and Jack enjoyed coffee on the tailgate of the truck like we would during harvest except they were on the driveway in Vancouver! Or he would take Brielle out to the field to check the timothy hay. He looked forward to doing the same with Dimitri, who recently took his first steps. Dad was so proud of his kids Bridgette's success at BC Hydro, Linda's wicked sense of humour that provided so much relief through hard times, the boys' restaurant, Luxsole, Bernadette's adventures in the Yukon and Eric's musicianship that Dad always tried steering towards polkato no avail! Dad is predeceased by his father Peter, mother Katherine, and brother Paul, and is survived by his brothers Roman (Margeurite), Julian (Jean), sister Linda (Peter), sister-in-law Marion, and children Bridgette (Scott, Jack, Brielle), Lawrence (Erin), Linda (Rev. Fr. Nikolaos, Dimitri), Christopher (Lisa), Eugene (Pamela), Bernadette, Eric, their mother, Dorothy, the entire Warwaruk, Rybuck and Seredynski clans, and many, many friends . Prayers will be on Tuesday, February 27, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Jude's Roman Catholic Church, Erickson, MB, officiated by Dad's son-in-law, Rev. Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis. Funeral will be on Wednesday, February 28, at 12:00 noon, also at St. Jude's and officiated by Father Vincent Tchaoule. Interment will be in St. Jude's Cemetery. In memory of Dad, we ask that you celebrate the simple things in life spend more time with loved ones, grow a garden, or enjoy a coffee with friends. Donations can also be made to the MB Lung Association. www.mb.lung.ca Minnedosa Funeral Service in care of the arrangements. (204) 867-1960.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 24, 2007