RUSSELL PASTUCK

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

RUSSELL PASTUCK November 7, 1911 March 29, 2008 Russell Pastuck, husband of Hilda, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, March 29, 2008 after a long and fulfilling life. Russell was the eldest child born to Anton and Maria Pastuck in Winnipeg. In his youth in North End Winnipeg he played sports at Robertson Memorial House. He would later attend church at Robertson Memorial United Church where he met his wife Ruth and was a Sunday School teacher, Elder and Board Member. Russ graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1933 and received his Master's degree in Education from the University of Minnesota in 1955. He taught in Vita, Manitoba for three years and then in Winnipeg for the next thirty-seven years, twenty-eight of them at St. John's High School as a physical education teacher. He loved his role as the coach! Many students benefited from his dedication to sport as he coached basketball, football, track and field and gymnastics and he was especially proud of having ballroom dancing added to the curriculum. In his time at St. John's, he coached and taught many individuals who went on to have very successful athletic and coaching careers. Education was very important to Russ and he spent his entire life learning and teaching. He was a voracious reader and always enjoyed sharing his knowledge. Russ had an impact on those he met throughout his life and left a lasting impression right up to his final days. He was very proud of his children's and grandchildren's achievements. In 1973 Russ retired from the Winnipeg School Division and he and Hilda settled on their acreage in Abbotsford, B.C. There they enjoyed developing the property and forming new friendships. He took great pleasure in caring for his animals, gardening, painting, golfing and many other activities. Russ spent the last two years in Calgary in the loving care of his daughter Maureen and her husband Ken. Russ is survived by his wife Hilda of Abbotsford, BC; his children Richard (Lena) of Tallahassee, FL, Doug (Vicki) of Winnipeg, and Maureen (Ken) Parker of Calgary, AB; his grandchildren Ruth Anne (Matt) of Tallahassee, FL, Kerry Parker Smith (Paul) of Vancouver, BC, Michael Parker (Sue Measor) of Calgary, AB, and Daniel of Winnipeg; his stepdaughters Joan (Norm deceased) Rogers of Brooks, AB and Maureen (Eric) Janzen of Abbotsford, BC and their families; his sister Tiny Patton of Toronto, ON and Olga Dedick of Winnipeg, and many nieces and nephews. Russ was predeceased by his wife Ruth in 1963 and his sisters Anne Laurila and Carla Landino. A memorial service will be held in Winnipeg on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Ave. (entrance on Aubrey). In lieu of flowers memorial tributes may be made directly to Special Olympics Manitoba - Winnipeg, 200 Main Street, Winnipeg, R3C 4M2. Neil Bardal Inc. 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 09, 2008