MORRIS LESCHUK

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MORRIS LESCHUK March 7, 1934 - December 23, 2008 After a life well lived and surrounded by those who loved him, our beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. at the age of 74 years. Left to cherish his memory is his best friend and the love of his life, his wife Nancy. He will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his four daughters, Lisa Dutchak (Richard), Natalie Chartier (Guy), Marlis Loughren (Patrick), Tiana Klimczak (Tracy); as well as his eight grandchildren whom he so loved: Alexa, Ben, Rachael, Nicholas, Daniel, Maryse, Renelle and Camille. He is predeceased by his mother Anastasia on September 21, 1970 and by his father Steve Leschuk on February 6, 2000 who lovingly taught him to work hard, be respectful of every race, creed and colour, and be proud of his heritage. Morris was born and spent his entire life in Winnipeg. He attended Aberdeen School and later graduated from St. John's High School. He continued his education and graduated from Manitoba Teachers' College in 1957. He later achieved his Bachelor of Arts and his Master of Science in Education from Bemidji State College and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1975. Morris started his life's work as a teacher with the Seven Oaks School Division at Edmund Partridge Junior High School, where, among a variety of subjects, he was assigned to teach music to Grade 9 boys. Here his pioneer spirit came to the fore because the recorder was making an appearance from the U.K. to North America. Morris convinced his Grade 9 boys to take up the instrument. He then organized a junior high boys' choir to participate in the Manitoba Music Festival. Under Morris' leadership as choir director, and not since, Edmund Partridge Junior High School Choir was awarded the Peter Logan Memorial Trophy at the Manitoba Music Festival in 1957, 1959 and 1962. Two years later, when Jefferson Junior High was built, Morris was transferred there to be a full time music specialist. He accepted any students into his choirs regardless of their singing ability. He produced Chonita , the first junior high school operetta in Seven Oaks School Division. He also started the first junior high string program for violins, violas, cellos and basses. It was during this period that Morris served as President of the Greater Winnipeg Music Association. While at Jefferson Junior High School, Morris' inquisitive nature lured him to explore a whole different field of talent. He completed the appropriate courses and began teaching the Industrial Arts program at West Kildonan Collegiate and then at Centennial School. His flexibility and adaptability was soon noticed and he was appointed vice-principal of Elwick Elementary School. At Elwick, Morris was asked to unify and centralize the patrols of the Seven Oaks School Division. He did this successfully and served for the next 17 years as the Seven Oaks School Division Chairperson of Safety Patrols. Four years later, he was transferred to be vice-principal of West St. Paul Community School. Six weeks into the school year and the untimely death of a colleague left a vacancy which Morris was sent to fill as principal of Forest Park School. Here his tenure was probably longer than in any other position. It was at Forest Park School that he received unprecedented display of support and loyalty which touched Morris deeply and he was ever after grateful to the students and parents for the recognition they bestowed upon him. Eventually, Morris was transferred to Collicut School, where he was principal for a few years before retiring in 1989. During his career, Morris served on numerous divisional committees including Professional Development as well as serving as Pensions Chairperson for the Seven Oaks Teachers' Association. Morris was a lover of music and the joy it brought to others. From age 13, he played in a band at weddings, anniversaries, etc. His formal music training was classical and as a young boy he was awarded a silver medal for Grade 4 Violin Toronto Conservatory. But the greatest mark in his life was his love of his family; his loving wife, Nancy of over 50 years and the four wonderful daughters who filled their lives with love, joy and a lifetime of adventure. Each of the daughters married young men of character that Morris often stated, I could not have made a better choice for each of my daughters. He was always ready and willing to help his family in so many different ways, be it loving advice, physical help or financial support, with family gatherings giving him the greatest pleasure. After retiring at age 55, he and Nancy had time to travel by van to all parts of the United States or take flights to the Ukraine, Mexico, Bali, Hong Kong, among others. Mom and Dad had many friends with whom they enjoyed travelling, playing cards, and getting together for good food and much laughter. Hospitalized for over three weeks, he fought a hard battle with cancer. His optimism, humour and gift of story-telling remained with him to the end. Besides family in Winnipeg and Arizona, left to mourn his passing are all his relatives who happen to live in Ontario: cousins Olga (William), Rose, Steve (Anne) and Stan, along with all their children and grandchildren. Our family gives special thanks to Dr. Ian Maxwell of the Oncology Department for dad's many years of care and again recently. In lieu of flowers, and in gratitude to the caring doctors and staff at Victoria General Hospital, Morris would have been deeply touched by a donation to the Oncology Department, Victoria General Hospital Foundation, 2340 Pembina Highway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2E8. Pallbearers will be Steve Leschuk, Ben Dutchak, Richard Dutchak, Patrick Loughren, Guy Chartier and Tracy Klimczak. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 29 at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. (586-8044)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 27, 2008