PAWLO (PAUL)

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PAWLO (PAUL) WAWRYK October 25, 1918 - January 8, 2009 Peacefully, in Winnipeg, on Thursday, January 8, 2009, surrounded by those he loved, Paul passed on, after 90 years. Remaining to forever cherish Pawlo’s memory are his wife whom he shared 56 years of marriage with Elsie, before her condition with Alzheimer’s Disease declined to where he needed to call on Deer Lodge Centre for her residence and care; son Wayne, daughter-in-law Debbie; daughter Paula, son-in-law Bob; and daughter Joanne and son-in-law Jim; as well as grandchildren Wayne’s Todd, with wife Abi, and Meghan, with fiancé Rob; Paula’s Melodie and husband Mike and great-grandchild Maya; and Paula’s Natalie, and fiancé Danny, and great-grandchildren Chelsea and Dylan, Joanne’s John and Jennifer, and Jim’s Rob and wife Jen, Andrew and wife Amanda round out Paul’s full family, “little brudder Steve” and by “little sis” Jessie (Jo). He was predeceased by parents, Michael and Anna, who came to Canada from Austria in 1905; and by sister Marion and brothers; John, Nick, Peter, Walter and Billy. Paul will also be lovingly remembered by Laurel and Larry Reid’s family and the staff at Manhattan, and also by Gary Marshall and Alastair Gillespie. Paul was born on the homestead, in Foley, Manitoba in the R.M. of Gimli. As a young boy, he sold chickens, eggs and vegetables with his mother in the Gimli area. Technically inclined, he will be remembered as the lamplighter for many dances in the Winnipeg Beach area. In his youth, he met two chums that were very special to him, the lovely Lena, in the one room Foley schoolhouse, and George Meyer (of Meyer’s Drugs), who graduated high school with him, in Selkirk from Devonshire School, in 1935. After the war, Paul sold insurance, drove streetcar, cab and limo to provide for his young growing family. Elsie and Paul both served their country in the Second World War in London; she, packing essential soldier packets; he, driving trucks through the blackouts and air raids, determined to get “our boys” their letters from home. No weather or health issue kept Paul from faithful visits to her at Deer Lodge. He cherished any little spark of her recognition of him as her special visitor. In 1949, Paul graduated from Ryerson Polytech in Toronto in Radio Engineering. He rejoined the Army in time to work on the essential radiophone communications unit during the Winnipeg Flood of 1950. Paul’s family was posted to Churchill, Kingston, Halifax, Baden (4 Wing) in Germany, Edgar (Ontario), Beausejour, Gypsumville (MB). He retired from his last posting in Comox, BC in 1968. Paul loved young people, working at Gordon Bell High School, Advance Electronics, and eventually returning to 15 years as a radar tech with ITT on the DEW Line ‘til age 65. Elsie and Paul enjoyed homes from May to October in Winnipeg Beach to Belair, wintering in Texas and enjoying visits from family and friends. Paul loved projects, from building decks to painting landscapes. He could be found happily in the back seat of the car on the way home from family weddings, singing his heart out, never leaving out “Yellow Bird” or “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” and at the 2008 Christmas dinner, and not missing one word. Paul cherished friends, just after 2000, at a “Foley-Fogey” gathering, he was lucky to meet his former grade-school “sweetie-pie”, the lovely Lena (Ferniuk), who rescued Paul from what could have been a very lonely life. They enjoyed one another’s comfort and companionship. Our family is grateful to Lena who added joy to his final years. He loved to pop in to see Joanne at MTS at 627 Erin, greeted by the friendly staff. Paul’s memorial service will take place on Friday, January 16 at 1:00 p.m. in the Deer Lodge Centre Chapel, 2109 Portage Avenue, immediately following for all who are present by a gathering in the Deer Lodge Centre Lifelong Learning Centre. Following this, there will be a private family interment ceremony in the Last Post Columbarium at Brookside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations “In honour of Paul Wawryk” may be made to the Deer Lodge Foundation. His love, like God’s, shines from above. “Lest We Forget”

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 14, 2009