RICHARD KAKOSKE

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RICHARD KAKOSKE Richard passed away gently early Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at Concordia Hospital. He had hip surgery that was shortly followed with unexpected complications. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, great-grandfather, he is missed by all. Richard immigrated to Canada from Poland as a six year old in 1929 with his parents and siblings. The family arrived in Montreal and traveled by train to Alberta to settle on a quarter section of land purchased from the C.P.R. near Leduc. They cleared and broke the land with horses and a break plow. Richard and his siblings were expected to pick the many rocks from the ground before it could be farmed. The first home was built with the cleared logs and the family grew in size to 13 children. At 15 Richard had his first job working at Wetaskiwin Motors where he learned how to repair vehicles and after two years went to Edmonton, wrote his exam and got his certificate. Soon he went to work on the building of the Alaska Highway and after went to try his hand in the pulp and paper business in Dryden, Ontario but not being satisfied, he headed back west and worked temporarily in Kenora at Inman Motors. Then a car breakdown on the way through Winnipeg fortuitously resulted in his landing a job at Carter Motors at Portage and Maryland (later to become Murray Chev Olds) where he stayed for 39 years mostly as the supervisor in the repair department. He was much liked by the many staff and customers and was declared a Prince among men because of his honest and kind nature. Dad met his future bride, Hilde, at a dance in Winnipeg in 1944, fell in love immediately and married in 1945. Together they had three children Garry, Dennis, and Darlene and he always worked hard at providing for them. He was very good at many things and was great with his hands and was always ready to tackle any challenge. These traits have been passed onto his children. He and Hilde worked together building new and renovating and upgrading their many homes...and together with Hilde became adept at building wealth and security for his family. Together they traveled and enjoyed the freedom of these adventures. He will be remembered as a gentleman and family man, a gentle soul with a ready smile with a can-do attitude always at the ready to take time to help a friend. Remaining to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Hildegard (nee Yapps), of 66 years, son Dennis and wife Joan, son Garry and wife Jo-Ann, daughter Darlene and husband Chris Pritchet, grandsons Scott and Glen, granddaughters Alexandra, April, Lisa, Trina, Tracy and husband Calvin, Melanie and fiancé Jared, step-grandchildren Luc and Olivier Labrie, great-grandchildren Nathaniel, Ben, Rhys, Tristen, and Evan. Also Richard's brothers Arthur in Alberta, Otto in British Columbia, and sisters Mary and Meta in Alberta. Richard was predeceased by his mother Albertina Adam, his father Julius, brothers Eric, Ben, Gordon and Rienholt and sisters Ella, Elsie, Freda, and Alma. Funeral Service will be held at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 1541 St. Mary's Rd. at 12:00 noon, Monday, February 7, 2011. A reception will follow immediately, there will be no interment. Donations can be made to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 1541 St. Mary's Rd., Winnipeg, MB R2M 3V8 or to the Lighthouse Mission, 669 Main St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 1E3. ...we are such stuff as dreams are made of and our little lives are rounded with a sleep. WS Online condolences may be made at www.glenlawn.ca Glen Lawn Funeral Home 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 05, 2011