WILLIAM ALEXANDER (BUZZ) ZEMLAK

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WILLIAM ALEXANDER (BUZZ) ZEMLAK July 11, 1923 September 16, 2012 The Zemlak family is sad to announce the death of their husband and father Buzz. Buzz died peacefully, on a warm sunny Sunday evening, at the Langley Hospice, Langley, BC, after a short illness. He is fondly remembered by his wife Jeanne, to whom he was happily married for over 58 years; as well as his sons Bill of Chicago, Ill. and Barry and partner Gary Benjamin of White Rock, BC. Buzz was born in Winnipeg to his parents Oscar and Jesse Zemlak and grew up in the Brooklands neighborhood with his sisters Helen, Frances and Teenie. All of his siblings predeceased him, including a brother, Levi, who died in early childhood. He began his career in 1939 with MacDonald Brothers, who were pioneers in the aviation industry. In 1942 Buzz joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as an air frame mechanic. He served with distinction in that capacity in Gimli, MB and St. Thomas, ON as well as several other bases in Canada. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and resumed his career with Bristol Aerospace, the successor company to MacDonald Brothers. Buzz worked with Bristol on a variety of specialized welding projects building nuclear reactors and highly specialized aviation components for civilian and military defense projects. He worked on the first Black Brant rocket project that explored the Northern Lights. In 1964, Buzz became a teacher at TecVoc, a pioneering industrial arts school in Winnipeg, where he rose to the position of department head of machine shop and welding. He was a key member of the team that designed the curriculum for the new R.B. Russell Vocational College that was established in the early 1970s. As an educator, Buzz took great pride in imparting his knowledge and skills to new generations of trades people, and influenced the lives and careers of hundreds of young men and women over the next 24 years. Buzz had a lifetime interest in sports. In his early years he was an active participant in baseball, field hockey, ice hockey, curling, bowling and golf. It was in league bowling that he met Jeanne, his future wife. Buzz was a current member of #1 Legion and a past member of #2 Legion. In 1988, Buzz chose a new career, retirement. He and Jeanne travelled North America in a variety of larger and larger campers and trailers visiting friends and family everywhere, thoroughly enjoying their new freedom. In 2006 Buzz and Jeanne departed Winnipeg and moved to Langley, BC to enjoy a more moderate climate and to be closer to family. Cremation has taken place. By request, there will be no service. Instead, raise a glass in Buzz's memory, and think of happy times. Repeat his favourite toast here's to those who wish us well, and those that don't can go to Hell . Interment will occur, at a future time, in the family plot in Glen Eden Cemetery in Winnipeg. Donations in Buzz's memory can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (Buzz was a 22 year cancer survivor), the Langley Hospice Society (who lovingly cared for Buzz in his final six weeks) or a charity of your choice. Condolences can be mailed to the family at #202-20750 Duncan Way, Langley, BC V3A 9J6 or emailed to barryzemlak@gmail.com Released From Life

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 22, 2012