WILLIAM OSTROWSKI

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WILLIAM OSTROWSKI In the late hours of Tuesday, September 24, 2013, our Dad finally breathed his last. He was fun to be with until the end. His grandchildren always looked forward to visiting him at his home at Middle Church and wheeling him around in his chair. Our Dad is survived by his wife Shirley of 53 years, his children Diane, Gary (Sheri), Janice (James) and Wayne, and son-in-law Michael Hislop. He also has five, devoted grandchildren, Tori, Callie, Tristen, Cole and Ty. He was predeceased by his father Michael, mother Anne, step mother Dora, step siblings Stella Hares and Nicolas Cherney, brother John and Steve and younger sister Jessie. Dad was born at home on March 10, 1930. He started out life pretty rough during the dirty 30's on 40 acres in Springfield, Mb. He recalled having to walk with his siblings over 2 miles to school during the winter wearing threadbare shoes and coats and carrying lard sandwiches for lunch. If they were lucky they would occasionally catch a ride down Lorne Hill Road with neighbor's kids on their sleigh pulled by horses. He managed to remain in school at the one room school house until grade 9. Although Dad regretted having to drop out early to help out on the farm, he was an advocate of higher education for his children making sure we all had the opportunity. Dad started out his working career as a trucker with Safeway doing the long haul route to Thunder Bay. This was followed by 28 years with Winnipeg Transit retiring in April of 1993. We all enjoyed boarding the bus and spending his last run with him. Dad was an awesome athlete, and he especially enjoyed playing hockey with his country friends. We have heard stories from them through the years how Dad or "Spring" as he was nicknamed would fly down the ice while stickhandling the frozen brown puck. The remnants of their hockey rink, boards, benches and light poles are still standing today in the gravel pits off Lorne Hill Road. Growing up us children remembered him still playing Transit Old Timers hockey and in his retirement years he took up curling at Rossmere Golf Club. As a father he was hands on. He coached us four kids in baseball and hockey as well as umped baseball at nearby Elmwood Community Club. He also served many years on their executive committee. His children took up the sport of alpine skiing at nearby Springhill Ski Park near his Springfield home. Dad would drive them to races and volunteering as a gatekeeper. He even attempted to give the sport a try at Falcon Lake ski hill, but had to be fished out the bushes when he went straight instead of turning left or right. He explained that he was used to skiing the ditches around his home behind the cars of his friends - he only had to go straight. Dad definitely passed on the love of athletics to his children who are all still very active to this day. We grew up with a tent trailer and family vacations were always recalled as heading out in a station wagon overloaded with camping gear and fighting kids. Dad was also an epic babysitting force to his grandchildren whether at home or at our homes. We always remember him walking around with a baby in one arm or on the couch with several kids hanging over him. Occasionally he was even coerced into volunteering at a nearby preschool they attended. Together Baba and Gigi were a great team. He was always ready to go watch a soccer, ringette, or hockey game as well as gymnastics meets or dance recitals. Like we say - epic. When not babysitting his pursuits were simple, he could be seen walking his dog Chaffy, at the nearby Elmwood Legion or helping one of his kids with their house or yard work. Beyond fishing trips to the cabin his son owned, Dad had no real interest in travel. He stated that he could visit any country he wanted to by watching television. Dad you have left a big hole in the lives of your family. Memories will be funny, fond and fantastic! Private family interment at Springfield National Ukrainian Cemetery will follow at a later date. For those who wish to do so, donations can be made in his memory to the animal care program at the Middle Church nursing home. Staff at Middle Church are some of the most caring and compassionate people our family have met. Their jobs are often thankless and endless, yet along with the residents, are like extension of their families. Rest peacefully Father, Husband and GiGi, you deserve it all the way!
Publish Date: Oct 5, 2013

WILLIAM OSTROWSKI In the late hours of Tuesday, September 24, our dad finally breathed his last. He was fun to be with til the end. His grandchildren always looked forward to visiting him at his home at MiddleChurch and wheeling him around in his chair. Our dad was survived by his wife Shirley of 53 years, his children Diane, Gary (Sheri), Janice (James) and Wayne. He also had five, devoted grandchildren, Tori, Callie, Tristen,Cole and Ty. He was predeceased by his father Michael, mother Anne, stepmother Dora stepsiblings Stella Hares and Nicolas Cherney, brother John and Steve and younger sister Jessie. Dad was born at home on March 10, 1930. He started out life pretty rough during the dirty 30's on 40 acres in Springfield, MB. He recalled having to walk with his siblings over two miles to school during the winter wearing threadbare shoes and coats and carrying lard sandwiches for lunch. If they were lucky they would occasionally catch a ride down Lorne Hill Road with a neighbours kids on their sleigh pulled by horses. He managed to hang into to school at the one room school house until grade seven. Although dad regretted having to drop out early to help out on the farm, he was an advocate of higher education for his children making sure we all had the opportunity. Dad started out his working career as a trucker with Safeway doing the long haul route to Thunder Bay. This was followed by 28 years with Winnipeg Transit retiring in April of 1993. We all enjoyed boarding the bus and spending his last run with him. Dad was an awesome athlete, and he especially enjoyed playing hockey with his country friends. We have heard stories from them through the years how dad or 'Spring as he was nicknamed would fly down the ice while stickhandling the infamous frozen brown puck. The remnants of their hockey rink, boards, benches and light poles are still standing today in the gravel pits off Lorne Hill Road. Growing up us children remembered him still playing Transit Old Timers hockey and in his retirement years he took up curling at Rossere Golf Club. As a father he was hands on. He coached us four kids in baseball and hockey as well as umped baseball at nearby Elmwood Community Club. He also served many years on their executive. When his kids took up the sport of alpine skiing at nearby Springhill Ski Park near his Springfield home. Dad would drive her to races, volunteering as a gatekeeper. He even attempted to give the sport a try at Falcon Lake race but had to be fished out the bushes when he went straight instead of turning left or right. He explained that he previously skied the ditches around his home behind the cars of his friends - he only had to go straight. Dad definitely passed on the love of athletics to his children who are all still very active to this day. We grew up with a tent trailer and family vacations were always recalled as heading out in a station wagon overloaded with camping gear and fighting kids. Dad was also an epic babysitting force to his grandchildren whether at home or at our homes. We always remember him walking around with a baby in one arm or on the couch with several kids hanging over him. Occasionally he was even coerced into volunteering at a nearby preschool they attended. Together Baba and Gigi were a great team. He was always ready to go watch a soccer, ringette, or hockey game as well as gymnastics meets or dance recitals. Like we say - epic. When not babysitting his pursuits were simple, he could be seen walking his dog Chaffy, at the nearby Elmwood Legion or helping one of his kids with their house or yard work. Beyond fishing trips to the cabin his son used to own, dad had no real interest in travel. He stated that he could visit any country he wanted to by watching television. Dad you have left a big hole in the lives of your family. Memories will be funny, fond and fantastic! Private family interment at Springfield National Ukrainian Cemetery will follow at a later date. For those who wish to do so, donations can be made in his memory to the animal care program at the MiddleChurch nursing home. The staff at Middlechurch are some of the most caring and compassionate people our family have met. Their jobs are often thankless and endless, yet along with the residents, are like extensions of their families. Rest peacefully father, husband and gigi, you deserve it all the way.
Publish Date: Sep 28, 2013

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 05, 2013