IRVIN (OZZY) PLOSKER

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IRVIN (OZZY) PLOSKER Irvin Plosker, born January 10, 1931 passed away at Riverview Hospital May 10, 2017 at age 86. Ozzy was "A special student of Life and Learning", always wanting to "taste the fruit of every tree." He was a bright student, but a university education was not in the cards due to the dire financial needs of his family, so Ozzy made printing his trade. One Friday night at a hangout called The Good Earth in the North End, he met a giggling girl named Sandra and knew she was it! They married, and moved to Kenora, Ontario in 1958 to run a motel which they eventually bought and expanded. They stayed in Kenora for 41 years where they raised two children and enjoyed small town life. During that time Ozzy became a long distance runner, biker, photographer, and cook. As a senior, he biked from Winnipeg to Gimli and back for 11 consecutive years in support of the Multiple Sclerosis society. The great love of his life was yoga, which he practiced all over the world. He was an outstanding yoga teacher, mostly to senior ladies who loved his classes. In 1999, Ozzy and Sandra sold their motel and moved back to Winnipeg for an active retirement which included adult education classes at the University of Winnipeg, and travel to the four corners of the globe. Antarctica, the Galapagos, Israel, Australia, an African Safari, the Far East, Russia, Europe, and the polar bears in Churchill all captured in beautiful photographs and memory. From hot air balloons to white water rafting, a frightened but willing Sandra was at his side! Ozzy was a gentle, kind, peaceful man. He loved animals, always had cats and dogs, and did not believe in hunting. He hand fed one of his sick dogs for a year. He was very observant, embraced and found strength in his Faith, and attended Etz Chayim Synagogue actively and regularly. If success in life is measured by spreading love, devotion, kindness, motivation, and direction, then Irvin (Ozzy) achieved great success in life. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Sandra, son and daughter-in-law Shayne and Michele Plosker; daughter and son-in-Law Rhea Plosker and Michael Carter, and granddaughter Sayde. Many thanks for Dr. Ray Singer, Dr. Marnie Wiseman, Dr. Jim Johnson, and all of their support teams for caring for Irvin over the years. Special thank you to Ozzy's nieces and nephews, Norman and Deborah Mayer and Barton and Michelle Faiman who were vigilant at his bedside during his final weeks, and to Sandra's sister Carol Faiman for her support. Donations can be made to the Charity of One's Choice. As long as I live, you will live. As long as I live, you will be remembered. As long as I live, you will be loved. Good night! As we have so oft said beneath this roof at midnight, in the days that are no more, and shall no more return. Thou has but taken up thy lamp and gone to bed; I stay a little longer, as one stays to cover up embers that still burn. - Longfellow

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 27, 2017