MICHAEL SADOWY

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MICHAEL SADOWY
November 19, 1929 - January 1, 2020

It is with great sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of Michael (Mike) Sadowy on January 1, 2020, at the Maples Personal Care Home where he had lived since November of 2018.
He was predeceased by his wife Alba, his parents, Leon and Barbara Sadowy, his brother Walter, his brother Steve and Steve's wife Yvonne, as well as his brother-in-law Paul Martyniuk.
He is survived by his five children and five grandchildren: Patricia, Michael (Sharon; son Kevin (Carlee) and daughter Heather), Linda Anton (Terry) of Whitehorse, David (Nadia; sons, Elliot and Curtis), and John (son Isaac) of Montreal. He is survived also by his sister Jennie Barton (Brad) of Kelowna, BC, and his brother Bill (Vicky) of Winnipeg, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Mike was born in Winnipeg. He grew up in the North End and was proud of his North End roots all his life. He attended Margaret Scott School, Faraday School and Isaac Newton School. He left school to become an office boy at Canada Packers and remained with the company for 40 years. Soon after he began work, he was trained as a salesman and was transferred to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. In Prince Albert he was introduced to Alba. They were married on April 12, 1952 and in 2017 celebrated their 65th anniversary. Mike was soon transferred to Flin Flon, Manitoba and after about a year was transferred back to Prince Albert. The final transfer brought him and his family to Winnipeg in 1961.
Mike worked hard and was promoted to management. He spent his evenings doing home improvements such as building the garage and the rec room, then decided to complete his high school equivalency. With that done, he took several university courses including some marketing courses. He used his learning to provide professional workshops to his sales staff. In 1978 he realized his dream of owning a cottage, leasing a log cabin shell at Black's Point in Grindstone Provincial Park. He completed all the interior work in the building, including all the plumbing and electrical work, careful to ensure it was all up to code. He and Alba enjoyed their cottage time for over 30 years.
Mike was proud of his children, proud that they all went on to higher learning after high school and all had good jobs with which to support themselves. He kept track of their school accomplishments and through the decades amassed a wide collection of business cards, copies of certificates, and other evidence of their successes.
His greatest hobby was woodworking. After retiring, he built a large workshop in the back yard and supplied it with several power tools. He built practical items for the house and yard, as well as gifts for family members. His products included everything from picture frames and small keepsake boxes to furniture pieces such as dressers, coffee tables, and even an entire entertainment wall unit. He produced a few decorative pieces of intarsia. He built items for friends and neighbours and was especially pleased to donate items for the annual auctions at Grindstone Days. Mike enjoyed following sports on television, especially the Blue Bombers and the Jets. He read the newspaper daily and appreciated the challenge of all the crossword puzzles, wearing out a couple of dictionaries and an atlas in the process. He liked bad jokes, especially puns. He liked a good argument but wasn't too keen on losing one. In the summer he liked working in his yard, keeping it attractive, and growing flowers and a small vegetable garden. He liked to sit outside and watch the various birds in the neighbourhood. He also kept an eye on the neighbours, eager to help whenever help was needed, then, as he grew older and less capable, grateful to accept whatever help was offered to him.
Although we will miss our dad for the rest of our lives, we are grateful for the love he gave us and for all he taught us, both directly and through the example of his own life. We are grateful, too, that we were all able to get together with him in November to celebrate his 90th birthday.
The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and other staff members who cared for Michael during the past few years, including staff members at Seven Oaks General Hospital, home care, and especially everyone who worked with him at the Maples Personal Care Home, Second Floor West.
At Michael's request, cremation has taken place and no service will be held.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 11, 2020