LAWRENCE STOPERA

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LAWRENCE STOPERA
August 1, 1935 - August 31, 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Lawrence Stopera, our loving husband, father and gee-gee, on August 31, 2020, at 85 years of age.
Lawrence will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Joyce, with whom he shared 59 years of marriage, beloved daughter Shelley, his two precious granddaughters, Alanna Scammell Green (Bradley) and Katelyn Scammell, his sister Alice Johnson, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Lawrence was predeceased by his parents, Ignace and Mary Stopera.
Lawrence was born in Howden, Manitoba. After finishing school, he started working during the winter months at T. Eaton Co. Ltd. Mail Order, and spent the summer months helping his parents with their market garden farm operation.
On May 13, 1961, Lawrence married Joyce Fedoruk from Stead, MB. They spent 41 wonderful years living in the Howden community as members of the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church and the community halls. In this year, Lawrence also began full time employment at Federal Pioneer, now Pauwels Canada, as an electrical transformer assembler - working at this company for 36 years. After retiring in April 1997, he saved their home from the Flood of the Century.
After overcoming the challenges of floods between 1950 to 1997, Lawrence and Joyce made a major move to reside in South St. Vital. He once again built a new house and landscaped a two-acre lot.
Lawrence was a kind, quiet and hardworking man who appreciated the simple pleasures of life. His greatest passion throughout life was working outside on the land with market gardening being a labour of love. Lawrence took pride in his tractors and equipment, using them to upkeep his land, trees and grass. He found pleasure in music, played the accordion and wrote his own music. He was fond of polkas and waltzes.
Lawrence's pride and joy was his truck and fifth wheel trailer. He and Joyce enjoyed travelling and camping across Canada and the US. He especially loved the mountains near Canmore, AB, but his greatest delight were the annual summer vacations shared with his wife, daughter and granddaughters at Falcon Lake. In the winter, Lawrence's favourite destination was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. More recently, he enjoyed celebrating at his granddaughter's wedding and attending their university convocations.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at 11:30 a.m., with Father Mark Tarrant officiating, at St. Vital Church, 1629 Pembina Hwy. Viewing will take place one hour before mass. Interment will follow at Thomson "In The Park" Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, please RSVP by September 7 at stopera@shaw.ca.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Lawrence's memory may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 05, 2020