TADEUSZ (TED) JAN PILOZOW

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TADEUSZ (TED) JAN PILOZOW
November 26, 1957 - September 22, 2020

With tragic suddenness, on the glorious first day of fall, Ted returned to his Creator.
He is survived by the love of his life, Barbara; mother Czeslawa (Charlotte); daughters, Lindsay (Wes) Green, Michelle Reid (Jon Cartwright) and grandson Lincoln; brother Jerry Pilozow and his children, Warren Pilozow and Stephanie (Kevin) Hildebrand; mother-in-law Jane Kovall; stepsons, Kyle Park, Bryce (Jenn) Park with children, Ada and Ryker; sisters-in-law, Melodie (Bruce) Romaniuk and Nancy Kovall; brother-in-law George (Catherine) Kovall; and three stepnephews, Matthew Romaniuk, George Robert and Yuri Kovall. He was predeceased by his father Hendryk Pilozow in 2004, grandmother Agnieszka Zurek in 2005, and sister-in-law Eleanor Pilozow in 2017.
Ted was born in Winnipeg Manitoba and attended Holy Ghost School, Collicutt School, Jefferson Junior High, and Garden City Collegiate. He earned a Business Degree at Red River College. He was a man of many talents, touring North America playing a Hammond B3 organ with the Jan Lewan Trio, working on the slaughter floor of Burns, an on air personality with CFRW, and his first tour with Winnipeg Transit in 1980. Soon he was the proud father, along with their mother Janet Shaffer, of two lovely daughters he adored and praised all his life. In 1988 the family moved to Dryden, ON where he established their transit system. For a time he had the contract for blue box collection in Dryden and Kenora. Eventually he put his college project together and began a very successful Indigo Bay, followed by Antara Printwear. In 1999 he met his bride and joy, Barbara, on an internet dating site. They married in September of 2002. Soon after they established Northern Hemp Clothing.
In 2004 he sold their businesses and followed Barbara to Vancouver. While she attended Vancouver School of Theology, he built Rona stores across western Canada. Upon her ordination they moved to Dawson Creek, BC where he was employed with Telus as an installation and repair technician. In 2014 Barbara was called to Winnipeg and Ted returned to Winnipeg Transit as a bus driver.
Ted's life was inextricably intertwined with his faith in God and service in the church. He was a musician of unmatched talent and began playing the organ in the churches at the early age of eight. He was the organist at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church and Dryden First United. He had the privilege of introducing the new organ at the cathedral in Thunder Bay. He was the church musician / organist at West Point Grey Presbyterian Church, Vancouver; St. James Presbyterian Church, Dawson Creek; and most recently Knox Presbyterian Church, Selkirk. He had a keen sense of liturgy, his music was his way of praying and it never failed to lift people's hearts and voices in joyful praise to the Triune God. He especially loved leading worship with Barbara.
Ted was so much more than the jobs he held. He was a spontaneous traveller, a story teller, a determined golfer, passionate dog owner (Haggis), and a loyal Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan, regardless of where he lived. In the words of a co-worker "he was a celebrated organist, an accomplished quilter, an avid cyclist, a loving proud father and most devoted husband to his bride. His booming laugh would echo throughout the [transit] building filling everyone in earshot with his infectious and unbridled joy. He was a giant of immense personality and unending honour. This tragedy has taken him from his loved ones and friends, but it can never remove the indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all those who had the pleasure of knowing him." He will be missed by many, many people.
Ted's funeral will be Friday, October 9, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. by invitation only due to covid restrictions.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Knox Presbyterian Church, Selkirk; St. John's Presbyterian Church, Winnipeg; or Penny's All Breed Rescue, pennysallbreedanimalrescue@gmail.com would be greatly appreciated by the family.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 03, 2020