Walter SUROVY

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SUROVY: It is with great sadness the family of Walter Carl Surovy announce his peaceful passing at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Monday, January 28, 2013 at the age of 84 years, after a lengthy hard-fought battle of failing health. Walter was predeceased by parents Felix and Mary Surovy. He will be lovingly remembered by his devoted wife of 57 years Emily; his son Leonard (Roxine), children Ashley and April (Brad) and great-grandchildren Chantelle and Katerina; his daughter Leona (Brett), children Brittany (Devon) and Fallon and great-granddaughter Deirdre. Walter will also be missed by his twin brother Joe (Cathy), brother Paul (Sharon), brother Johnny (Sharon) and their families as well as brothers and sisters-in-law and their families. Walter and his twin brother Joe were born in Sardaky, Czechoslovakia on March 9, 1928. When they were eleven months old, with their Mom, they sailed across the ocean to join their Dad who was working on a farm in Saskatchewan. They eventually homesteaded near Rackham, Manitoba and Walter spent his early years on the family farm. He attended Rackham School and belonged to the Jackfish St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church. Walter left the farm in his early 20’s and worked for the Railroad in Winnipeg. It was there where he met Emily and they were married in Winnipeg on September 17, 1955. They moved back to the family farm, and soon after Leonard and Leona were born. Although farm life was modest, it was very rich in family values and traditions with lots of love and laughter. If Walter couldn’t afford to buy something, he would make it – his most memorable was a ski-doo made from an auger motor. It seemed there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix or build. There were many family outings – Sunday drives, fishing and swimming, visiting with friends and neighbors, watching hockey and curling and regularly attending church, fall suppers and dances. Wherever there was music, Walter wanted to be there. Walter would dance all night long but always his first and last dance was with his wife, Emily. Like many farmers, Walter picked up extra work where he could. For several summers he was a groundsman at the Clear Lake Cadet Camp and later worked as a security guard at Clear Lake. In the winter, he would have a trapline and cut firewood. Walter spent many enjoyable hours ski-dooing, not only checking his trapline, but also entering Poker Derby’s, going ice fishing or to town to watch hockey or curling. Walter was an avid hunter and fisherman. The freezer was always full of fish and venison. Walter enjoyed curling, belonging to a Men’s League and entering many weekend bonspiels. Watching local hockey was another winter pastime and Walter even gave the Old-timer’s League a try for one winter. Another passion of Walter’s was snooker. Every chance he had he’d be down at the local pool hall in hopes to find someone for a game. In 1976, Walter and Emily moved to Brandon and purchased their first home on 7th Street, where they resided until recently moving to Odd Fellows Corner. Walter worked as a Security Guard and on road construction for awhile but soon found there was a demand for his handyman talents. Before he knew it, he was working long hours doing renovations and repairs in Brandon and surrounding area. Walter continued this work well into his 70’s. He was never an idle man. He dabbled in furniture refinishing and woodcrafting. One of his first projects were jewelry boxes for all the girls in the family and one of his last were cremation urns for the entire family. He entered some of his projects in the 55 Plus Games and was fortunate to receive a couple of bronze medals. Walter’s love and respect for nature and the outdoors never waned. He continued to hunt and fish and eventually bought a camper. He and Emily went on numerous fishing trips and annually took in the Austin Thresherman’s Reunion. His love for snooker also continued. He belonged to the Velvet Rail Pool League and won a silver medal at the 55 Plus Games in Winnipeg. Dad always enjoyed his garden and flowers and planted way more than they could use but took great pleasure in giving it away. He became an avid birdwatcher spending many hours on the deck watching the birds at his feeder. His favourites were the bluejays. There was nothing Walter enjoyed more than celebrations and family gatherings. He cherished visits from his children and grandchildren as well as his brothers and in-laws. He was especially close with his twin brother Joe. When Walter and Emily moved to Odd Fellows Corner, he dearly missed his beloved birds and his BBQ. He loved to BBQ all year round. But it wasn’t long before he made new friends, played cards and bingo and attended pot lucks and catered suppers. Walter had a regular daily routine – over to Tim Horton’s to have coffee with the guys, he and Emily would go out for supper, he’d take her to Bingo, try his luck at the VLT’s on his way home, play cards, pick up Emily from Bingo and then off they went to Timmy’s again for a night cup. Like clockwork. Walter’s final couple of years consisted of frequent hospitalizations and he eventually moved to Rideau Park Personal Care Home in June 2012. Throughout, Walter amazed his family with recovery after recovery always being optimistic and determined to remain as independent as possible. While in Rideau Park, Walter enjoyed cards, bingo, watching TV and church, but looked most forward to his daily visits from Emily and visits from other family and friends. Walter was a true inspiration to his family teaching them so much and being the ultimate role model. He was a kind and gentle man who demonstrated great integrity, patience, generosity and a genuine appreciation for even the simplest things in life. Walter is now finally free from pain and suffering and resting in peace. We’ll miss him, but cherish the memories. A celebration and tribute of Walter’s life was held at Memories Chapel on Saturday, February 2, 2013 with Rev. Fr. Jorge Mante officiating. The eulogy was presented by his daughter Leona and urn bearer was his granddaughter April. Honorary bearers were all in attendance. Cremation has taken place and interment will take place at a later date at Rosewood Memorial Gardens. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Walter may be made to the Brandon Humane Society, 2200 17th Street East, Brandon, MB R7A 7M6. Expressions of sympathy may be made atwww.memorieschapel.com.Arrangements with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre,204-727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 16, 2013