DONALD (DONNIE) WESLEY KISIL

Condolences & Memories (7 entries)

• Donald I thought of you today. This month is our yearly visit with you and Lydia. I was saddened to try you on the phone with no luck. Then read Lydia's obituary. I'm sorry Don. I wish I came to visit earlier. May you rest in peace with your mom, your best friend. I will miss you both. Have a drink with Joe and toss the Frisbee freely with David. Xo to you, from your friend. - Posted by: Karen Machut (Friend) on: Oct 18, 2022

• Happy Birthday old friend. I am going to miss our all too infrequent chats. Rest in Peace. lewyc - Posted by: Robert Lewyc (Friend) on: Jul 25, 2022

• My sympathies to Gerry, Ron, and their families. - Posted by: Evan Muzychuk (Friend) on: Jun 19, 2022

• (Edited from my FaceBook post) Both my sweetie Valerie Unwin and I were shocked to hear the news yesterday of the passing of Donny Kisil on June 8th at age 65. Donny was an extraordinary guy - one the oddest, kindest and most gentle people that I have known as a close friend. He was a year ahead of me at Gordon Bell and we were not close back then. But my favourite high school memory of Donny back was his outlandish performance as a volunteer during a Vince Romain show, a local hypnotist who performed routines similar to the renowned Reveen, who toured internationally. Donny, a quiet and reserved guy in public, was the star of the show. The running joke was that Donny was paid by Romain to perform his antics (things like being a dog and trying to evacuate women and children from a burning building). Indeed, Donny penned an mock expose that was slated to be featured in The Radiator, the very edgy student newspaper that was the brain child of Marty Green and that was only published once. Donny's article was pulled at the last minute due to concerns about possible legal action. I did not really get to know him until he visited and stayed with me for a month in Malmo, Sweden where I played hockey for a season after graduation. I also taught hockey skills to school students and I remember that I would introduce him as Donny Orr, Bobby's younger and decidedly less skills brother. I don't think that the kids ever fell for the ruse. Donny and I hooked back up the next summer following our respective returns to Winnipeg. Me from an extended trip around Europe with an extended stay in Barcelona, Donny from an extended stay on a kibbutz in Israel where classmate and friend Stuart Krogh had also been staying. He became close friends with both my sweetie (who I started dating soon after my return to Winnipeg) shortly thereafter. We spent many hours playing cards at his family home then on Honeyman where he lived with his mom Lydia, his brother Ronnie and their dog, Sonia. We also often threw a ball around at Vimy Ridge Park. We also spent time with Donny and his mom at clubs where Lydia ran the kitchens (like the Montefiore Club and later the restaurant at the old Osborne motel). We saw much less of Donny through recent years though we were pleased to visit Donny, Ronnie and Lydia after their move to south River Heights (the house right next to Ray Ali's). Indeed, we lost contact with Donny over the last decade but we always kept our friendship for him close to our hearts. News of Donny's passing was shocking. Equally shocking was news in Donny's obituary that his mother LydiA HAD passed on earlier this year (here's the link to her obituary which I also missed: https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-306360/Kisil_%20Lydia). I have so many fond memories and wish that I had made the opportunity to visit them both before their deaths to tell them how much they meant to me. Rest In peace Donny. My condolences to Ronnie and Jerry (Donny's brothers) and their families. - Posted by: Patrick Falconer (Friend) on: Jun 19, 2022

• I met Donnie through my husband Patrick Falconer in 1977. Patrick told me that Donnie was a quiet, smart guy who enjoyed tossing a ball or frisbee. The three of us bonded over these recreational activities. Donnie welcomed us into his home where Lydia,his mother, seemed always happy to fed us and let us play raucous games of cards, trivial pursuit and monopoly. Both Donnie and Lydia will be missed so much by family and friends. - Posted by: Valerie Unwin (Friend) on: Jun 19, 2022

• Sending our condolences, so very sorry for your loss Garth & Heather - Posted by: Heather Parisian (Friend) on: Jun 18, 2022

• I was saddened to hear of Don’s passing last week. I had known Don since Jan. 1964 when our family moved to Winnipeg and I joined his Grade 2 class at Laura Secord School. We later went through Gordon Bell High School together. I remember Don as a quiet friend, but also a very gifted artist, even in elementary school. To Jerry, Ron and your families, my deepest condolences in the loss of your brother. - Posted by: Mark Strople (Friend) on: Jun 18, 2022