- Winnipeg Free Press Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
KENNETH (KEN) WONKO
Born: Jul 13, 1951
Date of Passing: Nov 16, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryKENNETH (KEN) WONKO
It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Kenneth “Ken” Wonko, a beloved husband, father, brother, and Gramps. Ken left us peacefully on November 16, 2025, at the age of 74, after unknowingly battling cancer for some time. Even though we only had two short weeks between his diagnosis and his passing, Ken filled those days with what mattered most to him—family, laughter, and a final steak dinner with all of his cherished grandchildren.
Ken will be forever missed by his loving wife of 53 years, Margaret; his children, Matt Wonko (Lindsay), Amber Myskiw (Jarett) and Candice Harmon (Jeff); and his seven grandchildren, Lukas, Olivia, Violet, Ella, William, Everleigh and Mabel. He will also be remembered by his sister, Karen Reynolds; brother-in-law, Bill Franz (Pearl), sisters-in-law, Ingrid Pawlosky (Rick) and Monika Franz-Lien (Jeff) and his nephews, nieces and friends. Ken was predeceased by his parents, Ernie and Dora Wonko; his parents-in-law, Johann and Ella Franz; and his brother-in-law, Bob Reynolds.
The family has so many fond memories such as annual ski trips to Banff, camping and canoe trips, golfing, boating and fishing at the family cottage in Pinawa Bay. Ken was the first one to make a joke (often an inappropriate one!) and he never hesitated to lend out his tools or help his kids with a project. He loved to sit back and relax with a drink or two, snuggle with a grandchild or, like his father, command the barbecue to feed an unruly and hungry crowd...even if the chaotic family gatherings were a lot to handle! Gramps loved his family and was so proud of all of us. He kept up his romantic side with Marg too - buying her flowers on all the important occasions and making time for date nights, day trips to local Manitoba towns, tropical vacations, road trips, and weekend getaways together.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and allied health teams at Health Sciences Centre, CancerCare, Grace Hospital and Palliative Care. Gramps knew he was surrounded by love right until the very end. Ken/Dad/Gramps, go rest high on that mountain. You will be missed more than you know!
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 28, 2025, at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue, at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.
The service will be livestreamed at www.hdezwebcast.com/show/kenneth-wonko
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to CancerCare Manitoba or the Grace Hospital Foundation. Ken would also love it if you honoured his memory with some family time, a drink or even a nap!
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 22, 2025
