JOHN WATSKO -

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JOHN WATSKO 1917 - 2001 Suddenly, on December 3, 2001 at Park Manor Personal Care Home in Transcona. John leaves to celebrate his life and memories his wife of 59 years, Nettie; daughters, Judy (Myron Gavaga) and Wendy; brothers, Ray (Elsie), Paul (Mary) sisters, Jessie, Helen (Walter), Jennifer (Laurence), Irene and Olga; and brother-in-law Ignace; nieces, nephews; and great-nieces, Laura and Crystal. John was predeceased by his parents, Steve and Sophie; son Wayne; brother Peter; sisters, Annie, Mary, Rosie and Polly. John was born February 1, 1917 in Hazelglen. He and Nettie were married in 1942 and moved to Toronto where Dad worked at Annaconda Brass and did back-lane mechanics. Eventually they moved back to Hazelridge where Dad broke land and did brush work. In 1948 he started Watsko Construction where his first job was Cooks Creek Drain for the R.M. of Springfield. He continued to build roads, opening up Northern Manitoba, the Yukon and North West Territories. John had a hand in building "Duffs Ditch". He was very proud of the Greater Winnipeg Floodway when it held up during the Flood of the Century. On his retirement John and Nettie travelled many miles in their motor home. They saw the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Alaska, the Mackenzie River and Artic Red. Dads hobbies were his garden, his dogs, the big shop and keeping the grounds. He also helped his son-in-law, Myron, bale hay and straw, pull wrenches when needed and offered a lot of advice and insight to many things. Once Dads health started to fail he and Mom moved to a cottage in Oakbank. In time his residence was Park Manor Personal Care Home. Mom lived next door at East Gate Lodge. His new hobbies became birdhouse building and talking on the phone, this he did until the end. Dad was a man of simple needs. He enjoyed the drives in the country and coming out to the farm to see what the boys were doing. Pallbearers will be Dads nephews, Daryl Osiowy, Jim Bealieu, Dwight Chmilnisky, Miles Watsko, Jordan Gavaga and Kyle Sterling. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Eckhart, Myron Gavaga, Walter Chmilnisky, Patricia Brokke, Ted and Mary Lucko, and Madeline and Joe Kruchak. Prayers will be said on Thursday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Green Acres Funeral Chapel, Hwy. No. 1 East at Green Acres Lane. Funeral service will be held on Friday, December 7 at 10:30 a.m., also in Green Acres Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in Transcona Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba Inc., 120 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C2. The family would like to thank the staff of Oakbank Home Care and Park Manor 2nd floor for all their help, extraordinary care, support and compassion that they showed to John. GREEN ACRES FUNERAL CHAPEL 222-3241

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 06, 2001