CHILO BURKO

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CHILO BURKO October 21, 1925 Poland - June 26, 2003 Winnipeg For 77 years, Chilo Burko lived a life of abundance. Predeceased by parents, Yosel and Dobba Burko; sisters, Rose Machlis, Rae Hirt; brother-in-law Ben Vale; friends, Bobby, Maurice, Meyer, and Saul. Survived, remembered and loved by his devoted wife of 56 years Bernice (nee Rutman) sister Ruthie Vale; children, Larry Burko (Lori Mills), Jo-Anne McDowall (Robert), Susan Burko (Ian Keenan), Lisa Springman (Mallory) grandchildren, Talia Syrie (nee Waldman), Carly Duboff, Shyla Waldman, Matthew Duboff, Avi Waldman, Maegan Springman, Rory Springman; in-laws, Ceci and Sam Meyers, Cookie and Al Rutman, Phil Hirt; nieces and nephews, Mel and Sheila Hirt, Barbara Hirt and David Petrie, Allen and Barbara Vale, Joel and Helen Vale, Simcha and Jocelyn Vale, David and Irene Boxer-Meyrowitz, Arlene and Len Gladstone, Ray and Linda Rutman, Sondra and Jason Brown, Fred Rutman; many cousins and friends. Chilo arrived here from Poland at age three and grew up in the family home on the corner of Selkirk and Salter. He loved to talk about his first job as a pin setter at the bowling alley next door. His sisters, Rae and Ruthie both contributed to his education fund and the family was so proud in 1948 when he earned his Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree (with a minor in Bridge) from the University of Manitoba. His thesis was on the potential impacts of the then newly introduced vending machine technology. He met Bernice Rutman 60 years ago. They married in 1947 and had four children. He loved business and spent the initial part of his career at Sidney I. Robinsons as General Manager. In 1961 he became an entrepreneur. The family moved to Toronto, then Barrie, ON where he started to build homes. In 1964, the family moved to Midland, ON and he opened his general contracting company, Huronia Homes & Apartments. Bernice and Chilo loved Midland where they had many close friends, but returned to be with the family in Winnipeg in 1969. Chilo bought land at 1080 Diplomat Dr. and built Bernice the home of her dreams. He also bought land in Portage la Prairie and opened a new business, Northland Homes and Apartments. His business goals were simple, to earn a living; to build decent, affordable homes for families; to provide honest, worthwhile employment to others; and to contribute to his adopted homeland, by paying taxes. He always said that his goal was to pay a million dollars in taxes, a year. He was passionately involved with his family and when his first grandchild, Talia, was born in Israel in 1976, Chilo and Bernice arrived to visit within weeks of her birth. This trip gave them an opportunity to connect with a branch of the family who had immigrated to Israel years before. Travel also brought them closer to other family members. They bought a condo in Deerfield Beach, FL and there connected with the United States branch of the family, cousins who had escaped the Holocaust. As a father, Chilo always made sure that his family had enough. He would say "If the money isnt there to look after family, what was it there for?" As a Zaida, he loved to take his grandkids to the circus or Disney movies, whether they wanted to go or not. His enjoyment was much more than doubled when he saw it through their eyes as well as his own. After he became ill in 1991, he was always there for the grandchildren with his unchanging joking patter: "How are you Zaida?" "Compared to what?" "I love you Zaida." "Yah, yah, youre crazy from me." For 60 years Chilo and Bernice travelled together. From their early trips on the Moonlight Special to Winnipeg Beach, to vacations across Canada, to their journeys to Israel, Hawaii, London, Holland, and especially Florida, they have been travel companions, bridge partners, best friends, lovers. They laughed and played together, fought, made up, challenged each other, supported each other. When he walked into the house he would immediately look for her, call for her. At the hospital in the last days Bernice was standing over his bed holding his hand. He had largely lost the capacity to speak but his eyes never left her face. She was still the centre of his awareness, of his love. She always was. He lived a life of abundance that he shared with his friends, his family and always his wife. We love you daddy. "Were crazy from you." The family thanks Dr. Rabson, the nurses, nursing assistants, staff doctors at the Health Science Centre for their gentle care during Chilos repeated admissions over the past few months, particularly in Emergency, and on GA4, GD5 and GH4. Thanks to home care staff, Cydnee Silverstein, Ivan, Karen, Ida, Moises, Raul, for their dedicated care; and for the loving hands at the Chesed Shel Emes. Donations may be made to ORT 489-2924 or 488-7908 or a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 02, 2003