PETER ZURVEL

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

PETER ZURVEL a.k.a. the Candy Man After a long struggle with emphysema, Peter passed away peacefully on March 9, 2005 at his residence at Red River Place Personal Care Home. Not alone in his final days, Dad was comforted by family and friends. Peter will be lovingly remembered by his three daughters, Gail (Bill) Bodman of Selkirk; his special daughter Marjorie Zurvel of Portage La Prairie; and Christine Zurvel (Billy Purvis) of Petersfield. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Willie and Louise Bodman and great-granddaughter Bree of Roblin, MB; Kelly and Monika Bodman of Frankfurt, Germany; Robert Mayo of Winnipeg; and Joanne and Jason Arseneau and great-grandchildren, Jena, Loren and Tommy of New Westminster, BC. Peter is fondly remembered by his special friend, Lucy Charney and her family of Winnipeg. The Zurvel family wishes to thank Lucy for all her love and care given Peter for the past three years. Peter was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Sophie, in 1991; his parents, Stefan and Sophia; his sister Lena (George) Hygaard; his half brothers, Walter (Marion) and John Tapley. Peter was born in Selkirk on August 5, 1921. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in October 1940 and was medically discharged in May 1941. He married Sophie Dolyniuk on July 18, 1942 in Selkirk. He worked for Boyko's, Manitoba Rolling Mills and North American Lumber. The family then moved to Winnipeg where Peter worked for Dominion Construction and Arlington Lumber. Moving back to Selkirk Peter then found his calling as a car salesman. He worked for Eastern Sales in Winnipeg and then Imperial Motors in Selkirk which became Steeltown Ford Sales. He retired from Steeltown Ford in 1981. In 1975, while he was at Steeltown Dad earned the Summit Award from Ford of Canada after he sold a car a day for a year. Semi-retired, Dad worked several years part time for the Helwer family and then he helped out at Holm's Insurance. Dad was widely known in Selkirk but many people only knew him as the Candy Man. A couple of days a week he would make his rounds of businesses and the hospital in Selkirk delivering candies, cakes and muffins. In 1994 the CBC's Sandy Coleman did a segment on her TV show featuring the Candy Man's deliveries. The family would like to thank the staff of the Selkirk General Hospital and his doctors, Dr. B. Ryckman and Dr R. Lindenschmidt for the care given to Dad over the years. For the past five months Dad has been a resident of Red River Place Personal Care Home in Selkirk. He received the best of care and the family is very grateful to the staff for the love and support shown, especially during his final days. You are special care givers. A dad's a very special man who knows his family's needs, who shows his love and thoughtfulness not just in words, but deeds. A dad's a very special man who's always right on hand to help and to encourage when things don't go as planned. A dad's a very special man who shares in all you do, and the kind of love you have for him will last a lifetime through! A memorial mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on March 14 at the Notre Dame Catholic Church in Selkirk with Father Boguslaw Wardzinzki officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in Peter's memory may be made to the Selkirk District Community Foundation, P.O. Box 400, Selkirk, MB R1A 2B3. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 12, 2005