PETER CHENKIE

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PETER CHENKIE Peacefully, with his family by his side, passed away at Selkirk General Hospital on Thursday, May 26, 2005, at the age of 76, after a short but courageous battle with cancer. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Catherine, brother Mike and sister Mary Linklater. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 53 years Ella (nee Blunderfield), five children, Gordon (Charlene), Edmonton; Bev Yarema (John), Winnipeg; Barbara Doren (Steven), Mississauga, ON; Valerie Samborski (Ron), Morden; and Christopher (Heather), Yellowknife, NT; ten grandchildren, Brittany, Robbie, Lindsay, Michael, Kyle, Zachary, Aaron, Evan, Ryan and Jessica. Sisters, Janet Voyer (George), Winnipeg; Sophie Peterson (Peter), Richmond Hill, ON; Helen Drysdale, Stony Mountain; brothers, John (Coreen), Meaford, ON; Billy of Vancouver, BC; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, coffee buddies and special friend Ed Skrupski. Peter was born on April 11, 1929 in East Selkirk and moved to Selkirk as a young child where he had lived all his life. Peter had a varied work career. He left school at quite a young age, 13, to work at the Manitoba Rolling Mills. He also worked for Re-Nu Cleaners and Coca Cola Beverages. In 1952 Peter started working for Selkirk Motor Products and continued until he purchased the business which he later sold in 1977. Aside from smaller ventures his next big move was working for Purvis Navcom in the Beaufort Sea for several years and in 1987 until his retirement in 1998, he managed a float plane base for Selkirk Air in Bissett. A fan or sports, he was involved in junior baseball in his youth and later became manager for the Selkirk Fisherman Hockey Club which he managed for many years. The team became the Manitoba/Thunder Bay champions and was a contender in the Allan Cup semi finals in 1965 - 1966. An avid gardener, along side Ella, Peter took great pride in taking care of his vegetable garden and lawn, pruning shears, riding lawn mower and hoe were always by his side. A lover of fishing and old time music and dancing he was always adding to his collection of music and spent many a Saturday evening listing to Portage radio station. A loving and supportive husband, father and grandfather, Peter was so proud of his family. He took great pleasure in watching his children and grandchildren as they grew and matured. Gatherings in his back yard with family and friends were the highlight of his life. Gigi would always have a supply of drinks and treats available and wood ready for the bonfire. Funeral mass will be held in Notre Dame Church, Selkirk on Wednesday, June 1 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Bogoslaw Wardzinski officiating with interment of ashes to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Palliative Care, Selkirk General Hospital or the Gordon Howard Centre, 384 Eveline St., Selkirk. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 30, 2005