Hans was predeceased by his son Ronn and leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of 65 years Grace and their five girls Ria (Dan), Deanna (Jerry), Rozanne (Myles), Lisa (Bruce) and Amanda (Chris) along with 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Hans was born to Johann Heinrich and Elisabeth Petersen in Cappel Kreis Marburg Germany. He and a buddy decided to travel the world at the tender age of 17, crossing the ocean on a steam ship in 1955. They ran out of money in Manitoba so Hans became a jack of all trades to survive. He met the love of his life, Grace, in Thompson where they were both working. They were wed in 1960. Hans always liked adventure, new challenges, and looking for ways to “save a few dollars, make a few bucks”. As a result, he and Grace lived many places in Manitoba over the years but no matter where he was, Hans always tried his hardest to provide for his family, often spending much time on the road trucking. The job he liked to speak of most was with Silverwood Dairies. He loved delivering dairy to all the rural small-town stores and spoke of it often. Hans and Grace were eventually led by the Spirit to St. Eustache and Elie. There they found a community of wonderful people with whom to spend the rest of their days.
Hans will always be remembered for his gorgeous gardens, hard work, hurry up let’s go attitude, adventurous spirit, and sometimes just the right amount of goofiness!
The family would like to sincerely thank the staff of the Portage District General Hospital for their compassion and care in Hans’s final days.
Cremation has taken place and Hans will be laid to rest in Elie MB at the Blessed Sacrament Church Cemetery at a later date. Donations may be made in his memory to a charity of your choice.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Hans’ memorial page using the comment field below.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our dear father, Gordon (Gordie) “The Garlic Man” Hopko, on April 17, 2026, at the age of 89 years.
Gordon is predeceased by his parents, Peter and Doris, and his brother Cecil. He will be lovingly remembered by his three children; Lyal (Karen), Kimberly (Brian), Pamela (Jason) and seven grandchildren; Ryan, Andrew, Riley, Brinly, Tristan, Noah and Peyton.
By day, Gordon worked for 34 years in Winnipeg as an Industrial Arts Teacher at the Manitoba School for the Deaf, and, in the evening, he was a proud farmer with his brother Cecil in Rockwood, Manitoba. When he lived in Winnipeg on Lipton Street, Gordon was regarded by many as the neighbourhood Mr. Fix-it, a landlord to rental properties, and chief mechanic to the vehicles his children drove. Needless to say, Gordon was a busy guy!
Awake and out of the house early each day, Gordon valued the meaning of hard work and would rarely stop to eat lunch as he felt the need to accomplish as much as possible while the sun was shining. He enjoyed keeping himself busy, making ends-meet, and only resting when it was too dark to see what he was doing. Renowned for his work ethic, Gordon was routinely seen farming, tinkering in his yard, or repurposing old lawnmowers to sell at auctions.
Once retired, Gordon traded city life for a more relaxed pace by returning to his roots in the Interlake. He loved the fields of green and gold, the open space, and the peacefulness of country life. Here, he adopted the title of “The Garlic Man” as he enjoyed planting fields of garlic to harvest and sell at fairs and local groceries. With each growing season, Gordon grew increasingly passionate about his hobby, yielding much satisfaction and pride.
Gordon found his greatest joy in life’s most simple and meaningful moments. Some of his cherished memories were fly-in fishing trips with his son Lyal and family in Northern Manitoba, where he embraced the rugged outdoors – living with few amenities, cooking over an open fire, and taking pride in catching and preparing meals with fish from the surrounding water. In contrast, Gordon enjoyed spending winters in Texas with his special friend Judy, where he enjoyed good company, local markets, and a welcome escape from the Manitoba cold. Closer to home, he treasured his daily routines – morning drives to his favourite McDonalds in Selkirk for a bran muffin and coffee, afternoons at auction sales where he was likely to return home with more treasures than he brought, and his well-known habit of collecting and restoring discarded small engines, giving them new life. These passions reflected his resourcefulness, independence, and appreciation for both adventure and the everyday pleasures of life.
Gordon was a remarkable man; a true role model to his 3 children and 7 grandchildren. He instilled values they each hold dear and try to uphold in their own lives. Gordon will be greatly missed by many friends and family.
As per Gordon’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a service will be held on June 13, 2026 @ 1pm at St. Joseph’s Church, 2 Olive Street, Stony Mountain, MB.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Betel Care Home in Gimli for the exceptional care Gordon received throughout his 3-year stay.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice in Gordon’s name or to Betel Care Home in Gimli.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Gordon’s memorial page using the comment field below.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Mother Mary left us on April 28, 2026, at the tender age of 99.
She leaves to mourn her daughter, Valerie Krut, son Gary Chizick (Darlene), 2 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her son, Ronald, husband, John and son-in-law, Darrel Krut.
Special thanks to the staff at Red River Place in Selkirk for their care and compassion.
Mary was a strong and good-natured woman with a gentle manner. Cremation has taken place and she will be laid to rest with her husband John and son Ronald, at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, Gonor, MB., at a later date.
We love & miss you Mom.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Mary’s memorial page using the comment field below.
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Ron Kisil, 69, announce his passing on April 18, 2026, in Winnipeg, with his wife and daughters at his side.
Left to cherish Ron’s memory is his beloved wife Karen (Szklaruk) of almost 47 years; his daughter Kristen Stevenson (Regan) and grandchildren Kaia, Ryker, and Blakely and daughter Ashley Kisil (Matt Hazeu). He will be lovingly remembered by his sister-in-law Shirley Guest (John), brother-in-law Larry Szklaruk (Trina) along with many other family members and close friends. He was predeceased by his parents Walter and Jean Kisil and in-laws Nestor and Anne Szklaruk.
Ron was born in Winnipeg on May 10, 1956 and was raised on Pritchard Ave. He met the love of his life on a blind date and they were married three years later in 1979. They welcomed daughters Kristen in 1982 and Ashley in 1985. He loved his girls and devoted his life to giving them a wonderful childhood and a future full of opportunities. They were his best friends!
Ron’s love for Karen was unwavering as he stood by her side and supported her through all of life’s challenges. He was her everything. Ron gave Karen a beautiful life and their deep love was evident in everything they did. They enjoyed travelling, cooking together and entertaining family and friends. He leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion to his family.
Ron graduated from Sisler High School and continued his academic journey in Commercial and Industrial Sales at Red River College. He worked 25+ years at DuPont Pharma in the pharmaceutical industry. He concluded his career as a key sales representative at Vista Medical- a pioneering medical electronics firm based in Winnipeg specializing in medical diagnostics (pressure mapping). He helped rehabilitation hospitals like Mayo Clinic and others across the globe use pressure mapping sensors to help thousands of wheelchair users live healthy, full lives. He helped automotive, defense, aircraft seating and bedding companies use the sensors to improve comfort and safety. Ron approached his work with honour and integrity and took pleasure knowing that he helped improve the lives of many people.
Retirement in 2024 afforded him the opportunity to pursue new interests and find joy in life’s simple and meaningful moments. He loved travelling, golfing, fishing, and taking in the beauty of nature while birdwatching and taking long walks in the park. He missed his fur baby Zoey who took him on at least five walks a day. He was always found puttering in his yard and keeping his lawn looking pristine. Saturdays were dedicated to his Ukrainian food runs; visiting Tenderloin, Old Country Meats, and Jeanne’s Bakery. Some of his happiest times were spent behind the grill, barbecuing his famous ribs for family and friends, bringing people together with warmth and laughter and making sure they left several pounds heavier.
Ron was a Mason at Gateway Masonic Lodge #171 and a member of the Knights of Columbus at the Father Shyshkowich Council #8925. After retiring he hoped to become more active in both.
A devoted fan of the Winnipeg Jets, he rarely missed a chance to cheer them on. He loved going to games or having a front row seat in his family room with a rum and coke. More than watching the Jets, he absolutely loved watching all three of his grandchildren, Kaia, Ryker and Blakely, learn to skate and eventually play hockey. Nothing brought “Poppy” more joy than watching a wraparound goal or a perfectly placed shot. He was known as Uncle Ronkie to niece Tracy’s boys, Dane and Oren. He attended as many games as he could with Tracy and Mike and cheered on the boys with a hot McDonald’s coffee. Thanks to Livebarn he was never more than a click away from the action when he couldn’t be at a game.
Ron cherished his trips to Indiana and Florida to visit his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. He was very proud of his family and enjoyed spending time with them at Disney, Gator watching, playing Lego, telling jokes, reading stories, sightseeing, beach days, and being a MacGyver around their house. He was proud of their dedication to their children. From the very beginning and until his last visit with them, he treasured every moment. His girls, Kristen and Ashley, would always be his greatest joy, but his grandchildren were the icing on the cake. They will miss their Poppy.
Ashley and Ron closely bonded over long talks about life and work, their love of music, walks in Birds Hill Park, Jets games and a good game of Scrabble. They were both foodies, always on the search to find the best food in the city and they would take long drives to surprise each other with food they were craving. Ron was so proud of her ability to advocate for the children she works with. Ron found a new buddy with similar interests in Ashley’s partner, Matt. They bonded over building his new deck, playing golf and seeing who could catch the biggest bass in Black Sturgeon Lake.
Ron had a way of making people feel welcome and special, always ready to lend a hand, share a laugh, or offer quiet support when it mattered most. He was known for his quick wit, practical jokes and off-the-wall sense of humour. We will never forget his one-liners! In his eyes, everyone was special and deserved respect. Ron will be remembered as a kind and deeply caring man. His favourite line was, “IT IS, WHAT IT IS”!
A special thank you to our wonderful friends and family who reached out, kept us in their thoughts and prayers, made and delivered food, called, or stopped by for visits and hugs during this difficult time. Your kindness will never be forgotten. A special thank you to Tracy Dumka, our family and Ron’s dear friends for all your visits to his bedside, for your love and prayers and for supporting him always.
An extra special thank you to Matt Hazeu for being with us at Ron’s side through this very difficult time. You were our rock, our shoulder to cry on and you were there for us when it mattered most.
Ron will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who were blessed to have known him. We were especially blessed because we called him “Poppy”.
“We held his hand until God held his”
A celebration of life will be held at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home on Sunday June 28th, 2026 at 1pm.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ron’s memory to: the Masonic Foundation of Manitoba (Wheels of Hope). 420 Corydon Ave, Winnipeg, R3L 0N8 * This program transports patients to their cancer treatments Or the charity of your choice.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Ron’s memorial page using the comment field below.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Walter Frederick Horyski on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at home, as per his wishes, with his loving family by his side.
Walter was born on May 5, 1940, in Selkirk, Manitoba. He was predeceased by his parents, Stephen and Mary Horyski, as well as his brother John and nephew Bobby.
At the young age of 16, he answered the call to serve and joined the Canadian Navy, beginning a life defined by dedication, resilience, and quiet strength. During his time in service, he had the honour of meeting the Late Queen Elizabeth II, as he was responsible for guarding her—an experience he spoke of often.
He went on to build a long and proud career as a welder with Manitoba Rolling Mills, where his hard work and craftsmanship earned him the respect of those who worked alongside him.
Walter shared 60 years of marriage with his wife Olga. Together, they built a life grounded in love, family, and enduring partnership. He was a devoted father to his daughters, Sandra and Suzanne, and a proud grandfather to Michael, Nicholas, and Jesse, each of whom brought him immense joy.
Walter’s true sanctuary was Wanipigow Lake, where he and Olga spent many cherished years at their permanent site. It was there, surrounded by nature, that he found his greatest peace. His love of fishing was legendary—more than a pastime, it was a reflection of his patience, skill, and deep connection to the outdoors.
Walter leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and quiet devotion to family.
The family will be forever grateful to Darren, Gwen, and Todd DeGroot, who were amazing friends and helped Walter with anything at home and at his happy place at the lake without a second thought. Walter cherished that friendship.
He will be remembered for his strength, his dedication to family, and the quiet way he showed his love through actions rather than words. His presence will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew him.
In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place and no funeral service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to spend time with loved ones, share a story, or cast a line in his memory.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Walter’s memorial page using the comment field below.
