Our dad and grandpa peacefully passed to his eternal home on Monday, August 19th at 8:12 p.m. at Donwood Manor Care Home. With his supportive and loving family surrounding him, he knew he was loved, and that he was not alone as he journeyed homeward bound.
We expected just a few more days or even weeks with him, but his passing came quickly and suddenly. It was a surprise to us, as well as some of the staff, as he rebounded so many times before; but this night, he did not. We appreciate the sensitivity and gentleness that we received that evening from the staff and wish to thank each of them who gave great care and support during his stay at the care home, and to us on that difficult night.
Walter has one remaining sibling, Jean Baziniak, whom he got to visit twice in the last few years of his life. Remaining as well, is his sister-in-law Edna Wishnowski, wife to his brother, Emil.His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren remain to honor his memory:
Debra Peters (Terry) and grandchildren: Jennifer Grant (Nate); Derek Kremski (Chandra); and Kurtis Kremski. Great grandchildren: Christian and Gracelynn Grant; Kaila and Ella Kremski; Hazel and Ivy Kremski,
Barbara Barnes (Graham) and grandchildren: Tamara Barnes (Jeremy); and Eric Barnes (Katie). great-grandchildren: Fletcher Barnes, and Bjorn Hird.
Carla Wishnowski and grandchildren: Max Wiebe, and Anastasia (Stacie) Wiebe,
Erna Wishnowski,
Richard Wishnowki (Shelley) and grandchildren: Adam Wishnowski (Jordan); Jordan Wishnowski (Zoe); Andrew Wishnowski; and Meaghan Wishnowski. With one great-grandchild from Jordan and Zoe, little daughter Myla.
Walter was born in Progress, Manitoba. His father was Adam Wishnowski, and his mother was known as Mary (Maria). He had 12 other siblings to share food, home and life with. Walter lived during a time and place where there was never quite enough food to go around the table. Dad would tell us stories of the homestead, where going outside to the outhouse in the middle of January, was a gruelling task. It was those tough memories of hard times that drove him into the city.
He had very few happy memories of his childhood, but there were some. He would tell us of a Christmas when they woke up in the morning and found one of their socks with an orange, a handful of peanuts and a bit of hard candy in it. What a great Christmas that was! Or the time when homemade bread was baked in the fired-up outdoor oven. Their biggest treat would be taking some fresh cream, mixing it with sugar, and then adding crushed wild strawberries into it. They would generously dunk the oven-baked bread to make a strawberry-cream dessert.When he moved to the city, he began working at Canada Packers as a shipper and a receiver. Later in life, he would be promoted to a supervisory position. This would be the memory that would remain the primary one when his recall began to fade. As vascular dementia took over, and each caregiver asked him where he used to work or what he did for a living he would say, “I was a boss at Canada Packers.”
He fell in love with Sandra Smotrycki and married her in 1955. Many Wishnowski brothers (and sisters) would meet their future spouses in the city at boarding houses, or barnyard dances. Our parents met at a rooming house they lived in. Soon after marriage - Debra was born, followed by Barbara, Carla then Erna.
Our mom desperately wanted a boy and after 4 girls, one day she was found on her hands and knees searching through the grass while pregnant with her last child. When asked what she was doing she said she was looking for a 4-leaf clover because she wanted a boy. And then, Richard was born. Maybe it was a 4-leaf clover for her, but it wasn’t for his sisters. This one boy child would terrorize all 4 girl children! He was relentless, (and still is). However, it paid off and turned in our favor, his mischievous nature and merciless antics eventually helped all of his sisters be alert and on our toes. We grew up to be strong women because of this little tormentor in our lives. In the end, Richard turned out to be a great companion for Dad at different sporting events; and then we, as sisters, eventually got used to him, and invited him into our fold. Thank you, Richard, for taking care of our pops when we had a sister trip, and for your love for sports, which included Dad.
Our dad was always a helper to Mom. Whether in the kitchen or cleaning, making perogies or baking, they would both give of themselves tirelessly towards others. Busyness with family events was the best package deal we received from being a part of this family. There were Sunday dinners with aunts, uncles and cousins; or they’d open up their homes to individuals who had no one to celebrate Christmas with. There were strangers at the Christmas table, but they brought them into the home, simply because they didn’t want them to spend Christmas alone.
Before Christmas, Dad would be with Mom in the kitchen for weeks on end helping prepare a traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner. Then the next day, preparing the home and much food for Christmas festivities for a boatload of family and friends. Between them both, they were a never-ending source of giving towards others.
Dad was about 66 when Mom passed away, but she was the love of his life, and when she was gone, he was devastated. It took him years to recover but he found his way and eventually, became more outgoing than ever before. Erna was a significant part of his life at that time. She stayed with him as much as possible while his broken heart and life mended. She was a great support and companion to help him during the tough times. Our gratitude to her for being his caregiver, especially during that difficult time, is understated. He was surrounded by her love, support and care when all of us had children and homes to attend to. She was his constant and his north compass, and he knew it to the very end! Thank you, Erna.
Our dad kept in shape and went to the gym weekly after his by-pass surgery. He had this surgery shortly after Mom left this world. After surgery, he began eating differently and went to the gym well into his 80’s. Rowing, walking, hunting, and being outdoors in the garden became a lifestyle for him. He loved going to Oak Hammock Marsh, collecting artesian spring water there, and making pickles with this delicious water. He was a self-taught accordion player, liked to golf, and was a champion bowler in his younger years.
He loved travelling and went to Israel with mom, which was a trip of a lifetime. He also went on an Alaskan boat tour with his daughter Barb, and her husband Graham, as well as Erna. Even though she lived in Alberta, Barb was always generous, and her love for him was evident. She made the most of all opportunities by spending time with him on the Alaskan trip. She had many visits with him - whether in Winnipeg or Alberta, and provided him with her delicious cooking/baking skills whenever and wherever she could. There were phone calls to Dad, and cards and thoughtful gifts given throughout the year. Thank you, Barb.
Walter served at Grant Memorial Church in many ways: he opened his home to weekly Bible studies, he became an usher and later a head usher for many years, and he also went weekly to fold bulletins for Sunday services. The church became a great source of fellowship, encouragement, and great Bible teaching for him. This companionship with his home study group would remain until he began losing his memory.
Our dad began having heart issues almost a decade ago. He would begin falling once in a while and become imbalanced. At about the same time, Carla moved in and we would soon see how this move became a benefit and a blessing while he aged. When he began falling at the gym, he packed up his gym bag to return no more.
He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and he could no longer drive, which caused him to sit a lot more, and in turn, caused other issues. Carla’s caregiving became his anchor and became essential for him to remain in his own home, which he did until he was 91. If it wasn’t for her, that would not have been possible.
We, as a family, thank and honor Carla for the support, love and care that she gave our father all these years. We believe that he lived as long as he did because he was surrounded by familiarity in his own home, had someone to talk to, and had home-cooked meals made with love. The extra touches with Christmas decorations and the hominess created a haven that he was able to enjoy right up to the last year of his life.
It took much patience on her part as he woke her up nightly by calling her name, and asked the same questions every few minutes. His immobility took a turn for the worst and many falls put him in the hospital. He contracted Covid and pneumonia while in the hospital and then we had to place him in a care home. Throughout the years, Erna participated along with Carla in making Dad as comfortable at home as possible. Dad slowly succumbed to a second bout of pneumonia and the effects of congestive heart disease.
We are an extremely fortunate family and we did not take any of the years we had with our dad for granted. When we were young, he was fully on board with being a dad, taking us all over the place – weekly baton and dancing lessons, catechisms, and classes for individual interests. And he was fully on board being a grandpa (or papa) to his grandchildren. As much as humanly possible he would attend as many sports games or events for each grandchild. And as the grandchildren grew up, his attention was drawn towards his great-grandchildren. They would hover around him and tease him until he yelled out “Trouble-makers!” Then once he settled down; with giggles, pokes and teasing, they’d do it all over again!
Although vascular dementia took a toll on his memory, he remembered who his children were right up to the last moment. Could we have asked for anything more? We were rich because of his memory of us, and as he opened his eyes one last time, he saw all the riches standing before him, honouring him as our dad, pops, grandpa, and papa.
He was immensely loved and will be immensely missed!
• Viewing of the body will be from 1:00 – I:45, Tuesday, August 27th at Glen Lawn Funeral Home, 455 Lagimodiere, Winnipeg.
• Celebration of Life service begins at 2:00 p.m.
• In place of flowers to the family, please give them to the Donwood Manor Foundation, 171 Donwood Drive, Winnipeg, R2G2H9
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