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STEPHEN JAMES RICH Obituary pic

STEPHEN JAMES RICH

Date of Passing: Feb 07, 2013

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STEPHEN JAMES RICH Peacefully on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at home, Steve passed away at the age of 51. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Gladys, his daughter Sarah and son-in-law Stephen Dyck, his mother-in-law Helen Wall, his sisters Betty (Jack) Lee, Cathy (Floyd) Robertson, Mary Anne (Luc) Giroux, brothers Gord (Lori) Rich, Peter Rich, sister-in-law Laurie Luckashavitch, sisters-in-law Linda (Brian) Kroeker, Valerie (Brian) Peasey, Leona Schwarzhoff and numerous, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Carl and Edna Rich, father-in-law Leonard Schwarzhoff, brothers Edwin and Calvin, niece Megan Giroux and nephew Michael Giroux. Steve was born in North Bay, ON and grew up in Powassan, ON. After graduation, he took a job in the mine at Manitouwadge, ON where he met Gladys. They had a long distance relationship for four years while she attended university in Winnipeg. When she graduated and took a job, he followed her to Winnipeg. He found a job and immediately proposed and then he was laid off. They married on June 28, 1986 and he found a job at Westburne Electric that fall. They bought a house in Norwood and in August 1991, their daughter Sarah was born. When she was three, they moved to Windsor Park and a year later, got a dog (Bernie). Gladys's sisters had moved to Winnipeg and Steve was always helping them with their homes. Steve had many friends and was always ready to help with any project they had going. Steve was active in raising Sarah and helped coach her softball team and took her to skating lessons. She always had both parents at every swimming competition or school function. Steve loved the outdoors and enjoyed going to Val and Brian's cottage. He enjoyed fishing off the dock at Vern and Jill's cottage. He loved his outdoor fireplace and most Friday's you could find him sitting in front of the fire. Steve attended church with Gladys and hearing the sermon was most important to him. After his illness, it kept him away from church because of comfort, where he found church programs on TV to watch. When we realized he would be leaving work and going on disability, we bought a 7 year old dog (Chandler) to keep him company as Bernie had passed away a year earlier. Steve always believed in helping where he could and treating people right and didn't expect anything in return. He will be greatly missed. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at Sterling Mennonite Fellowship, 1008 Dakota Street. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. prior to the funeral at Green Acres Cemetery. A viewing will be held Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Green Acres Funeral Home Cemetery, Hwy #1 East at Navin Road, Winnipeg, MB. Memorial donations can be made to the ALS Society, 493 Madison Street, Winnipeg, MB R3J 1J2. GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery (204) 222-3241 Condolences may be sent to www.greenacresfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 12, 2013

Condolences & Memories (12 entries)

  • My heartfelt sympathies go out to Gladys, Sarah and Stephen at this, the most difficult time. May God's presence be ever near to all of you as you adjust to life without Steve. - Posted by: Linda Kwiatkowski (Friend) on: Feb 17, 2013

  • Sorry to hear about Steve. He spent alot of weekends at our house. He'd come in the door and hit for the couch! We know he'll be missed. - Posted by: Bernard and Margaret Van Mierlo (Parents of one of his buddies) on: Feb 16, 2013

  • Steve was friends with our brother in Powassan and Patricia with Cathy. Our Dad says his couch has never the same. XOXO - Posted by: Patricia and Natasha Van Mierlo (friends) on: Feb 16, 2013

  • My thoughts and prayers go out to Gladys, Sarah and family. I worked with Steve for many years at the front sales counter, and have never laughed so much and so hard as in those years. He taught me to laugh at myself because otherwise in his words "I'm just a big dummy". Steve was a very good friend and I will miss him dearly. - Posted by: Anthony Kosc (Co-worker at Westburne) on: Feb 14, 2013

  • Dear Gladys Sarah & Steven We send our heartfelt sympathy to you. We saw Steve grow up but have not seen him in years. We miss Steve's parents yet after all these years. We have enjoyed your letters every Christms and your last one will be a keepsake for us. I have the wedding picture on my china cabinet. Sarah looks very much like her aunt Kathy when she was her age. Hopefully we will meet sometime you are out our way. We will send a donation to ALS research in Steve'name. Love Uncle Norm and Aunt Joan - Posted by: Joan and Norman Rich (Aunt and Uncle) on: Feb 12, 2013

  • Steve was an awesome friend. I was blessed to know him and his family. He will be sorely missed. - Posted by: Bill Frovich (Friend) on: Feb 12, 2013

  • I believe that Steve would be laughing his pants off in heaven as I write this memory. You see the children of our family were from the city and knew little about the country. Well we would walk from our Grandparents house (Rich) to Steve's parent's house which was about a one country lot in the dark. Their family decided to tell us that bears would come out of the woods and attack us. I bet they had a good laugh when we always arrived at their house out of breath. I know that Steve was in on the joke! - Posted by: Carolyn (Rich) Lawton (cousin) on: Feb 12, 2013

  • Our family traveled to Powassan from Whitby when we were younger to visit Steve's family. I remember the many kitchen parties where we all shared laughter, food and wicked games of cards. I knew Steve as the shy, quiet guy who stood in the corner of the dining room watching what was going on. He had a big heart because he was the first to offer help when it was needed. He will always be in our memories. Love Carolyn Lawton and family - Posted by: carolyn Lawton (Rich) (cousin) on: Feb 12, 2013

  • I will miss Steve as a co-worker and a friend I could phone. Rest in peace my friend, the Westburne Warehouse has got you in our prayers. Take care Gladys and Sarah. - Posted by: Ken Seimens (co worker at westburne electric) on: Feb 12, 2013

  • I had the pleasure of working with Steve at Westburne for a number of years and learned a lot of what I know now from him. He will be missed by all of us here and we wish the very best to Gladys and his family. - Posted by: Robert Olson (Co-worker Westburne Electric) on: Feb 12, 2013

  • To Gladys and family Though I had the pleasure to meet Steve only briefly I have worked with Gladys since 2009 and had the opportunity to witness the strong commitment she had for Steve. I would like to extend to Gladys, Family and friends sincere and heart felt condolences at Steve's sudden passing. At times like this I hold on to the promise that God has a good plan for each and everyone of us. Once we have have walked it-it is time to go home. May God's peace find you, His comfort and Love fill your hearts and surround you. Our thoughts and prayers go with you. God bless. - Posted by: William Atkinson (Co-Worker - Gladys) on: Feb 12, 2013

  • Steve's laughter and sense of humour will be missed by all who worked with him. - Posted by: Leanne Feiffer (co worker at Westburne Midwest) on: Feb 12, 2013

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