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NICK FRUNCHAK
Born: Feb 23, 1913
Date of Passing: Mar 05, 2016
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryNICK FRUNCHAK February 23, 1913 - March 5, 2016 Peacefully on Saturday, March 5, 2016, Nick passed away at the age of 103 at Tuxedo Villa. Nick was predeceased by his wife Anne (Dynkavitch) in 1990, father George, mother Maria, sisters Ann Dryden, Lorna Trachuk, and Verna Batenchuk, and brother Fred. He will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by daughter Linda, son-in-law Russ Smyrichinsky, granddaughter Lisa, and nieces and nephews. Nick was born in Czernowitz, Bukovina, Romania. He grew up in Point Douglas and attended Norquay and St. John's Tech where he studied carpentry and found employment building kitchen cabinets. He even built a rocking chair and rocking horse for his granddaughter Lisa. Nick retired from the C.P.R. in 1972 after 30 years as a fireman on steam engines and a locomotive engineer. Dad had a passion for swimming his entire life. He swam until age 93 when he moved into Concordia Village. There he walked daily and at 98 continued his walking routine at Tuxedo Villa. As a member of the YMCA Tankers Speed Swimming Club he loved to compete in the three mile races. He was a swimming instructor at the Central YMCA (1931 to 1939), at HMCS Chippewa for the Navy Cadets, and at the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church summer camps in Gimli. He volunteered as a Red Cross Water Safety instructor for many years. Nick was so proud to receive numerous awards from the Royal Life Saving Society. He gave free swimming lessons to seniors at the Centennial Pool where he also learned synchronized swimming. Nick enjoyed the challenge of scuba diving at West Hawk Lake. At the Pan Am Games in 1967 Dad volunteered to time-keep at the swimming events. The most jubilant time of Dad's life were his years working as a lifeguard at Winnipeg Beach (1932 to 1941) where his name is forever on plank number S288 on the boardwalk. The family wishes to thank Dr. Jain, the nurses, and health care aides on Station 2, all staff at Tuxedo Villa and Nick's night health care aide "Angels". Funeral Service will be held March 14, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. followed by burial at Elmwood Cemetery. Donations in memory of Nick can be made to the Salvation Army, 203-290 Vaughan St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2N8, (204-975-1033). CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 204-586-8044
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 12, 2016
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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Linda, my condolences on your loss, the loss of a parent is tough at any age. It's wonderful that he had such a long active life. Sincerely, Sharon Pospishell (Weppler) - Posted by: Sharon Pospishell ( Weppler) (Aquantance of Linda from many years ago) on: Dec 11, 2016
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.....words cannot express what this loss means to us all.....he was truly a wonderful and marvelous person.....he was always so full of happiness and loved life to it's fullest extent....it has always been said that the measure of a man's life is by what he brought to the lives of others and using this as a base we all know that Nick will be wearing the largest wings in heaven.... - Posted by: Barbara and Jerry Finlayson (Family) on: Mar 18, 2016
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My dog Jaxin and I do Pet Therapy at Tuxedo Villa and we met Nick three years ago. Visiting Nick was a highlight of our visit there. He always had a smile and told such wonderful stories and shared many of his happy memories. He was always so positive and felt so blessed in life. I feel so honoured to have met him and spent time with him. Our visits there will not be the same, we will miss Nick. - Posted by: Wendy Meyer (Friend) on: Mar 12, 2016
