JOHN ROBERT HRENO

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JOHN ROBERT HRENO

With broken hearts and profound sadness the family announce the passing of John Robert Hreno, peacefully, in the arms of his family, on August 19, 2020, at Riverview Health Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the age of 86. John was the very foundation and center of our family and we feel such an enormous loss.
He leaves to cherish his memory and mourn his passing the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Carole, and his children who were so precious to him, Joan Hreno and her husband Loren Keleher, Trent Hreno and his wife Carrie Solmundson and Travis Hreno and his wife Tine Hreno, his cherished grandchildren who brought him so much joy, Spencer Keleher, Myles Keleher and Stefan Hreno. Survived also by his dear brother Walter whom he adored, and his beloved wife Diane of Minneapolis, beloved sisters / brothers-in-law, Myrna Richards, Maureen Tays, Linda Tays, Brian and Lynn Tays, Sheryl and Lee Carruthers, and Brenda Tays, many loved nieces and nephews, his very dear friend Marianne Gopalkrishna, and a wide circle of friends and relations.
John was predeceased by his parents, Barbara and Michael Hreno, sister Mary and her husband Gordon Plovie, brother Mike Hreno, his mother and father-in-law, Doris and Horace Tays, brothers-in-law, Kenny and Dale Tays, Donald Richards and Michael Klymenko, nephews, Eric Richards and Troy Tays, and his best friend Gopal C. Gopalkrishna.
John was born in Winnipeg on May 4, 1934, the son of Czechoslovakian immigrants, Barbara and Michael Hreno. They settled in Middlebro, Manitoba where they toiled for many years to carve from the wilderness a thriving farm and successful timber operation. John much preferred the timber operation side and as a young man set out to pursue a career in forestry. In 1957 he graduated from Maritime Forest Ranger School in Fredericton, NB, where he met Carole. After their marriage in 1958 they settled in Manitoba where John worked for the Forestry Branch, and was thrilled to become the Conservation Officer in charge of the Ranger Station at Marchand and later at Hadashville. They lived at the Stations where they made many life-long friends. In 1966, with two young kids in tow and another on the way, they loaded up their old car and drove to the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton, NB so John could enroll in the Faculty of Forestry. The family moved into a small trailer at Kelly's Trailer Court, which was full of mature UNB students and their families. It was a fun place to live in the late 1960s at the height of "flower power". There was a lot of socializing and they made many friends. In his first year at UNB he won the forestry skills award at Hammerfest and given the illustrious title "Bull of the Woods". John graduated from UNB in 1970 with a BSc in Forestry and attained the highest marks in the Faculty of Forestry for each of his last three years. He was awarded both the Canadian Institute of Forestry gold medal and the Lieutenant-Governor's (New Brunswick) silver medal for academic achievement and contribution to student affairs.
John and family returned to Manitoba where he worked for the Forestry Branch as a professional forester responsible for south-eastern Manitoba. Subsequently, he was appointed as the City of Winnipeg's first urban forester and developed a plan to help save as many of the city's elm trees as possible from DED, eventually becoming the Director then General Manager of Parks and Recreation, retiring in 1998. John was dedicated to the good management of our provincial forests and natural environment and committed to the enhancement and beautification of our city parks and urban forest. He volunteered to serve on the boards of many conservation and professional organizations including the Manitoba Forestry Association, Tree Canada and the Canadian Institute of Forestry.
John was always a gentleman. He was a kind and loving man who treasured his family and supported them. He spoke little of his own accomplishments. His focus was Carole and his children. John and Carole were inseparable, he absolutely adored her and they were always there for each other through thick and thin. He was immensely proud of his family and their accomplishments and of this he spoke a great deal. John loved to travel, and the family took many happy trips back to New Brunswick to visit relations, all of us singing in the car at the top of our lungs. Trips with family and friends to Tobago, Jamaica, India, China, England, Italy, France and Slovakia, to name only a few were highlights for him. And he would laugh recalling the misadventures of the never ending car and camping trip the family took in the mid 1970s to West Virginia, via Minneapolis, New Brunswick and a particularly rain drenched and mosquito infested Maine, singing "Country Roads" all the way there. Culminating in a hootenanny in the Blue Ridge Mountains. John loved being with his family and friends at the family cottage at Moose Lake, near to where he grew up and began his career. John's grandchildren have very special memories of times spent there every summer with their grandparents. He had a strong Christian faith and truly believed in doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. John leaves behind his family and friends he loved so much, and they are fortunate for the wonderful legacy of love and kindness he established. Though the family is broken-hearted and feeling overwhelmed by grief, we take comfort in knowing that John will always be with us and that one day we will see him again.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Seven Oaks General Hospital and the Riverview Health Centre, as well as his care provider, Jose, for the care and kindness they showed to John.
Due to Covid restrictions a small, private service will be held at St. Paul's Anglican Church (Fort Garry) where John was a long time parishioner.
There is a YouTube link to view the service which will begin at 10:45 a.m. CST on September 9. It will be recorded for those wish to view it at a later date:

https://youtu.be/TQQIO6hpg7Q

www.voyagefuneralhomes.com

Publish Date: Aug 29, 2020

JOHN ROBERT HRENO

With aching hearts and profound sadness, the family announces the passing of John Hreno, the foundation of our family and our deeply loved husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend on August 19, 2020, with his family by his side, at Riverview Health Centre.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small, private funeral service will be held.
An obituary will follow shortly.

To sign the book of condolences, please visit: www.voyagefuneralhomes.com

Publish Date: Aug 22, 2020

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 22, 2020, Aug 29, 2020