MICHAEL MALANOWICH

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MICHAEL MALANOWICH 1937 - 2016 Michael Malanowich was born on February 5, 1937, at the family farm near Hyas, Saskatchewan, to parents Tony and Rosie Malanowich. Unfortunately when Mike was fairly young, his father passed away. Mike attended Sturgis High School and during that time he drove the school bus while attending classes. Upon graduation he left home to go to Teacher's College in Saskatoon where he worked weekends pumping gas. Upon getting his teaching certificate, he was fortunate to get his first job near home. After the first year, he decided to spread his wings and accepted a teaching position in Birtle, Manitoba. One Friday night in January 1968, his friend John forced him to attend a dance at Isabella, Manitoba. This is where he met the love of his life, Jan Finkbeiner, and on August 24, 1968, they were married in the United Church in that same little town. Mike became a childcare worker at the Birtle Residential School and shortly after they were married, Jan became employed there as well. In the fall of 1969, Michael and Jan returned to school at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon and graduated from the Social Welfare Course. After graduation, Mike returned to the workforce at the Brandon Residential School and on December 10, 1970, their daughter Keri-Lee was born. In 1972, a move to Guy Hill in The Pas saw Mike working at that school, and in September 1973, his son Kent Douglas was born. Mike was an incredible son, husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. He was a man before his time when he was prepared to stay home as a stay-at-home dad so that Jan could have her career. Fortunately, the stars aligned and Mike continued working at Guy Hill until he secured a position with the Province of Manitoba as a Highway Traffic Inspector, where he worked for 17 years in The Pas and Headingley. Mike was a deep thinker, avid fisherman and camper while in The Pas. He knew his weather. You could ask him how the weather would be and with one quick glance skyward he was usually 99.9% right on his forecast. He loved tinkering in the garage or taking his scooter for a ride. He loved his cats, Sox and Casper, but he held near and dear to his heart every dog or cat that had been a part of our family. Our home in The Pas became home to many young people working in the community, and they were all deemed adopted family. Mike enjoyed all the friendships that were developed during that time and remain today. Mike particularly treasured the friendships with Scott Gray and Lore Mirwaldt, Chris and Linda Sunde, as well as Pat and Cyrus Lister. We are sure Mike and Cyrus are finding some trouble up in heaven right now. Mike was very happy when this group of friends moved to Winnipeg. Mike's children, Keri and Kent, were the apples of his eye and he was so proud of them and their accomplishments. Then, along came Derrick and Trisha and they were immediately brought into our family circle. Mike thought the world of them. Of course we cannot forget the grandchildren Kennedy, Tristen and Madison. Grandpa/Papa loved them to pieces and always wanted to know what they were up to. Mike had regular bi-weekly phone calls with his brother Joe. They always kept up with the family and many old friends they had back home. I know that Mike really enjoyed those calls and of course, always enjoyed the time they spent together. Mike was predeceased by his parents Tony and Rosie, sister Carrie and Mike, brother Pete, brother John, brother Frank, sister Theresa, nephews Larry and Mikey, niece Darlene, as well as in-laws Dorothy, Johnnie and Margaret Finkbeiner. Mike is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jan; daughter Keri, Derrick and Kennedy Zaharia; son Kent, Trisha, Tristen and Madison Malanowich; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Susan and Wayne Poppel and their children Kathryn (Brandon), Laura (Kevin), and Jeff (Ashleigh), Mason, Noah and Emmett. Mike is also survived by his brother Joe, Clayton, Karen, Valerie (and family), sister-in-law Elizabeth, Lila, Bob, Myles, Dean, Ben and their families, sister-in-law Helene, Lorraine Conway and families, as well as Raymond and Jan Ostrowercha and their families. Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Glen Eden Funeral Home, 4477 Main St., West St. Paul, MB. A special thank you to Wayne and Ed for your hospital visits. If friends so desire, donations can be given to the Winnipeg Humane Society, Diabetes Society or Heart and Stroke Association in Mike's name. "Rest in peace Mike, you got your wish to fly with the angels. There will be sad times, but we know that you are free from your pain and remember, we will forever love you." Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenedenmemorial.ca Glen Eden Funeral Home & Cemetery 204-338-7111

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 27, 2016