WALTER TYMKIW

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WALTER TYMKIW 1938 - 2018 It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Walter Tymkiw at Concordia Hospital. At the age of 79, Walter passed into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. Walter, one of six children, was born to Nykola and Sophie Tymkiw on September 15, 1938 in Overstoneville, Manitoba. Times were very difficult during his youth, so he had to quit school in grade eight to help on the family farm and various neighbouring farms. After work was done, he often enjoyed hunting in the bush, as there was plenty of wildlife to provide food for the family. As well, there were luscious wild berries and mushrooms ripe for the picking. He would bring home pails for Mother to preserve or cook. Later on in life, with his love of animals and farm work, Walter entered upon a career in livestock where he spent many years at the Union Stock Yards in St. Boniface until they closed down. After a few months, they opened Winnipeg Livestock Sales off Highway No. 6, where he worked until retirement. Walter met Rose (Mary) Sabanski as a young girl, and they became friends. That friendship turned into love when Rose moved to Winnipeg in 1970. They married on October 16, 1971 in Tolstoi, Manitoba in the same church as Rose's Mom and Dad got married in 1946. They also had the same orchestra for their wedding reception. The weather on their wedding day was not at all that nice, but family and friends had a wonderful time. Walter and Rose lived a simple life with simple pleasures in a little upstairs apartment till 1983. They had both worked hard to save some money to buy a house in Transcona. They now had a backyard where they could plant a garden that even though it was small, they both took pride in. There was always enough to make a few pickles, a delicious pot of borscht and some young potatoes with lots of dill and sour cream. After retirement, Walter loved trying new kinds of tomato plants every year. In a good year, a whole summer of tending the plants produced plenty for canning and to even share with the neighbours. Rose kept on working for a few more years, so Walter took on doing some cooking. When she came home from work, there was usually an aroma of a delicious meal in the air. Still wanting something more to occupy time, Walter took an interest in auction sales. He was drawn by the rapid-fire auctioneer's speech and the bidding. Soon he was bringing home truckloads of treasures that he would spend time on. He now started a new hobby of furniture re-finishing. Many times, old chairs, cabinets, and tables were transformed into something that looked like new. Walter couldn't wait to get outside in the summer to work on his various projects that sometimes brought him a few offers to sell. The odd time, even Rose would find a use for a small piece of furniture. Walter truly missed his auction sales and little projects when his health slowly started to decline. With the onset of health issues through the last few years, Walter started to suffer a difficult life with determination and on some days sheer willpower. His enjoyment was now Word Search Puzzles with which he took pride in how fast he could finish them. So, any time Rose went shopping to Dollarama, she would search for a few books. Of course, she would also have to keep a supply of sharpened pencils on hand, as it didn't take long to get through these puzzle books. Often, while working on his puzzles, Walter enjoyed his "Zabava" or Ukrainian Polka Party programs on the radio. On a warm summer evening, he would bring out his radio, sit on his favourite stool or truck end-gate and turn that radio up. The music would bring the neighbours over, and they would chat for hours. Walter practically got to know the whole neighbourhood this way. As well, when Tim Horton's opened in Transcona, it was a favourite place to go for a hot cup of coffee, a muffin or old-fashioned doughnuts, but more importantly, where Walter and Rose met some wonderful new friends. After a long, progressive and courageous struggle, Walter is now "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" where there is no pain or suffering. He was predeceased by his parents, Nykola and Sophie; brother Alex; sisters, Olga, Teenie and Mary. He leaves to mourn his devoted, loving wife, Rose of 46 years, sister Theresa Yawney with daughter Joanne and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services for Walter will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Green Acres Funeral Home, Highway No. 1 East at Navin Road, with Father Djura-George Maljik as celebrant. Viewing will begin one hour before the service. Interment will take place in Green Acres Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Green Acres Funeral Home. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.greenacresfuneralhome.com Rest in Peace, my beloved Walter. Vichnaya Pamyat! 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 03, 2018