ALEXANDER LESCHINSKY

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ALEXANDER LESCHINSKY

MARLENE LESCHINSKY

This past June 29, 2019, we lost our father Alexander Leschinsky after struggling with multiple health issues during his later years. Alex was born of simple roots in Angusville Manitoba on June 11, 1936.
He was predeceased by his wife Marlene, sister Betty Froese and nephew Randy and survived by his children, grandchildren and his brother Jack Lecky (Dorene).
Dad's entrepreneurial spirit led him to leave his job as a Brakeman with Canadian National Railways in the early 1960s to explore new skills - leading him to work at Anchor Marine and then partner-in or create multiple business ventures such as Progressive Sales & Service, Custom Plastics and Flexon Industries - pioneering fiberglass manufacturing and related industries in Manitoba for a third of a century.
In the past and for example - these industries were our nations primary suppliers of fiberglass bodies for the ubiquitous Orange, Yellow or Purple/White "Jigger" railway service cars for the CNR, CPR and RCMP.
His expertise was further recognized by our country by choosing him to travel to the high Arctic and teach the Inuit people to build ruggedized fiberglass boats and equipment where they lived. His wife Marlene and their son Glenn also accompanied him on several expeditions and were all awarded lifetime membership in the "Order of Arctic Adventurers".
After a lengthy battle with multiple illnesses and other traumas, we lost our mother Marlene Patricia Leschinsky (nee Kyan) on September 12, 2017. Marlene was born in Winnipeg on March 10, 1938.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Lillian Rurak and Ollie Taylor, and survived at the time of her passing by her husband Alex, daughter Charlene (Ted), sons, Glenn and Barry (Virginia), grandsons, Spencer and Jackson and her identical twin sister Lorraine Turner as well as many nieces and nephews.
Marlene was a trooper when it came to handling the challenges that life threw her way - especially during her last years. While Alex may have led the charge through life; through thick and thin - Marlene was his partner in all of his ventures.
Marlene lost her own mother when she was very young. Still, she taught herself to become an excellent cook and baker. To name but a few of her specialties - her perogies, gravies and shortbread cookies were famous among family and friends. She could sew beautifully, anything from a cocktail dress to a sofa cushion. Marlene had many other pastimes over the years, including needlework, ceramics, as well as home decor. Her painting, wallpapering and drywall repairs were perfect.
Our parents married on July 6, 1957 and were able to see their 60th anniversary before Mom's passing. Milestones like this will rarely be seen in future generations. As we look back on these memories we realize it was not just one but several lifetimes packed into those decades. Mom and Dad were a team. They worked and played side-by-side in their numerous industries, at the cottage in Winnipeg Beach, the farm in Hadashville and lastly at their Caribbean getaway in Antigua, WI.
They touched countless lives and gave aide and shelter to many people as well as every orphaned animal they encountered.
A Celebration of Life for both will be held at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Ave. on August 22, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. Cremation has taken place and a private interment service for immediate family only will be held at a later date.

For those who wish to sign the online
Guest Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home
204-885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 17, 2019