ERNEST ALFRED KURBIS

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ERNEST ALFRED KURBIS

November 18, 1938 - May 15, 2023

Ernie was born on a farm near Beausejour, Manitoba, went to high school in Selkirk, and met Gail at a badminton event in 1962. They were married in the summer of 1963 and raised their family in Windsor Park. Ernie had a rewarding 50 plus year career as a Chartered Accountant, retiring from his private practice at the age of 82. He loved his work and was always prepared with a joke ready at hand. He was also active as a participant and volunteer in the Lutheran Church at the local, regional, and national levels.

In 1970, Ernie found and bought a farm property on the LaSalle River near Sanford, Manitoba. After finding a way to tell Gail, he worked to make the next 23 years on the farm among the best for his family. Farming as a “hobby” involved endless hours in the field and gave him an outlet to acquire and maintain dozens of pieces of old rusty equipment (with all safety guards removed, naturally). It was a place for extended family gatherings, with his parents and Gail’s parents each building small cottages there. The farm property included dozens of acres of forested river land, which provided nearly unlimited opportunities for family to learn and experience nature – but there was also almost unlimited hoeing, seeding, weeding, picking, mowing, tilling and harvesting involved, of course!

After the last of the children had started their own lives outside the family home, the time for the farm was done – no-one was left to help with the work! But once a few years passed, he found and bought a cottage on Armstrong Lake north of Kenora, ON. After finding a way to tell Gail, he again worked to make it a welcoming place for extended family (as well as another place to acquire and operate equipment). He worked almost until the end, having become the unofficial keeper and grader of the bush road serving a dozen cabins at the lake. He was at his happiest when he was providing for others.

Ernie is survived by Gail, their children, Tim (Carol), Gord (Chris) and Kathy (Greg); and grandchildren, Liam, Graham, Sydney, Garrett, Lucas and Sofia.

The family would like to thank the medical teams at Victoria and St. Boniface Hospitals, who provided compassionate care for Ernie in his final two weeks.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue, on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.

Flowers are gratefully declined. If desired, donations may be made to Canadian Lutheran World Relief, or to another charity of choice.

NEIL BARDAL

FUNERAL CENTRE

204-949-2200

neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 20, 2023