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PETER TORBIAK
Born: Oct 24, 1934
Date of Passing: Jun 18, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryPETER TORBIAK
Peacefully on the morning of June 18, 2025, at Kin Place Nursing Home in Oakbank, Peter passed away at the age of 90 years with his son Chris by his side.
Peter grew up in Poplarfield, where his parents, Peter Sr. and Albina (Perchalski) operated the local store and post office. He attended the University of Winnipeg, acquiring his degree in education. To earn money for university he worked on the ships for Great Lakes Shipping, was a policeman for the CNR in Thunder Bay and worked construction on the MacKenzie Highway in the Northwest Territories. In 1958 he attended a summer camp for teachers in Gimli where he met a fellow teacher, Dorothy Seebach. Two years later they married.
During his life, Peter wore many hats. He was a teacher, principal (in the Northwest Territories and northern Manitoba), pilot, hotel business owner, consultant and mentor for the SEA Program in Selkirk, brown belt karate holder, adult education computer teacher, loss prevention advocate, a consultant and teacher for Intuit, teaching Quickbooks (writing a learning manual for his students). He contracted with the government to build a hotel on Highway 6, which he owned and operated for 26 years. He was a trustee for the Interlake School Division and was on the executive of the Provincial Interlake NDP party during the 1980s.
At the age of 76 after his home burned to the ground, he planned and rebuilt his home on his property, outside of Birds Hill. There, he enjoyed reading and meditating. He loved the Lord and studied many books on spirituality, religion, exercise, and diet. He loved a good debate on politics and religion. If we could not locate him, we knew he would be at Chapters, pouring over books for hours or wandering the isles of Canadian Tire for the latest Craftsman tool. He was a saver, not of money, but of every tool he could find and every rusty screw or bolt he took from a machine he was fixing. He loved listening to all genres of music (country, classical, blues and especially Lawrence Welk, George Jones, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, with some Rolling Stones for good measure). We will miss his wisdom, his love, and the bad dad jokes.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Dodie, his daughter Karen, son Chris, grandson Brody, brother Steve, sister-in-law Marlene, his dog Casper, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son Mark, brother Danny, sister-in-law Helen, sister Elizabeth Genik, brother-in-law Con Genik, and sister Jennie Bailley.
Peter’s final days were spent at Kin Place in Oakbank. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the angels who cared for him with exceptional kindness and compassion.
In accordance with Peter’s wishes, no funeral or formal gathering will be held.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Peter's memory may be made to Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or Kin Place Personal Care Home, Box 28-680 Pine Drive, Oakbank, MB, R5N 0P8.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 12, 2025
Condolences & Memories (1 entries)
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Dear Auntie Dodie I’m so sorry to learn of our dear uncle Peter’s passing. Those family gatherings at Oak Point are an enduring childhood favourite memory. His firm handshake, how he leaned in earnestly to hear what you had to say (even when I was just a kid), his sparkling blue eyes - I’ll miss it all. Confession time: I went through a period of wearing hushpuppy shoes because I wanted to emulate him. Wishing you, Karen and Chris peace and love, Carl Torbiak and family - Posted by: Carl Torbiak (Nephew) on: Jul 13, 2025