DANIEL SUMKA (DANNY)

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DANIEL SUMKA
June 6, 1954 - August 21, 2022

Daniel Sumka, aged 68, escaped from Folsom Prison and rode off into the sunset on Sunday, August 21, 2022, holding the hand of his best friend and brother George, and in the company of two of his favourite leading ladies.
Born the second son of Peter and Mary Sumka's brood of eight, in Winnipeg, Danny was brother to six other boys (Steven, George, Albert, Peter, Paul, Andrew) and his one sister (Kathy). He grew up in a tiny North End house on Selkirk Avenue that was just big enough to contain the family and all the mischief he and his siblings caused (including smoking on the rooftop and throwing snowballs at passing police cars). You'd think that a good Ukrainian altar boy under the guidance of Father Isodore Dziodyk and the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church would know better? That a boy kept busy labouring in the family's market gardens, playing the alto sax, and enlisted in the Sea Cadets would be too busy for those types of shenanigans? Nope, not Danny!
At age 18, Danny was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. But you can't keep a good man down, and remarkably, despite his many admissions for treatment, Danny lived an independent life that any cowboy would tip his hat to. Danny was a "jack-of-all-trades", master of none. But he would proudly tell you that his favourite job was working alongside his brothers and family at Sumka Brothers Greenhouses where he will reign as the BEST flat filler, cucumber seeder, coffee drinker, and comedian. Danny also made sure to keep up with family tradition helping in the vegetable garden both physically until he was no longer able, and later just cheering us on from the shade of a tree with a dog at his feet, a Pepsi in one hand, and a cigarette in the other.
Uncle Danny was quite the storyteller and 50% of every story he told you was true; you just never knew which 50%! We know that the angels are rolling around heaven, laughing and listening to tales of Husso the dog and Arnold the Pig. Uncle Danny also loved cheating at cards, shoveling snow, visiting everyone (in person or on the phone), and ALWAYS remembered to call on your birthday and sing.
As per Uncle Danny's request, a celebration of his life will be held privately after his cremation.
He would like everyone to know it's "Not my fault", that he's "Got five bucks", and that he FINALLY won the bet he had with George and quit smoking!
We would like to thank the staff of St. Boniface Hospital in the ICUM and 6E Medicine for their compassionate care of our Uncle Danny, as well as Dr. David Zimmer and the staff of Health Sciences Centre PsychHealth Centre (Keith, Jeff, Eddie, Linda A., Tim D.) for their long-time care and friendship with Uncle Danny.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you instead watch an old western, listen to some Johnny Cash, have a chocolate ice cream cone with a Big Mac and a cob of corn, but above all else BE KIND to everybody and love all your family unconditionally like Uncle Danny did.
Memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army.

Family and friends may sign a
book of condolence at www.glenlawn.ca.
Glen Lawn Funeral Home
204-982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 27, 2022