JOSEPH (JOE) POPIEL

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JOSEPH (JOE) POPIEL June 14, 1919 - July 21, 2003 Joseph Zenon Popiel, aged 84 years, passed away suddenly at his home on July 21, 2003. Joseph was predeceased by his parents Paul (1939) and Julia (1971), brother Walter (1978), sister Olga Dolynchuk (1992), sister Leona (1997), and brother Jerry (1999). Joe attended Wesley College 1936 to 1938, and began working with his brothers in their pharmacy at the corner of Logan and Laura Streets (Logan Drugs). A proficient athlete, Joe excelled in amateur and minor league/semi-professional hockey and baseball during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He played left wing and later coached hockey teams in Minnesota, North Dakota, as well as in Manitoba. He played with Crookston Pirates and Thief River Falls in the States Dominion Hockey League. He was player-coach with Winnipeg Dodgers. He played in the Triple As Senior Hockey League and with the Boston Clothing Alouettes Hockey Club. He played with the CPR-Winnipeg Commercial Hockey League, University of Manitoba Juveniles, and Flin Flon Hockey Club. He also played for the St. Josephs team in the Ukrainian Catholic Hockey League. Joe was invited to training camp and tryouts for the New York Rangers in 1945. Joe played third base on consecutive championship winning baseball teams in Winnipeg (CUAC). During the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, he played with CUAC Blues, Morse Place and Winnipeg Reos Rods. The CUAC Blues were champions and won the Baldy Northcott Trophy in 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1947. Joe was invited to the St. Louis Cardinals baseball training camp in 1943 and to the Duluth, MN, Twin Ports League in 1943. Joe was later inducted with the CUAC Blues team into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 in Morden, MB. In 1956, Joe began a career working for the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission and retired as an assistant manager in 1984. He is survived by his niece Helen Mayba (husband Ihor), nephew Ronald Dolynchuk (wife Lorraine), and their children and families; John Mayba and wife Natalie (Julia, Katherine, Andrew, Alexander), Paul Mayba, Paul Dolynchuk and wife Lynn (Gordon), Anne Bonnar and husband Dave (Tonya, Erica), and John Dolynchuk. In his later years, Uncle Joe greatly enjoyed the time spent with his great-nieces, great-nephews and their children who frequently visited him at the Popiel family home. A private funeral and interment was held at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. Rev. John A. Melnyk officiated. Donations in Joes memory can be made to the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame, 111-D Gilmore St., Morden, MB R6M 1N9.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 09, 2003