HARRY HAWRYSHOK

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

HARRY HAWRYSHOK (Hong Kong Veteran) It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Harry Hawryshok, at the Deer Lodge Centre, on Sunday, November 15, 2015 at the age of 92 years. Harry was born on February 7, 1923 spending his infancy and school years on the small family farm in Winnipeg Beach. At the age of 17 he joined the Canadian Army and trained for six months for the Winnipeg Rifles, transferring voluntarily to the Grenadiers three days prior to shipping out overseas to fight Japan. He and all the Grenadiers were captured and spent the next four years as prisoners of war enduring terrible hardships, starvation, deplorable living conditions and forced labour, first in the shipyards then in the salt mines. Upon liberation on VJ Day he came home to Canada. He spent some years in Montreal, working in Alberta installing and setting turbines for Westinghouse. He then came home to Winnipeg and resided with his brother Ben, sister-in-law Dorothy and their four children. He went to work for the Centra Gas Company as a gas inspector and in later years managed a department within the company, where he was well liked and respected. Harry decided to retire at the age of 61. Harry remained a bachelor all his life and with no children of his own, he treated Ben's children with great kindness and love. He was a man of many self taught talents, he built his cottage at Red Rock Lake, a place he dearly loved; many happy years were spent there. He also enjoyed spending time with his bud, nephew Ron at the family home in Winnipeg Beach. Harry loved to create things from wood, his own close top desk, a glass top coffee table, cabinets for the lake, a weaving loom to make rugs, a regular sized V shuffleboard - many tournaments were played, grandfather clock with wonderful quarter hour chimes and full hour bongs. As he got older and vision was somewhat a problem his items got smaller but very intricate, potpourri boxes with wood inlays, windmill type yard ornaments and open faced book cases. He loved every minute of the work. Harry was predeceased by his parents William and Anastasia; sisters Leona and Annie; brothers Jim, Henry, Peter and Ben; Ben's wife Dorothy, and their sons Frederik, Donald and Ronald. Survived by niece Pat (Rick) and her children Leona (Manny), Michael and Patti (Ray). Funeral service will be held Friday, November 20, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Selkirk, MB with luncheon to follow and interment following lunch at Winnipeg Beach Community Cemetery. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements. www.gilbartfuneralhome.com
Publish Date: Nov 18, 2015

HARRY HAWRYSHOK Peacefully on Sunday, November 15, 2015, at the Deer Lodge Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Harry Hawryshok, aged 92 years, passed away. Full obituary to follow. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.
Publish Date: Nov 17, 2015

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 18, 2015