Michael KOWBEL

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KOWBEL: Michael Kowbel passed away peacefully at his home near Forrest, MB on Monday, June 19, 2017. Michael was born on August 21, 1933 on the farm in Oak Lake, MB to Nicholas and Anna Kowbel. He was the second born of six siblings. Michael was predeceased by his parents Nicholas and Anna; sisters Julie and Jean; and grandson Benjamin Michael Finder. Michael was survived by his brother Danny (Pat); his sisters Mary and Cathy; mother of his children Judy Martinook; children Rebecca (Carlos), Melissa (Nikolaj), Christopher, Vanessa, Nathan (Kate); grandchildren Lily, Rosabella, Estelle, Gabriel, and Shelby; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. Michael spent the first few years of his life on the Oak Lake farm. He attended Hagyard School, before moving to the current family farm in 1943. He then attended the original Glanton School where he completed grade eight. After finishing school he worked on the family farm with his father. Through his farming career, he attended courses at Brandon Agricultural School; and he completed the Chicago Vocational course in Edmonton on farm machinery. He returned to Manitoba to pursue farming which was the center of his life. Michael loved to travel and explore Canada and the central United States. He would often reminisce about his time spent during his early adult life in the USA on many different livestock tours. He would comment regularly on his “weakness for the southwest.” This love for cattle and farming kept him very busy with his father and brother for many years. He loved operating farm equipment as well as doing many seasonal activities. It was very common to find him in the farm’s machine shop repairing a broken part or creating his next invention. He was also an active member with the Knights of Columbus; participated in the Ukrainian Reading Hall Men’s Club; and regularly attended Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish. With his close friends he enjoyed various social activities such as curling, bowling, golfing, tennis, and being out in nature. The upmost important and closest thing to Michael was spending precious moments with his children. He ensured that he instilled values in his family through the lessons that he taught in his own unique way, which will always be remembered. A Celebration of Michael’s Life will be held, today, Saturday, June 24, 2017 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Church, 927 Assiniboine Ave., at 10:00 a.m., with Rev. Fr. Michael Tkachuk officiating and Stella Fedeniuk as Cantor. Donations in Michael’s memory may be made to Acoustic Neuroma Association of Canada, P.O. Box 1005, 7-B Pleasant Blvd., Toronto, ON, M4T 1K2. Messages of condolencemay be placed atwww.brockiedonovan.comVichnaya Pam’yat Eternal Memory.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jun 24, 2017