JOSEPH (JOE) BIELIK

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JOSEPH (JOE) BIELIK

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law and uncle on September 12, 2024. With his family by his side, Joe passed away after a five-year battle with dementia.

Joe was predeceased by his father Sylvester, mother Alozia, sister Mary, and brothers-in-law, Fred Zachar, Joe Horechny, Jack Shindak, and John Cran. He is survived by his wife Jeannine (Jean), son Robert (Patty) and daughter Michelle, grandchildren, Joey, David, and Marin, sisters and brothers - Anne, Jolana, Emily, Betty (Klaus), Frances (Joe), Josie (Phil), Ed, and Tony - and many nieces and nephews. Joe was also very much loved by his in-laws in the Manaigre family.

Joe was born on the family farm in Rosewood, Manitoba in 1938 to Sylvester and Alozia Bielik who had immigrated from Slovakia the year before with Joe’s three older sisters (Anne, Mary, Jolana). Joe was the first born in Canada and oldest son of the family. From the start and throughout his life, Joe’s family and the farm were the two things that he held most dear. From a young age Joe started helping out around the farm with his three older sisters. The family had a dairy farm and the hard work each day that was required to care for the livestock, crops and gardens, and the challenges they faced combined with working and living together on the farm, created bonds between Joe, his family and the farm that would last his lifetime.

Joe attended high school in nearby Lorette where he met Jeannine Manaigre. They married in 1960 and raised two children, Robert and Michelle, in St. Vital. Joe loved sports first as a young man playing baseball in Rosewood and later taking up golf. He also enjoyed watching the Blue Bombers, Maple Leafs, and Jets. He loved cars. He had a 1962 Ford Galaxy two-door convertible that he had bought brand new and treated like gold. He was a big fan of Formula 1 racing and never missed a Sunday morning race. Joe was very mechanically inclined; rarely was there ever a time he could not fix one of his cars or any of the equipment at the farm - there was nothing he could not start.

After high school Joe moved to the city and started work in the trucking industry - first at Soo Security Motorways. He worked at Motorways for over 30 years, then Gardewine for a number of years managing the cargo claims departments for each of these companies before retiring. He was fortunate to work at Motorways with two of his brothers-in-law and loved playing cribbage with the guys in the warehouse over lunch hours - he was friendly with all of his work colleagues especially Don White, Al Kaiser, and Garth Grieder.

Joe had a number of lifelong friends that he was close to including Elma and Vern Neufeld, Pat and Dennis Nord, and Marlene and Claude Steeves. He also enjoyed socializing with the parents on his children’s sports teams - especially the parents from the St. Boniface Saints.

Throughout his life Joe continued to work the family farm, first to help his Mom and Dad and later to help his sister Anne after the untimely death of her husband Fred, and ultimately on his own with his wife, daughter, and son. Joe had a particularly special bond with his oldest sister Anne and his son cherishes all of the time they had working together on the farm. Joe was a very hardworking person who had the ability to work long hours day after day. Throughout his working life he would spend most spring and summers working in the city in the office during the day and would drive to the farm after work to work the fields, repair machinery, etc. Many times he would return home to the city after midnight only to be up the next day for work at 6:00a.m., and he would repeat that day after day. People often commented on the state of Joe’s hands as they were a reflection of his work on the farm. They were always cut or scratched and his fingernails were bruised and crushed - he was the world’s largest user of Mercurochrome and swore by it. He was proud to have farmed until he was 78 years old, which was one year more than his own father. Even after he retired from farming he continued to go to the farm almost every day to keep the grass and trees manicured around the farm yard. He was very proud of the place. His love of the farm was never lost from when he was a young boy until the day he died - a passion that is now being carried on through his son and grandsons.

Joe was a very dedicated person in whatever he did. There was never a time when those that were around him did not feel that he was giving his utmost to help them. He was very good-natured and kind to all those he encountered. He never said a bad word about anyone nor did he complain if any challenges arose, especially those at the farm or in later years to his health. His favourite gesture was the thumbs up sign with a smile on his face and this is how we will remember him.

Joe loved the Bielik family and all the family get-togethers. When his Mom (Babka) was alive, they would meet every Sunday for family dinner and after her passing would continue to get together for all holiday occasions. Joe would never miss one of these and would always enjoy everyone’s company. He in particular loved to play cards (31) with his family - as long as the stakes were no more than nickels - and also Trivial Pursuit. Summers were often spent on family camping trips with the Horechny and Brasko families and Joe was particularly fond of golfing trips with his brothers-in-law, Joe and Joe (“the three Joes” as they would go by), his nephew and son. Besides camping, Joe loved family trips, especially to Slovakia to visit relatives. Joe was also very quick to help out with any of the projects and moves that his sisters and brothers had going on.

Joe was a dedicated father. Even though he was busy with work and the farm, he always had time for activities. He helped coach his son’s hockey teams and his daughter’s ringette teams and he never missed a game or practice. Later in life he was always there when his children needed him, whether it was for vehicle repairs, house repairs, moving - anything that was needed, he was always just a phone call away. He never did not have time for his children.

Joe’s greatest love in his life was his grandchildren. He absolutely adored Joey and David (“the boys”), and Marin. He was a doting grandfather who loved his grandkids with all his heart, they could do no wrong. They loved him to the same extent as well. To them he was Papa Joe and they were the center of his world. He cared and loved for them more than anyone could have hoped. He loved attending Joey and David’s hockey games and win or lose would always tell them they had a great game. Marin and Papa loved their walks to school, risking being late to enjoy looking for bunnies along the way.

Dearest Joe / Papa Joe we are heartbroken by your passing - your kindness and love will never be forgotten and will continue to guide us the rest of our lives. Your work is done - Rest in Peace.

The Family would like to thank all of the caregivers that assisted Joe over the past few months for their kindness and compassion.

At Joe’s wishes cremation has taken place. A private family Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Association of Manitoba in Joe’s name.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 14, 2024, Sep 14, 2024