Obituaries

JOHN WALTER DYCK 1951 – 2014 It is with the deepest sadness we announce the passing of John Walter Dyck at Riverview Health Centre Friday, June 13. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 20 years Linda; children by his first wife Deb Martinuzzi – Nadine (Jayson), Christopher (Holly), Teresa (Ian); six beautiful grandchildren Olivia, Vivian, Sophia, Francesca, Josephine and Henry; his father John and stepmother Neta; brother Ernest (Shari); sister Marlene (Phil); and nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his mother Erna (nee Goertzen) in 1980. John was born and raised in Winnipeg. He was a graduate of River East Collegiate and went on to Red River College to study drafting. He went to work for a while in the graphic arts field. In the 70s, he and Deb started a coffee truck service in Fort Garry J&D Catering. This grew into the Lunchbox Mobile Catering, and Peaks and Ridges Restaurant. John became the concessionaire and caterer at the Red River Exhibition for the seasonal shows and during the Ex, managed the Red Barn. One of John’s biggest loves was his cottage on Lake Lac du Bonnet. He built it himself and some of his happiest times were spent there. John was an avid golfer, fisherman, snowmobiler and downhill skier. John was a strong vital man who enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. He liked people and greeted everybody with a genuine word and a firm handshake. He loved his children and would have walked to the ends of the earth for them. He was a decent, honest, humble man not perfect but good. He believed that by hard work he could make his corner of the world a better place for his family, his friends and acquaintances. That made him a success. He weathered the obstacles and the disappointments of life. He was a fighter to the very end. We cannot begin to express the profound loss and the vacuum this has left in our lives. We would like to thank our family, friends, neighbours and co-workers for their support over the last several years. It is impossible to count the kindnesses shown to us by them, and by total strangers, as we worked our way through this. Our deepest thanks to the Manitoba Brain Injury Association, Manitoba Alzheimer Society, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, St. Boniface Hospital Family Medicine, Deer Lodge Centre and the outstanding people at Riverview Health Centre for helping us walk this long and winding road. A memorial service will be held Friday, June 20, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the Buntain Chapel, 400 Hargrave Street and reception to follow in Calvary Temple banquet hall, 440 Hargrave Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 2157 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba 204.897.4665, is in care of arrangements wojciksfuneralchapel.com It’s a far better thing to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. Alfred, Lord Tennyson Go in peace, my man. You will always be our hero.   As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on June 17, 2014