William Edward Zuk

May 6, 1938 – January 6, 2026

Peacefully, on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, William Edward Zuk (Bill), aged 87, passed away surrounded by family at Concordia Hospital. Three generations of close family shared precious moments with him before his passing. Bill is now reunited with his parents, Mary and Nicholas (Nick) Zuk.

Bill was the only child of Nick and Mary, though he was part of a large extended family, as his grandparents had 15 children. He represented the eldest of the second generation of the Zuk family to settle in Canada, following the immigration of his grandparents, Maria (Dorosh) and Michael Zuk, from Malniv, Galicia (now Ukraine). Michael arrived in 1910 and Maria in 1911 during the first wave of Ukrainian immigration to Canada. Bill’s mother’s parents, Kyrilo and Kateryna Zuk (Ponyk), arrived in 1907 and Mary was the youngest of 4 children. Those early years were marked by hardship as the family worked the land and helped build a new life in Canada.

As a young child, Bill lived with his parents in the Interlake while his father worked on a dragline. The family lived in a converted rail caboose before later moving to Winnipeg, though frequent visits were made back to the family farm to help and stay connected. Dad would often spend his summers at the farm as both his parents worked in the city.

Bill and Carole knew each other their entire lives, as their parents were friends. Family stories suggest that Carole had a habit of breaking Bill’s toys, and while no one is quite sure why he continued to like her, it may well be how he learned his lifelong ability to fix just about anything. They were married on May 7, 1960 and were rarely apart from one another. While Bill was away taking a course in Toronto at Ryerson Technical Institute, their first child, Susan, was born. Warren, Philip, and Mark were born after they returned to Winnipeg, completing their family and firmly rooting them in Manitoba life.

Bill leaves to mourn, his beloved wife, of 65 years, Carole; their children Susan (James), Warren (Loreto), Philip, and Mark and his cherished grandchildren Nicole (Joe), Erin, Jack, Sawyer, and Anjali. He is survived by his brother-in-law Phillip Popiel; nephew Jonathan (Sandy) and niece, Lindsey (Rob). Bill was deeply saddened by the loss of his daughter-in-law, Lori, Mark’s wife, who passed away in August 2025, and was also predeceased by his sister-in-law Valerie in 1994.

Bill was a Certified Electronic Technician who began his career as a laboratory technician in a pharmaceutical lab at the Winnipeg General Hospital. After completing further education in Toronto, he worked at Atomic Energy of Canada in Pinawa before joining the Signals Department with the City of Winnipeg. Since traffic signals are a critical infrastructure, Bill was often “on call” and occasionally brought the “trouble truck” home. Susan fondly remembers the excitement of seeing the large truck parked outside and being allowed to climb inside for the occasional ride. Bill retired from the City of Winnipeg in 1995 at the age of 57, following many years of dedicated service maintaining the city’s traffic signal systems.

Family travel was a major joy in Bill and Carole’s life. Early adventures included camping trips to Rushing River, cross-Canada journeys to British Columbia, visiting best friend Gerry and Betty Waroway and relatives Peter and Anne Zuk. Extended travels continued down through South Dakota, and as far as Florida and Louisiana. Summers were often spent on family vacations filed with exploration and time together. Later travels included Hawaii, California, and Mexico.

In 1976, Bill and Carole leased a cottage lot in Grindstone Provincial Park after close friends Sandra and Walter encouraged them to join them. Together they cleared lots and built cottages from the ground up. Having recently completed their home in North Kildonan, Bill—along with Gigi Nick Zuk—took on the next project with pride and determination. Bill insisted everything be built “square” and done properly. During construction, the family slept in the trailer—except for Gigi, whose snoring earned him a permanent sleeping spot in the back seat of the car.

Once completed, decades of treasured memories followed: Grindstone Days races, pancake breakfasts, fish fries, talent nights, secret fishing spots, water skiing, snowmobiling, and countless walks along the trails with family and friends.

Bill and Carole also travelled extensively with dear friends Janis and Randie Kushnier and Bill and Renate Schulz, visiting destinations such as Europe. Thailand, Turkey, Jamaica, and Mexico. Eventually, winter stays in Puerto Vallarta became a cherished tradition for over 20 years. There, they formed lasting friendships with fellow retirees and enjoyed sun-filled days exploring, fishing, playing cards, and gathering poolside. Family often joined them, sharing time at the beach and favourite restaurants, creating memories that will be forever cherished. One of there latest major journeys was to South Africa in 2019.

Bill loved to build and tinker. He helped all his children with their homes, assisted with Susan and James’ cottage, and could fix nearly anything that ran. He could spend hours working on projects, ensuring everything functioned just right. He also loved card games and was rarely far from a poker table—often poolside in Mexico—winning a few hands right up to his final winter there.

In 2020, Bill suffered a stroke but showed remarkable resilience, regaining much of his independence. Over time, dementia began to take hold, as it had with his father. The final nine months were particularly difficult, and Bill spent his last six weeks in hospital. While saying goodbye was incredibly hard, his family is grateful he is now at peace.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Thomas for his compassionate and consistent care, and to the staff of 3 East at Concordia Hospital for their kindness and support during Bill’s final weeks. A special thank you to Fr. Isadore for visiting Bill and offering prayers, including shortly before his passing.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Alzheimer Society, Holy Family Home, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Bill’s memory, or a charity of your choice.

Funeral Liturgy will be held at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church,

737 Bannerman Avenue,

on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Private interment will take place at a later date.

Vichnaya Pam’yat — Memory Eternal