Obituary of VERNON SOKALUK

The family would like to inform you of the passing of Vern on Monday, June 24, 2013 at 7:00 a.m. after several years of fighting Esophageal Cancer. Vern was predeceased by his parents and his younger sister Shirley Kolench who passed away on September 1, 2012. He leaves to mourn his sister Elsie Clemis (Lorne Clemis) from Ste. Anne, MB, his partner Connie Crogal of Gimli, MB, his daughter Nadine Sidhu (Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu) and (2) granddaughters Preya and Meera of Burlington, ON and as well his daughter Christine Sokaluk (George Boucher) of Burlington, ON. Vern was born in Canora, SK. He and his family lived in Stenen, SK where he attended Sturgis High School. Soon after graduating he left for Winnipeg and in 1967 he joined the Winnipeg Police Service. During Vern's career as Platoon Sargeant he received numerous awards one of which was the Medal of Bravery (1980) from Governor General Edward Schreyer for saving a man from a house fire. This Medal of Bravery was the first given for the Police Service in Winnipeg. In 1996 after retiring from the Police Service Vern studied to become a Licensed Funeral Director. He joined Cropo Funeral Chapel, his wife's families funeral home and became Executive Assistant to the owner and president Thomas Cropo. After Tom Cropo's passing, Vern became CEO of the Funeral Chapel until he retired in 2002. Subsequently the funeral home was sold and in 2008 Vern came out of retirement and became Managing Director for the new owner. Vern's love for funeral directing and helping families was a second calling in his life. He enjoyed working for the new owners, especially John Leggat. While working at the chapel he was unexpectedly diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer and was forced to go on sick leave. He missed the great staff at Cropo who were always very supportive. Vern was also a director of The Sir Thomas Cropo Foundation since 1997 up until the time of his death. The family would like to thank the CancerCare staff at the Health Science Centre with special thanks to Dr. Maksymiuk for his ongoing care and as well the Gimli Chemo team and the Palliative Care unit nurses and doctors at Gimli Hospital, with special thanks to nurse Julie Kumps and Dr. S.V. Patel. A special thank you also to Vern's son-in-law Dr. K. Sidhu, Chief of Emergency Medicine of the North York Hospital in Toronto. Cremation has taken place according to Vern's wishes. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in The Sir Thomas Cropo Chapel, Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. A private entombment will be at the Family Mausoleum at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. The family would like to thank all the Cropo staff for their help with the service.