Obituary of GUSTAVE BOGASKI

GUSTAVE BOGASKI It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of Gustave (Gus) Bogaski in the early morning hours of September 17, 2014 at the Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg. Gus was predeceased by his mother Maria Minuk in 1955 and by his father John Bogaski in 1985. He was also predeceased by Olga (Ollie) Bogaski (née Mazuren) in 2008 and son-in-law Wayne Smith in 2009. He will be lovingly remembered by his four children Sandi Smith, Donna Panasis (Doug), Jack Bogaski (Nancy) and Doug Bogaski (Lynn). He will also be fondly remembered by his many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. Gus was born in Vienna, Austria in 1920. He was an only child, and when he was 5, he moved to Morden, Manitoba. When he was a teenager, the family moved to Winnipeg, where his father bought property in Old Kildonan. In 1941, Gus married Ollie, whom he had met at a dance hall, and with whom he shared the next 67 years of his life. During World War II, at age 22, Gus joined the army and served overseas as part of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps driving ten ton Mac trucks to deliver food and supplies right up to the frontline troops. He was on the beaches two days after D-day. After suffering a war injury, he returned home on the Lady Nelson Hospital Ship. After the war, Gus joined the West Kildonan Canadian Legion Branch No. 30 from which he received a pin for 60 years of membership. After returning from the war and after trying several different jobs, Gus went back to driving, becoming a Winnipeg Transit bus driver for 36 years. His favourite run was in the Talbot area. He received an award which congratulated him on 30 years of safe bus driving. Gus was always a sports enthusiast. He was an avid hockey player, learning to skate on the Dead Horse Creek in Morden, Manitoba. He played for the Morden Midget Hockey Club and had a very successful season with the team in 1934-1935, the highlight being winning a cup at the old Olympic Hockey Rink in Winnipeg. After he retired from bus driving at the age of 65, he enjoyed his rookie season playing slow-pitch baseball with the Manitoba 60 Plus Baseball All-stars at Kildonan Park. He continued to play baseball until age 89. He was a baseball fan and staunch supporter of the Toronto Blue Jays and attended games when visiting his daughter in Toronto. He supported the Winnipeg Blue Bombers form the days when they played at the old Osborne Stadium to when they played at Winnipeg Stadium. He often worked extra shifts transporting fans by bus to the games. After retirement, Gus and Ollie traveled to many places, but especially enjoyed many wonderful holidays in Hawaii. Many trips included Gus playing baseball games with his Hawaiian counterparts, as well as Super Bowl parties with friends from Winnipeg and new friends from across America. Gus was always a hardworking man who took good care of his wife and family. He enjoyed many joyous occasions at the Bogaski home on 178 Kilbride Avenue. On these occasions, the house was filled with friends and family, as Gus always believed, “the more the merrier.” He especially enjoyed his 90th birthday celebration at the legion, where he danced the night away with each of his female relatives as well as friends of the family. The family would like to thank the staff at the Middlechurch Home for their care, especially the nurses and nurse’s aides. Special thanks to Irene Kalinski who never failed to include Gus in the many recreational activities at the home. He really enjoyed the musical performances. Also, thanks to Donna Bennett and Anna Thiessen for their visits. Their care and kindness always brightened Gus’ day and he enjoyed spending time with them and loved their gifts of special chocolate treats. Prayers will be held at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. on Tuesday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, 250 Burrin Ave. with Fr. Dominic Yuen officiating. Interment will follow in Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, or to the Middlechurch Home, 280 Balderstone Rd., West St. Paul, MB, R4A 4A6.