Obituary of DANIEL PANISKO

DANIEL PANISKO It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Daniel Panisko at the Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg on March 30, 2020 at the age of 96 years after a chronic illness. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 69 years Sylvia, also residing at the Middlechurch Home, and his only son Danny Jr., of Toronto. He was predeceased by his only sister, Alice, also of Winnipeg. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be postponed to a future date when circumstances allow. Daniel was born in Winnipeg in December 1923. His parents Michael and Margaret emigrated to Canada close to the turn of the 20th century from the Western Ukraine and some of his other relatives were among the first people ever to emigrate to Manitoba from Ukraine, even before the turn of that century. Daniel went to public school in Winnipeg and attended High School at St. John Technical. When he turned eighteen, he immediately volunteered for military service during World War II. He entered the Royal Canadian Air Force and proudly served as ground crew for an RCAF fighter squadron in Canada, Britain, France, Belgium and Holland during the war. After the war ended, he enrolled in the mechanical engineering degree program at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba. He graduated with his B.Sc. (Mech. Eng.) in 1950 and subsequently obtained his professional engineering (P.Eng) qualification. He married his wife Sylvia in October 1950, and they had stayed together in happy marriage for the subsequent 69 years. Daniel worked as a mechanical engineer for most of his professional life with Western Asbestos Ltd. of Winnipeg. He worked on many specialized insulation contracts that the company received for construction projects throughout the city. In addition, Daniel travelled to Northern Manitoba at times to work on insulation aspects of some of the large Manitoba Hydro generating projects. Daniel really enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie with colleagues at work, in that he took a graduated retirement over several years. He continued to attend morning coffee meetings at work well after his formal retirement and was a lasting “fixture” at the office. His engineering expertise carried forward on a personal level, in that he designed and helped to build his own family homes initially in West Kildonan, then West St. Paul, and also a cottage at Brereton Lake in the Whiteshell. Daniel enjoyed leisure time with the whole family at the cottage for much of his life. He was an avid swimmer and water skier. He also enjoyed travel with the family. With his wife and son, the family took extensive car vacations over many summers across the breadth of Canada. He also travelled further afield with family to Europe and East Africa. In addition, he enjoyed the sport of curling and played in a house league at the West Kildonan Curling Club even into his retirement. Throughout his life he was very supportive of his son Danny Jr., and with his wife, ensured that his son received the best in education and career advancement. As he became more frail with age, he joined his wife Sylvia to reside at the Middlechurch Home. There, he received ongoing support and visits from his second cousins by marriage the Millers, and their family, as well as frequent regular visits from his son from Toronto. The family would like to specially acknowledge his personal support companion Margaret who has been providing excellent care for the past several years, and to thank all of the wonderful staff at the Middlechurch Home who cared for Daniel. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, contributions in his memory could be made to the St. Boniface General Hospital Research fund or to the Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg.