Obituary of STEPHEN OLBRECHT

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our loving father and grandfather, on September 7th, 2024, at the age of 97.

 

Stephen was pre-deceased by his wife Eleanor; mother Zofia and father Jakub, Olbrecht and 5 siblings; and mother in-law Mary and father in-law, John, Zwarycz. He is survived by: his son Chris, daughter in-law Danna, granddaughter Kacie; his son, Ted; and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

Stephen was born on November 27th, 1926 in Siolko, Poland. On February 10, 1940, during WWll, Stephen and his family were deported from Poland to a workcamp in Siberia in The Soviet Union (Russia). His parents, grandmother and two siblings died there. After Germany invaded The Soviet Union, the Polish people were released from workcamps as part of an agreement between Polish General Sikorski and Stalin. The agreement included the creation of a Polish Army to assist in defending The Soviet Union. Stephen remained in The Soviet Union for 2½ years. During this time, he joined The Polish Cadets at age 14 in April 1942.

 

In August 1942 Stephen was sent to Persia, Iraq and Palestine for 14 months to attend a mechanical school run by the Polish Army. In December 1943 he enlisted in the Polish Army and was assigned to Regiment Karpacki Pulk Ulanow. The regiment was stationed in Egypt where he was trained to operate military vehicles.

 

In April 1944 his regiment was sent to Italy to fight in the Battle of Monte Cassino, which began in May 1944. Stephen remained in Italy serving with the Polish Army until WWll ended in 1945. In 1946 Stephen was sent to England with the Polish Army.

 

Stephen served in the British 8^th Army and Polish Second Corps-Regiment Karpacki Pulk Ulanow (Polish) or Regiment of Karpathean Lancers (English) during the Battle of Monte Cassino, during WWll. On May 19,1944, at the age of 17, Stephen took part in an invasion and assisted in the takeover of the Mountain of Passo Corne.

 

In the fall of 1946 Stephen was given an opportunity to immigrate from England to Canada and arrived here in June 1947. It was in Winnipeg that he met Eleanor and they were married on June 16, 1951, for 69 years, until her passing in 2020.

 

Stephen worked for CP Rail for 35 years as a Carman and then an Inspector until he retired in 1986. Stephen and Eleanor spent their time raising and supporting their family, and creating many wonderful memories. Stephen especially enjoyed: family get-togethers and special occasions; spending time outdoors at the cottage with family and friends (blueberry and mushroom picking, fishing and hunting). You could always count on Dad to help us with house or cottage projects of any kind and to work from early morning to dusk.  A great all-round handyman! He also enjoyed travelling to Poland, and various places in the USA to see family and friends. Yearly visits to Banff and the Rocky Mountains to enjoy the scenery, and lounge in the hot springs were also among his favourite places to be. Stephen was also talented in creating sewing and leather crafts and making pillows, duvet covers and stuffed animals. Many of these adorn our homes and are reminders of him for all of us! Stephen LOVED being a grandfather (Dziadzio) to Kacie and our “fur baby”, Jazz. Kacie has been the “apple of his eye” since she was born! He always smiled and laughed when she was around. He was so proud of her and all of her accomplishments as the years went by. Then was so impressed when she became a CPA, working for Ernst and Young LLP and then the Manager of Internal Audit for Standard Aero and the Financial Committee Chair on the Board of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. Stephen also had many affiliations and accomplishments of his own.

 

During Stephen’s life in Winnipeg, he was an active member of the Polish Combatant Association; Royal Canadian Legion Polish Branch #34 - Andrew Mynarski Victoria Cross: member since 1954, President 1990-91 and from 1997-2012, Vice President from 1992-1995, Colour Guard member, Folklorama Committee – Polish Pavilion; and he also participated in various Remembrance Day Services and visitations to schools. Stephen was also a member of St. John Cantius Church for many years where he participated in sharing readings and singing in the choir.

 

More recently, The Government of Canada, on the advice of The Honours Policy Sub-Committee, approved the request of the Government of Poland to award Stephen Olbrecht the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Order of the Rebirth of Poland). It is conferred on both military and civilians for outstanding achievements in the fields of education, science, sport, culture, art, economics, national defence, social work, civil service, or for furthering good relations between countries. Stephen received this honour on March 5^th, 2022 at a special celebration, for a combination of his service and achievements in the military and within the community.

 

A service to celebrate Stephen's life will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Cantius Church (846 Burrows Ave.). The interment will follow at Holy Ghost Cemetery (4387 Main St.).

 

Special thank you to the staff at St. Joseph's Residence for their kind, compassionate care of our dad and Dziadzio for the past 16 months.

 

We will miss you very much Dad/Dziadzio! Until we meet again…..