Obituaries

Don Welyki
August 21, 1940- August 3, 2021

Peacefully, after a lengthy illness with cancer, Don Welyki passed on Tuesday August 3, 2021, at Riverview Health Centre at the age 80 years old. He is survived by his wife Sandra; son Ian; daughter Melinda (Jason), and granddaughter Arya. Don is pre-deceased by his parents Paul and Matilda and sister Lorraine.

Don was born in Winnipeg and grew up in the North End of the city, attending Luxton School and Tec- Voc High School. As a teenager, he loved to go fishing and exploring at his family cabin in Whiteshell Provincial Park. He also began his love of building things.

After leaving Tec- Voc, Don worked for CP rail, then joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. In his twenties he obtained his Heavy-Duty Mechanic certificate from Red River College and worked for Manitoba Highways where he met some close friends. Then Don worked at Case and eventually Manitoba Hydro where he worked for close to twenty years.

Don and Sandra married in 1970. Their 50-year wedding anniversary was quiet but celebrated as the unique times allowed.

Dad loved to travel with family and took us to the mountains and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans several times. He especially loved the west coast and travelled with Ian all the way up to Alaska by car and with Sandra by cruise ship. After he retired, he was able to travel to Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica and several more states in the US. When he wasn’t travelling, he enjoyed spending time at Lee River at the family cottage with family and friends fishing, quadding, exploring, puttering around the yard and building things.

After he retired, he also enjoyed spending time at McDonalds with his coffee group where he shared laughs and deep conversations.

Don was cremated at Wojcik’s Funeral Home and his place of interment will be at Assumption Cemetery in Winnipeg, Mb. There will be a private family interment.

The family thanks Riverview Health Centre for their special care and compassion during his last month of life.

Donations in Don’s name can be made to Cancer Care Manitoba.