It is with great sadness and sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of a very great man, David (Dave) Kowalchuk, age 79 years, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, extended family and friends on Saturday, September 2nd, 2017 at the Dryden Regional Health Center.
Dave was reunited with his wife Patricia, his companion Dorothy Alberts, his stepson Larry Alberts, his parents, brothers and sisters.
Dave was born March 26th, 1938 in Elk Ranch, Manitoba.
Dave worked his younger years on the farm in Manitoba and then ventured out to Dryden, Ontario, where he worked construction, then worked 16 years for Canadian Pacific Forest Products. Dave had to get out of the mill and went to work for Great Lakes Region – Thunder Bay till he retired.
The bush was his joy, he loved his job as a skidder operator, bush cutter and scarifying.
Dave spent most of his time helping others when not working, he loved going out to camp, gardening, fishing, cutting wood, spending time with his family’s, he especially loved to feed his deer (Bambi as he called her), birds and squirrels, they would eat right out of his hands. His Bambi would eat out of his mouth, he had a knack with animals and loved them, whether wild or tame.
He enjoyed cooking and spending time with his family and friends. Dave was a caring person who would always go out of his way to help anyone who needed it. He talked to everyone he met, a stranger or a friend, he didn’t care who it was. He loved spending time with his family out at camp, it brought him such joy to see them grow. Dave enjoyed talking about his childhood on the farm, working in the bush and he said it like it was.
Dave is survived by his daughter Shirley Kowalchuk, sons John Kowalchuk (Lori Turgeon) and Metro Kowalchuk, grandsons, Joey Kowalchuk (Shauna) and Ashton Kowalchuk, granddaughters, Emma Kowalchuk, Breanne Desserre and Brooke Desserre, great granddaughters Madison Kowalchuk and Aynsley, great grandsons Tyler Kowalchuk, Nashtyn Braxton and Colson, sisters, Pat of Toronto, Nancy Wladyezak of Toronto and Chris Wilson of Barrie, ON as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Also surviving are his extended family through Dorothy Alberts, stepson Marvin (Linda), Granddaughters Tracy and Sharman and family. His companion Helen Woitowicz and her children, Eleanor, Karin, Ron and April.
Cremation has taken place and it was Dave’s wish not to have a funeral service.
The family of Dave cordially invites you to join us in celebrating his life on Saturday September 9th, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the Wabigoon Memorial Hall for a Barbeque to share stories and remember a life lived to the fullest.
If friends desire donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation through the Stevens Funeral Homes P.O. Box 412, Dryden ON P8N 2Z1.
Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca
The things we feel so deeply
Are the hardest things to say
But we your family loved you In a very special way
They say memories are golden
Well maybe that is true
But we never wanted memories
We only wanted you.
If tears could build a stairway
And heartaches make a lane
We’d walk the path to Heaven
And bring you back again
Our family chain is broken
And nothing seems the same
But as God calls us one by one
The chain will link again.
Forever loved and remembered by your family