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How they lived
Orville Smoke helped his community of Dakota Plains his entire life.
Smoke, who died on Oct. 5 at 74, went to the Portage la Prairie Residential School and then vocational college in Winnipeg. He began working for his community in 1968 and never stopped.
Smoke was known as a skilled mechanic, plumber, welder, preacher, hunter, poet and artist.
And, when his brother Ernie died, and with the community’s blessing, Smoke became chief in 1994.
Read about Orville here.
When Beatrice Attree died on Sept. 27 she was 104.76 years of age — we know that because the family did the math for us.
When Attree was born on Christmas Eve back in 1916, the First World War would rage for another two years and the flu pandemic was still two to three years away.
And when Attree got her first job, wages were a lot different than now. Today, the minimum wage here is $11.95 per hour. Attree’s first job at Kresge’s got her $9 per week.
Despite those wages, Attree was able to save and go to business college. From there she worked at Eaton’s until she got a job at a law firm. During the Second World War she worked as secretary to the head of the Women’s Division of the Unemployment Insurance Commission.
Attree also got married and raised three daughters.
Read about Beatrice here.
Harold Tanasichuk’s day job was owning A&H Petroleum Services with a partner.
But many Manitobans know Tanasichuk for his hobby — which he was pretty good at.
Tanasichuk, who died on Sept. 24 at 83, was a championship curler for more than 30 years. He appeared in 25 provincial championships where he won three mixed championships as well as a senior men’s title. He even had six trophies from the MCA Bonspiel, including two main events and a Grand Aggregate.
Tanasichuk’s mixed team won the Canadian mixed title in 1977.
He was inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in 2006 as a curler and again in 2018 with his 1977 team.
Read about Harold here.
Alvin Wexler was an electrical engineer who wanted to help women facing breast cancer.
Wexler, who died on Sept. 24, at 86, was an electrical engineering professor at the University of Manitoba. He served on the administrative committee of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technical Society and he was one of the founding members of what is now the University of Manitoba Faculty Association.
But after retiring, Wexler was able to pursue his interest in medical engineering and he began working on a machine which would image breast tumours as small as two millimetres and tinier, as well as being able to tell whether it was malignant or not.
Sadly, while Wexler tried to perfect it, he was also battling Alzheimer’s disease and, when he died, his project wasn’t completed.
Read about Alvin here.
Don Rodgers helped many people struggling with mental health illness.
Rodgers, who died on Sept. 14 at 96, served as the clinical director at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre. He also served as the head of psychiatry for the Child Guidance Clinic and co-ordinator of Psychiatric Services for the Jack A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Community Health Services.
But Rodgers also rose to become Manitoba’s chief provincial psychiatrist and, back in the 1960s, he pioneered the development of community mental health clinics in the province.
Read about Donald here.
Patrick Sobkow was born with Down syndrome and a natural ability to sense emotion around him.
Sobkow, who died on Sept. 19 at 63, worked with ImagineAbility for 40 years. He also participated in Special Olympics through the years, including swimming, bowling and floor hockey. He even was part of Team Manitoba at the national games, competing in floor hockey in Calgary and swimming in Vancouver.
But his family and others will remember him for knowing just when a hug was needed or when saying “I love you” would bring comfort.
And, when he said “I’m happy today,” they were reminded to enjoy the moment and don’t worry about any problems.
Read about Patrick here.
Vincent Atwell won Manitoba championships in Olympic wrestling when he was young.
But Atwell, who was 60 when he died on Sept. 20, struggled with schizophrenia from the time he was an adolescent. He then had physical health problems as he got older and was the last Manitoban to receive a double lung transplant in Manitoba — in 2014.
Read about Vincent here.
A Life’s Story
You may not have known the face, but you knew the voice.
Donn Kirton, who was on the airwaves for more than half a century, died in July after a short illness. He was 87.
Kirton first used a microphone in Port Arthur back in 1951, followed by a short time in Kenora, before joining “Cactus” Jack Wells to run the No. 1 morning show in the city — “Cactus” Jack’s Rumpus Room.
Kirton joined CKY in 1960, but by 1973 he was at CJOB as the producer of Peter Warren’s show. He was at the station until he retired.
“(Kirton) enjoyed life to the fullest,” said John Wells, Jack’s son.
“He always had a big smile and he was a wonderful person in so many ways.”
Read about Donn here.
Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.
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