Remembering a heroic uncle

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This article was published 13/11/2017 (3096 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dorothy Loszchuk doesn’t forget.

With the passing of another Remembrance Day, the Elmwood resident spoke to The Lance about her uncle, Semon (Blondie) Lievense, who was killed in action serving his country in September 1944.

According to Loszchuk, Flight Sgt. Lievense served in a British unit as an Royal Canadian Air Force radar mechanic during the Second World War, as radar mechanics were in high demand. Lievense joined the military the same time as his brother, Edmund. The brothers were from St. Boniface.

Loszchuk said Lievense was in charge of one of two light warning radar crews that went on an ill-fated mission in Arnhem, Holland. Crew members were transported to Arnhem in Horsa gliders that were towed by Stirling tow planes. After the release of the gliders, the crews came under enemy anti-aircraft fire as they glided towards the landing zone, and mortar fire on landing. Casualties were so severe, the surviving crew members fought as ground troops. Of the five officers and 40 airmen that went into Arnhem, only three officers and one airman came out, Loszchuk said. Her uncle is buried at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.

In May 2005, Lievense was honoured by having a building named in his honour at 17 Wing Winnipeg, which included a parade that was attended by members of his family, including Loszchuk. The naming part of the event, she said, took them by surprise.

“It was a bit of a shock to all of us,” Loszchuk said, noting her uncle — whose mother was from Belgium and father was from Holland — was nicknamed Blondie because he was “the only blond fellow in the unit.”

“We sat and watched the parade and then we were taken to a building and shown a plaque with his name on it and we were amazed. I’ve been to the building three times since then with different family members. The staff there are always so friendly. It was also a surprise to my Uncle Edmund, who was crying, as it’s such a big honour and he wasn’t expecting it, either.”

Loszchuk — who has been married to her husband, Tony, for 64 years and has six children — was eight when Lievense was killed, but she still remembers the moment her mother told her the news of his death.

“He used to come over to our place quite often. I remember one day when I was playing ball in our front yard and my mother came out and she was crying because someone had phoned her with the news.”

Loszchuk — who was also born in St. Boniface — said her family had strong ties to southeast Winnipeg, as many family members worked at the former Purity Flour Mills Ltd., which was located on Archibald Street.

She was also previously a member of the ladies auxiliary at the Royal Canadian Prince Edward Legion No. 81, located at 300 Trent Ave., and her charity work for various different causes continues to keep her busy, as does her massive collection of salt and pepper shakers.