Leo Wilfred Lopinski
April 21, 1934 – September 3, 2024
Leo passed away peacefully at St. Mary’s Villa surrounded by family. Leo was born and raised in Cudworth. He married Cecilia Greve on Oct. 28, 1958. His work-life spanned many decades including a mechanic at John Deere as well as farming at the family homestead near Cudworth. Dedicated to his community, Leo volunteered with Humboldt’s Volunteer Fire Department (1962-1977) as a firefighter as well as coordinating many events and serving as Fire Chief (1977-1981). https://historyhfd.ca/members/. Leo and Cecilia enjoyed taking their family camping and fishing and in their retirement years, travelled to many lakes in Saskatchewan, as well as Canada’s east coast and the USA. He was a caring and devoted husband to Cecilia during their marriage when she had cancer, through many surgeries and Alzheimer’s in her last years. His hard work was matched by a wonderful sense of humour and laughter shared often with his family and friends. He is predeceased by his wife, Cecilia in 2022 and grandson Landon King in 1998. Leo is lovingly remembered by his five children:
Philip (Patti) Lopinski, granddaughter Leanne (Brian) Kostyshyn, great-grandchildren Payton and Aabryella, and grandson Kurtis (Amy) Lopinski, great-grandson Holden;
Maryann (David) Deutscher, granddaughter Carlene Deutscher (Jordy Dahlen), great-granddaughter Anna, and grandson Bob (Shannon) Deutscher, great-grandchildren Leighton and Luca;
Laureen (Wayne) King, grandson Garrett;
Rita Wasylyniuk (Alex);
James (Leah) Lopinski, grandson Jeffrey, and granddaughter Robyn;
three brothers: Bert Lopinski, Dick Lopinski, and Lawrence Lopinski; four sisters: Lidwina Buchacher, Vernice Ursulak, Eleanor Schriener, and Marie Flottemesch; and brother-in-law Joseph Greve.
The Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30am on September 14, 2024, at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, Humboldt, SK, celebrated by Fr. Colin Roy. Others taking part were: Garrett King, cross bearer; Leanne Kostyshyn and Carlene Deutscher, scripture readers; Rita Wasylyniuk and Robyn Lopinski, intentions; Leo’s Great-grandchildren, gift bearers; Laureen King, urn bearer; and Kutis Lopinski, Bob Deutscher, Garrett King and Jeffrey Lopinski, honorary pallbearers. Inurnment was at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Cemetery, Humboldt, SK, followed by a memorial luncheon, with a eulogy given by Maryann Deutscher, at the Royal Canadian Legion – Branch #28, Humboldt, SK. Memorial donation may be directed to St. Mary’s Villa Foundation (New Building Fund) (Online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-marys-villa-foundation-inc/ , Mailing Address: PO Box 1743, Humboldt, SK, S0K 2A0)The team at the Villa were extraordinary in not only their care but to be so willing to share laughs and jokes with Dad always made his day!
EULOGY
Welcome everyone, I’m Leo’s oldest daughter Maryann. Thank-you for honoring our dad with your presence today as we celebrate a great man, brother, friend, husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa. Come along on a story of the life of Leo Lopinski through his legacy of nine decades.
1934-1944 (Youngster)
Dad was born in Cudworth Saskatchewan right on the farm. He was the fourth born child of John & Mary Lopinski (both immigrants to Canada) and went onto be a brother to eight siblings. Growing up on the farm was a blend of exciting adventures and the challenges brought by the harsh realities of the 1930s Dust Bowl era and World War II.
1945-1955 (teenage years)
By the time he was a teenager he completed his grade 8 which was typical of those years and eager to go out on his own. He also loved playfully taunting his younger siblings always in great fun. He worked at farms near Drake as well as across oil fields and a lumbermill in Alberta.
1955-1965 (20-30) New Husband and Daddy
At the age of 23 he married mom (Cecilia Greve) and shortly after started a family. Dad will always be remembered for being hard working. Take a moment to consider he worked full-time, was at our mom’s side when she went in for cancer treatments, leaving an 18mth old and a 6-week baby (me) in his care (with some help from our grandma and relatives). Although Mom successfully beat cancer, she continued to have health challenges throughout the rest of her life and Dad was always there to support. Adding another three young children by the time Dad had turned 31. Dad would work all day as a mechanic at John Deere and then come home to parenting five kids under the age of seven while mom was often sick.
1965-1975 (30-40s) Growing Family
Dad took onto to helping with the family farm as his brother Sylvester died in 1971. He continued to work to make ends meet from working full-time, farming, taking odd jobs. Us kids thought it was normal to play at the SAAN store on Sunday afternoons while Mom & Dad cleaned or their “date night” being bartenders at the St. Gregor bar, so they could buy us special Christmas presents or helping pull nails from demolition projects. Dad enjoyed actively watching & helping with our sporting activities, to building a skating rink in our backyard for winter fun or fixing “new to us” cars or trucks. Dad also loved to take the family camping and fishing around Saskatchewan.
In his early 30s Dad became a dedicated volunteer firefighter serving his community on the Humboldt Fire department for nineteen years. I look back in awe at Dad’s tireless dedication to his family to build a better life and one filled with fun and love.
1975-1985 (40s-50s) – His kids starting lives of their own
With Dad’s family starting lives of their own and leaving home, he was able to take on a leadership role and served as Volunteer fire chief from 1977-81 with bringing many innovations to the department. In 1981, Dad and mom were proud to host the National Firefigher’s convention and ball in Humboldt.
Throughout Dad’s 40-50s, he was a fulltime farmer on the family homestead near Cudworth. We all recall great memories of being on the farm throughout the summers and at harvest time. With retirement they moved back to their home in Humboldt.
1985-1995 (50s-60s) – Grandparenting years & practising for retirement
Moving into Dad’s 60’s, he continued to drive taxi for CN and the public in Humboldt. They also started to enjoy some travelling with their camper and 5th wheel and then motorhome. It was also a time of adding to their family through marriages and many cherished grandkids joining in the fun! Dad was always thrilled to put on fireworks for many local communities throughout the province. He delighted in setting up his hand-crafted Snow White & Seven Dwarfs display at Christmas time and watching from his chair as children came to see.
1995-2005 (60s – 70s)
As Dad eased into his 70s, he found joy tinkering in his backyard garage – whether it was fixing away on thrift finds to building purple martin houses. The enjoyment of travel allowed for trips to the US and throughout Canada. Have I mentioned how much he loved to go fishing and be on the lakes throughout Saskatchewan. It was heartbreaking to have his Grandson, Landon pass away from cancer at 3 years old.
2005-2015 (70s-80s)
We will always remember Dad’s loving words to Mom as they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with many of you being there. It was a wonderful celebration of love and dedication to not only mom but his children. Dad continued to enjoy coffee out in the backyard, watching the birds and could often be found tending to the flowers and perhaps sneaking a snooze or two or three... Dad continued to weekly fishing (if not daily) fishing trips and being out on his boat – one of his cherished hobbies.
2015-2024 (80s-90s)
In Dad’s early 80s times were difficult with Mom’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. We witnessed his commitment to mom by visiting her every day at St. Joe’s wing of the Villa. In his 80s, dad also had to adjust to moving from the house he rebuilt and had called home for almost 60 years to increasingly more advanced care. He enjoyed his mobility scooter that took him on many adventures around Humboldt. With each move, he always built new friendships and delighted in joking with many of the care staff who so compassionately helped him as his health declined. Dad was a beacon of kindness, extended his helping hand, befriending new residents and offering solace and aid to the most vulnerable.
My heart was always comforted that my sister Laureen and her husband Wayne devoted so much love and care to Dad – they transformed his last decade into tapestry of adventure, love and peace – as Dad said “thanks for taking care of me … and my scooter”.
As we now say our final goodbyes, remember that Dad’s life was one of service, whether that was to his family or his community. We’ve heard stories of his kindness that will continue to shine brightly in our memories, and may we find comfort in those memories and wisdom he imparted. His legacy will live on forever in our hearts through the everlasting love he shared with us.
Thank-you.
This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral & Cremation Services - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)