William "Bill" Ohanka

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William (Bill) Ohanka passed away on Wednesday February 2, 2022 at Wawanesa MB with his wife Mary by his side.

Bill was born October 24, 1934 in Blahova Czech Republic.  In 1937 at the age of 3, he travelled by boat with his parents, older brother & sister to Canada, docking in New York City.  They settled in Cloverleaf MB where he attended school.

In 1960 Bill & his dad purchased a farm in the Wawanesa area.  In his early years, he worked in construction for B.A.C.M. Ltd in Winnipeg.  One of his construction jobs with this company sent him to Gillam (in Northern Manitoba) where he helped with the infrastructure to form this new town.  The crew were taken by boat up Lake Winnipeg, then by bush float plane to reach job sites and lived in camp. 

In 1971, he started to work for Simplot Chemical Co. in Brandon so he could help out at the farm.  On October 6, 1973, he married Mary Kovar of Glenboro and they settled at Riverview near Stockton until 1979 when Bill took over the present farm. 

Bill enjoyed the farming life, raising cattle and grain.  He enjoyed curling with the seniors in Wawanesa, winter ice fishing and most of all in the fall, deer hunting with his friends from Winnipeg & Ninette. Bill loved old time dances and together with his wife Mary, took pattern dancing lessons in Belmont for many years, along with going to many dances in the area.  Together they took various trips out west to Alberta and B.C. 

Bill’s biggest trip, was with his niece Sharon, overseas to Shanghai China in 2007 to watch his great niece Brittany swim in the special Olympics.  In later years, you would find Bill on the road with family members taking in attractions in Manitoba, Saskatchewan & North Dakota.

He leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife Mary (nee Kovar), sister Stephanie (Dwight) Dowling of Calgary, AB, brother-in-law David Oleksuik of Hope, BC, sister-in-law Ella Green of Treherne, MB as well as numerous nieces, nephews & extended relatives. 

Bill was predeceased by his parents Alois & Anna Ohanka, brothers Emil (Mary) Ohanka, sisters Emily (Roy) Baleja, Irene (Bill) Kiesman, Rose Oleksuik and Helen (Walter) Chimilowsky, father & mother-in-law Stan & Valerie Kovar, brother & sister-in-law Rudy & Geraldine Kovar and brother-in-law Eric Green.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, February 12, 2022 in the Willmor Chapel, Glenboro, MB, with Sharon Hamilton officiating.  Interment will take place at a later date in the Glenboro Cemetery.

The service is available to view online on Bill’s profile page at www.willmorchapel.com.  

 Friends that so desire, memorial donations can be made in Bill’s memory to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, 1379 Kenaston Blvd., Winnipeg, MB, R3P 2T5 or to a charity of choice. 

Online condolences can be sent to Bill’s family by visiting www.willmorchapel.com.  Jamieson’s Funeral Services of Glenboro, MB, were in care of arrangements.

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