Alexander (Alex) Michael Barbaruk was born in Fort Williams, Ontario on 3 April 1949 and passed away at the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home on Tuesday 18 August 2020.
Alex was the son of Michael and Maria (Bodnaichuk) Barbaruk and brother of Alexandra (Sandra MacPhail) of Kaiwie, Ukraine. Alex’s parents & sister moved to Canada in 1948 before welcoming his birth.
Alex was predeceased by his parents, his wife Karen (Castle), his sister Sandra (Alexandra) and his brother-in-law Walter MacPhail.
He is loved by his nephews Colin (& Beth) MacPhail and Steven MacPhail of Edmonton, Alberta. They have very fond, warm memories of their Uncle Alec.
He helped his family at their acreage near Ashville, Manitoba, where they raised numerous St. Bernards whom gave him so much joy. He had a mechanical aptitude and enjoyed buying and selling cars in addition to his well-known perpetual yard sale. He also restored a Model T automobile and worked on building a small airplane in their barn.
As a strong man with a big heart, he had numerous jobs, including being a security guard and a home care worker. He also had his own small shop Alex’s Autos in Ashville, Manitoba, where he had a small restaurant and gas pump, while of course dealing used cars. He was very hospitable to anyone who stopped by to have a bite and visit him at his auto shop and restaurant. He was a very good cook and loved meeting people.
His love of cars continued throughout his life, as he loved driving in the countryside and often drove to visit his sister and family in Edmonton. He was also a taxi driver & ambulance driver in Gilbert Plains and North Battleford, SK.
Alex met his love of his life Karen Castle in Dauphin. They got married in 2002, and they ran a restaurant serving delicious chicken. They both were very proud of their Ukrainian culture.
Alex spent his later years in the Gilbert Plains senior’s residence on Burrow Avenue, the Grandview Hospital and the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home. His family and friends send deepest appreciation for the kind support they provided while caring for Alex.
I am sure many people found him to be a very interesting person and a faithful friend. Though Alex seldom went to church because of poor health problems and not being able to sit for long church services, he loved watching Christian videos and Bible stories.
We know that Alex is in peace with the Lord and continues to shine his smile upon his family and friends.
A private graveside interment took place at the Chatsworth Cemetery in Gilbert Plains, MB on Monday, August 31, 2020.
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