Thomas Antosh

Tom Antosh was born on the farm in Boulton Municipality in the spring of 1929, the fifth of Metro and Alexandra Antosh's seven children. He was the last living of his siblings, by many years. He was always proud of his Bluewing/Shell Valley Romanian roots. While he celebrated his birthdays on May 11th he'd said before that he thought he was actually born some time in April, and May 11th was probably the first day his parents ever took him into town, and they got him a birth certificate that day.

Remnants of the farmhouse where he was born still stand to this day on the edge of what is now Goroluk farmland. Some of his early recollections of life on the farm included walking 4 1/2 miles to Riding Park School, picking up mail at Twin Brae post office, parcels from Eaton's, Postmaster Bert Lewis and his wife, being a farm hand for his parents and assisting a crew that were building a road near his home with two horses and a hand scraper. He was fifteen years old. Little did he know at that time what future employment would come later in life.

Dad lived a good long life filled with all of the riches he ever dreamed of. He married his one true love, Mary Midzain, on November 27th, 1956, and together they celebrated 68 anniversaries. It was a marvel to still see them sitting together every day with all kinds of new things to talk about. They got old, but it never got old, for Mom and Dad. Dad liked to joke that the secret to him living so long was marrying a younger woman but we know that his secret was marrying THIS younger woman. He lived for Mom.

Together they created a family of their own, five kids in four years, and raised them all to be good people. He put a roof over their heads, food on the table, clothed them, was a great example for them, taught them everything he knew and hoped they'd learn much more than that. Each of his children took lessons and examples from their Dad. Andy is a resourceful builder. He can make something beautiful out of nothing. Angela is incredibly organized and shared his love of the outdoors. Melvin has Dad's big hands, with the same soft touch, and the work ethic to get things done and always done extremely well. Morris has the temper, and is the hoarder, with a love for interesting artifacts and antiques. Sandra is sensitive, and shared his sense of humour. Together, his children are him.

Many people strive to see the world. For Dad the whole world was always right there under his feet, in his home and in the yard that surrounded it. He was an extremely friendly man who would have a chat with everyone who crossed his path. He was always happy, smiling and enjoyed life. People were drawn to him because he was always interested in their lives. He welcomed everyone into his home - hungry kids from the neighbourhood, his aunts and uncles, cousins, in-laws, nephews and nieces, friends and neighbours. And most special was the presence of his kids, their spouses, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was the hub of the family and there was nothing better to him than a good visit. Everyone loved him. And he could be pretty funny.

Mom and Dad built their house together on 3rd Street in Roblin in 1962 and Dad lived in his home until his passing. He drove his own car, and rode his lawn mower, past his 95th birthday. The house was built through hard work. Circumstances in the dirty 30s and the war years forced Dad to leave school with a fourth grade education in order to join the work force and help his family make ends meet. He never once complained about it. The bulk of his adult working life, 36 years, was spent with Bauer Construction, working shoulder to shoulder with whom he affectionately referred to as JB, GB and Dianne. The Bauers were family to him. Dad had a great reputation for his skill running a Cat and he helped build many of the roads throughout Boulton and Shellmouth Municipality, in the area where he was born. He met many councillors, engineers, area farmers and fellow operators and gained their friendship and respect. He loved to take farm kids out for a ride on the Cat. We're proud of the work he did and when out for a drive through Shell Valley will always think of those roads as his legacy.

Dad retired at 65 and to celebrate he took his whole family out for Chinese food, paying the tab with his first pension cheque. We were told that his passing on February 1st means he'll receive one more full pension payment for that month and to that he would say "I earned it." He was lucky to have thirty years of retirement. He spent a lot of time on his antiques and collectibles and how to present them, loved to read, especially the Winnipeg Free Press from front to back, caught a lot of fish in the winters, drank a lot of coffee with his friends at the Senate table, but mostly he continued to work. It's what he knew best. He still got up by 6am every morning and was out the door doing something. The measure of a successful day was how much he got done that day. It was making something, or fixing something, or inventing something, or tending the garden or the lawn or just puttering around. He had lots of sheds filled with all of the tools he needed to complete his missions.

Tom's greatest mission of all revolved around his deep Faith and his faithful service to his church. He went above and beyond the call of duty inside and outside, at the cemetery, driving the priests to bless houses (he liked teasing them), tending to the manse, and anything else that was ever needed. He said he was collecting Air Miles in return for those good deeds. He'd cash them in at the Pearly Gates. Dad had some tough days in his last couple of months, all in hospital. Deacon Ken came to see him shortly before he died, to read Dad scriptures and to sing for him. We will be eternally grateful to Ken Gaber for that. It's all Dad was waiting for. Then he peacefully passed into the arms of his Lord. Mission Accomplished.

Tom Antosh is survived by his wife Mary, son Andy (Gudrun) Antosh, daughter Angela (Arnie) Guspodaryk, son Melvin Antosh, son Morris Antosh (Alison Kirkland), daughter Sandra (Denis) Roy, grandson Matthew (Jill) Antosh, granddaughter Caitlin Antosh, grandson Christopher Roy, great grandson Otto Antosh, great grandson Arlo Antosh, sister-in-law Elizabeth Antosh, Mary's brother Walter (Gladys) Midzain and many nephews and nieces.

Pallbearers were his five kids, niece Connie Windecker and nephew Brian Onofriechuk. Honorary pallbearers were his great friend Russell Nykolaishyn, nieces Phyllis Kozak, Judy Allen and Beverly Carnochan.

Cross bearers were grandchildren Matthew Antosh and Caitlin Antosh and great grandson Otto Antosh.

Vichnaya Pamyat. Memory Eternal.

Vesnica Pomenire, Memory Eternal

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Thomas may be made to St. John the Baptist Orthodox Cemetery.
 

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