Orest Kolisnyk

On Friday, April 14, 2023, Mr. Orest Kolisnyk of Cowan, Manitoba passed away at the age of Seventy-three years.

   Survived by his loving wife: Olive A. Kolisnyk and two children: Nicholas of Cowan, Manitoba, Marysa (Chez) of Swan River, Manitoba, two grandchildren: Dawson and Ember, and numerous nieces and nephews, two brothers and three sisters: Anne Gates of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Terry Kolisnyk (Adele) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ricki Daly of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sonia Boyko (Adrian) of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Boris Kolisnyk (Leé Anne) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, one brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law: Rose-Marie Natyna of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Deanna Trudeau of Ile Des Chenes, Manitoba, Edward John Natyna (Adeline) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Marilyn Natyna of Minitonas, Manitoba.

Predeceased by father and mother Nicholas and Margaret Kolisnyk, sister Marie Medwid, brother Mirk Kolisnyk, brothers-in-Law: George Gates, Art Medwid, Henry Natyna, Gilbert Trudeau.

Orest was born December 22, 1949, at Kolisnyk’s General Store in Cowan, Manitoba. Orest attended school in Cowan (1-8), Minitonas, and Swan River. After school activities included hunting, fishing, and of course baseball with the Cowan ball club. Many tournaments were won on weekends. After school, a couple of years were spent up north working for CNR.  Orest then moved to Winnipeg, where he met Olive Natyna and they were married in 1971. They ran two successful stores together, one in Ile Des Chenes and one in Winnipeg. In 1989 Orest and Olive with son Nicholas moved back to Cowan to take over the store from his parents. Marysa was born a year later. Orest and Olive ran the store together with help from their children until the time of his passing. Orest enjoyed working on many projects, always having one on the go, and could almost fix anything. He was always able to visualize what the finished product would look like. He enjoyed spending time in the bush, either cutting wood or hunting. He was especially proud of his grandson Dawson’s first hunting trip. Always telling the story and showing pictures. Orest also enjoyed spending time with his granddaughter Ember. Having naps with her and “Ducky,” riding in the tractor or skid-steer, or just sitting by the fire with her and her big brother Dawson toasting marshmallows. Orest was always busy doing something but always made time to talk to anyone, calling it his “holiday” whenever someone stopped in to visit.

“If you like what you do you never work a day in your life.”

Orest would like to thank all the doctors and nurses for his excellent care.

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