George Halirewich

HALIREWICH, George Herbert born September 30, 1929 – June 20, 2022 aged 92 years.

George Herbert Halirewich was born on September 30 1929 to William and Mary Halirewich.

George was their firstborn of 6 children. He was born in a small house with a dirt floor on the family farm across the boggy from the current homestead.  George learned to speak English in first grade.  George would come home and speak English to his mom & dad and that is how his parents also learned how to speak English. George went to school up to Grade 11 – which is all they required at that time. The next year he was offered and took a 6-week teaching course. He taught at the Holly Burn School in Petlura Pleasant Valley area.  George boarded at a relative’s home, Alex Kozakowski’s for the school year. He taught for one year. Long story short – it wasn’t his cup of tea!  The next year, he turned around and bought himself a Farmall M tractor and started farming – the rest is history!

After a year or 2 of giving his hand at farming, in the spring of 1951, he met the dazzling young lady, Eva Martha Andrusiak, over a mud puddle.  The young & handsome George dazzled her in return and they were married on September 28, 1952.  George & Eva (passed February, 2018) moved into a small one room farmhouse at Silverwood, Manitoba in the fall of 1952. Here they had 5 children – David (passed in 1954), Grant, Loren (passed May, 2019), Carol, Pamelia (passed in March, 2003).  They lived here until August, 1968.  

They took over George’s parents homestead in 1968 and added to their growing family with their last daughter, Lori.   To provide for his family, George continued to farm but also worked for Spud Cockerill logging for many years and also worked for the RM of Shell River as a cat operator building roads.

George was a great welder as well. People would come from all over the community asking for him to help them with any issues.

George loved to fish – both summer and ice fishing.  He and Eva would often enter and race in the Togo Snowmobile Derbies, Togo Curling bonspiels and they loved to go ice fishing together.  While George and Eva were doing this, the kids were involved learning how to skate or fish along side them.  It was always a family event to go into Togo. Spring, summer and falls were mostly spent in the fields planting and harvesting the grain.

When Loren graduated from high school, he took some heavy duty mechanics courses and then headed back to the farm to work with his Dad.  Loren farmed with his Dad right up until his passing in May, 2019.  Grant also went onto further education after high school, but always came home in the spring and fall to help his dad and brother with the farm work.

George never left the family homestead.  He spent one winter in the Roblin Maple Manor but would consistently sneak away to check on the farm.  He never really left it. He passed on the farm on June 20, 2022.  He was 92 years young.

George is survived by his  2 sisters, Anne Oucharek and Pauline Werbowestsky; his 3 remaining children: Grant, Carol and Lori; his grandchildren: David, Jaala, Larissa, Onalee, Sarah & Zachary; Great-grandchildren: Iris, Indiana, Blake, Jaylyn, Brooklyn, Jordyn, Charleston & Landon. George will be laid to rest next to her infant son David, Loren and his wife Eva in the Silverwood Cemetery.

               Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 11:00 am from the chapel of NairnChyz-Wolkowski Funeral Service, Roblin, MB with Pastor Roy Jamieson officiating.  Interment to follow at Silverwood Cemetery, Silverwood District, MB.  Those who wish to donate in memory of George may do so to the Silverwood Cemetery Fund.  To leave a note of condolence for the family please visit nairnchyz-wolkowski.ca

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