FRANK D. BRYAN

Frank Bryan died surrounded by love on September 8, 2025. Born in Winnipeg on 23 June 1939, he grew up during a time when no supports existed for children facing hardship. His childhood was difficult and as a teenager living in the North End he was homeless for a time. Despite this and with the support of some amazing people he developed a toughness, resilience and empathy that would shape his life.

Frank met his lifelong friend, Jack Cameron at this time. Teacher and Coach, Al Kornberg, introduced Frank to the YMHA where he and Jack spent many hours working out fuelling themselves on bananas, steak and pierogies from Poppy’s.

At Issac Newton and Sisler Frank found football. Football saved his life. At that difficult time Frank was fortunate that several kind people took an interest in him and helped him survive. His aunts and uncles from his Mom Ivy’s Lucas family, Jack and the Cameron family and teachers at Sisler and others were helpful keeping him in school while he worked nights to support himself. Football gave Frank community and both the gift of mentorship and the opportunity to be a mentor himself. As a new teacher, Frank taught history and coached many teams. He embraced discipline and focus, values that shaped his career as Coach of the Sisler Spartans. Under his leadership the Spartans became a powerhouse, capturing Winnipeg High School Football Championships in 1963, 1965, 1970, 1971, and 1979, and achieving an incredible 20 game winning streak. His impact was recognized with numerous honours, including the WHSFL annual Frank Bryan Memorial Coach of the Year Award, induction into the Winnipeg High School Football Hall of Fame, and the Manitoba Football Hall of Fame. He was also honoured as a member of the 1963 St James Rams Football team which won the Canadian Championship and was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Yet Frank’s greatest legacy was not measured in trophies and accolades but in the lives of his players. He was known as a tough but deeply caring Coach who instilled discipline, dedication, and commitment—lessons that carried his athletes beyond the game and into life.

As dementia took away Frank's recent memory, he often spoke fondly of those years at Sisler. He remembered all of his players and how hard they worked for him. He said his players put in a tough, focused effort but he got much more back from them. They gave him more than he put in. He was grateful for what he took away.

In addition to Football, Frank’s other great sporting passion was golf. He spent countless rounds on courses from Kildonan to Elmhurst in the company of his longtime golf friends. Those games were about more than just golf—they were about camaraderie, friendly competition and tradition ending with a Standard beer. Frank was also an avid cross country skier. He skied countless trails in and around Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba and when travelling. Weather did not deter him. He always had an extra layer and a wax for whatever nature brought.

Education was important to Frank. He supported himself for a year at Teachers’ College and continued his education at night and in the summer while teaching and coaching finishing with a MEd. He was a forward-thinking educator who often challenged the status quo, always with the goal of advocating for students and helping his staff grow as professionals. A superintendent described him as “one of the hardest working administrators in the school system”. He had good judgement and was always fair. Beyond administration, Frank was deeply attuned to the needs of students and the community. He did not hesitate to act—whether purchasing winter coats for students, giving out lunch vouchers or money when needed or finding other quiet ways to support those who needed extra help. Known for his combination of empathy, fairness and toughness, he left a lasting impact at Sisler, and as principal at Isaac Newton, Winnipeg Adult Education Centre and Daniel MacIntyre. where countless students benefited from his guidance.

In the 1980s Frank met Thelma Wood, and from then until his death, they shared a life filled with love, laughter, and resilience through life’s challenges. Together they travelled golfing, skiing, and visiting family and friends. They took their time seeing the sights along the way. Over the last few years as Frank faced health issues, he continued to travel with Thelma’s unyielding love and support, visiting family spread across the country from Halifax, NS, to Spruce Grove, AB and Vancouver and Victoria BC.

One of Frank’s jobs was to make Thelma laugh at least once every day. Each day he would come up with a twisty play on words, a “Dad” Joke or some other goofy saying. He was called “Grandpa Goofbucket” for good reason.

Frank was a man of many interests and quiet joys. He loved nothing more than welcoming a new grandchild to the world and then settling in to watch cartoons with them, a tradition that brought him endless delight. His tastes were simple —City Bread, Standard beer, a perfectly cooked rib eye, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. He was an avid birdwatcher, a very careful guardian of grammar and spelling, and a devoted listener of both classical music, the 60s hits and “football songs,” as he called them. He had a deep fascination with Roman history—first sparked while studying Latin with the nuns—and he never tired of World War I and II documentaries. He enjoyed cooking, especially his famous spaghetti sauce and Yorkshire puddings. Frank was an excellent cook. And he valued time with his grand-dogs often sneaking them treats.

Frank was very proud of his daughters and their families: Cindy Trytten and her son, Nicholas Karpan; Dr Catherine Bryan, Matthew Herder and their sons Zev Nagler, Renn and Otis Herder. He was a caring, loving, and generous father who supported his two daughters through life’s challenges, university, and beyond. When pressures arose, his steady advice was always: “Just do your best, and then don’t worry about it”.

He also gained Thelma’s family, and cared deeply for her sons and their families: Kevin and Krista Wood and their children Paytyn and Kade; Rob Wood, his wife Alison Ward and their son River.

Frank was predeceased by his sister June Lezubski, brother-in-law Mike Lezubski and their children Bonnie McMechan and Bill Parise.

The family would like to thank Dr Riel for his kind and caring support over the past few years. Also thank you to the doctors and nursing ward staff at Unit 6, 5th Floor, Seven Oaks General Hospital for their kindness, care, guidance and compassion during this difficult time.

Frank was not perfect. 

He had flaws and failings. 

But we loved him, 

and he loved us. 

He did his best.

Please join us at a Celebration of Life for Frank on April 26 at 1:00 PM at St Boniface Golf Club.

Frank's family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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