EDWARD “TED” TRELKA

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved father and grandfather, Ted Trelka. 

Ted was born on September 12, 1927 in Brandon, Manitoba to Joseph and Maria Trelka. At only two years of age, Ted tragically lost his father while working his first day for the City of Brandon. Ted and his four siblings were raised by a widowed mother. How she managed this by making and selling beef tallow soap is a miracle. In those days there was no social safety net. It was tough times but she kept them fed and clothed. When she sent young Ted to the store once a week to buy five slices of North End steak (baloney) he realized later that his mother never bought a slice for herself. The standing joke when you asked Dad what he ate growing up, it was "cabbage and potatoes". You would then ask, but what else? His reply, "potatoes and cabbage".

Ted was a natural athlete and in his school years and as a young man played all the sports (both hockey and baseball). Hockey was his favorite and he was a beautiful skater. Ted went on to play on championship teams on many levels.  Ted moved to Edmonton to play hockey for two years before returning to Brandon. For years he earned extra money refereeing and playing hockey such as driving to Saskatchewan and playing for the Melville Millionaires. Once he was reffing in Portage la Prairie and the crowd got ugly at a call Ted made. As soon as the game ended Ted ran out of the rink in his skates, jumped into the backseat of a running car, as wife Marlene sped off and made their getaway. Throughout the rest of his life he played the remaining important sports (bowling, curling, and golf). But bowling was the passion, both the game and hanging out with all their friends. All the Trelka brothers were accomplished bowlers, both 5 pin and 10 pin. Ted's second address was the Recreation lanes hanging out with Shad. Ted also successfully coached the championship winning Sokol Athletics fastball team for several years. In 1967 Ted won the 7th flight of the Grey owl golf tournament, something he was very proud of. Ted also made a few extended visits to South Bend, Indiana to stay with his sister Jo's family and spent time with his Uncles in Chicago. Ted loved Chicago and wanted to stay but issues with his visa application once again brought him back to his hometown. He stayed a loyal fan to Chicago sports teams for the rest of his life, especially the Cubs, and he never thought he'd see the day they would win the World Series but they did in 2016. If you live long enough, you witness a lot of history. Both good and bad.

After his school years Ted began working in what would end up being his lifelong career, Auto body repair and painting. He was gifted and highly skilled at metal fabrication but also had "the touch" at painting. It was like watching a master at work when he sprayed a car in the booth. Both in Chicago and Edmonton Ted worked in Auto body to pay the rent. It was never his dream occupation but he made a living for his family at something he was very good at and took pride in. Ted would own/operate three different body shops over the years. When he sold Park Auto Body at age 60 he retired with 35 plus years in the trade. Between the body shops Ted tried other careers over the years. He worked for CP Rail (brakeman), was a partner in a used car lot(with best buddy Joe Slomiany), sold real estate, construction, farm equipment sales and manufacturing, and his real dream....farming.

In 1958 Ted met his wife Marlene when she saw him skating at a local rink. She was sitting in the stands and told her friends, "I'm gonna marry that guy". Ted and Marlene were married on July 9, 1960; loving, dancing and caring for each other for nearly 64 years. In the years to follow they adopted their sons, Terry and Bobby.

In 1970 Ted (and family) moved to Killarney to open G&T Autobody with a co-worker. At the same time they rented a quarter section of farmland southwest of Killarney. There he lived his dream. A herd of cattle, a barn/yard full of pigs, and a huge flock of chickens. Ted loved animals and they all had the freedom of the pasture or barn. They had no machinery, just basic hand tools. Imagine a barn full of forty pigs and just a shovel to clean it with. Ted's brother Stan suffered from poor health and spent his last years helping out on the farm. As with every place they lived, they developed close lifelong friendships with their neighbors. When the owner of the property told them he was selling the land the neighbors all wanted to help buy the property so they wouldn't have to move. It was a very generous offer but they found an opportunity to rent a larger and better farm, a 1/2 section directly south of Killarney and directly North of Lena. We enjoyed many family visits on the farm from the "City Slickers" who would always lend a helping hand during hay/straw bale season. Soon afterwards the partnership at the body shop dissolved and Ted tried livestock farming for a living along with other work in Killarney but unfortunately it just wasn't meant to be. In 1977 they moved back to Brandon and into his childhood home on 59-10th Street North. Ted was now selling real estate and they purchased what would be our family home on Canada Crescent. A year later Ted found an opportunity to buy into his last body shop, Park Auto Body, and operated the business until he sold and retired from the trade. Ted then went on to work seasonally for Patmore Nurseries for the next 19 years, and loved every minute of it. They named a greenhouse after him and he had access to all the flowers and tomato plants they would use in their award winning back yard paradise and later, 'their market garden'. In retirement Ted made long daily walks with his beloved dog, Jessica, and yearly trips to Vegas with a group of buddy's (including Bill Shadlock, Billy Huston, John Nazar). Ted and Marlene would also make their famous pierogi pies to sell. They were definitely a labour of love, making about 5 cents per hour for their effort.

Ted and Marlene loved spending time in their flower beds and garden. For many years they entered their Canada Crescent garden and yard in best dressed competitions. In 2002 they followed this passion on a grand scale and moved to a 38 acre hobby farm between Douglas and Carberry. There they tended to a large market garden for 12 years, selling the produce at the Farmers Markets in Brandon and Carberry. There was also a 500 plus chicken flock to deal with every summer. The hard work kept them young and their wonderful neighbors were always there to help when needed. Regular visits from the boys and holidays spent at the acreage will always be cherished by the family; helping with the chores to work up a big appetite to enjoy Mom's delicious cooking, playing games or cards afterwards, or laughing with Dad while watching old Pink Panther movies.

Ted was a lifetime member of the St. Joseph's Polish National Church and the Sokol Association. Every year donating their time and effort, alongside other members, to make hundreds of dozens of pierogi and cabbage rolls for church and Sokol Hall fundraisers. Ted also proudly served several terms as President of the church and the Sokol. The members of the Sokol and the parish were really one and the same and were all like family. Ted was also a member of the UCT in Brandon.

In 2015 they retired from the acreage and moved to Winnipeg to be close to their sons and grandchildren. They found a new place to call home at the Dawson Trails 55+ Apartments and began another chapter of their lives. Ted cherished the little community at Dawson Trails and all the great friendships he made there. The coffee club, the card games, and B-B-Q's. Marlene and Ted also loved going to the casino for an evening out with good friends (usually Paulette and sister Diane). In 2016 Ted won a single prize of $13,326 on a VLT at Club Regent. Ted loved to bet and play games, to say the least. They also continued to make pierogi and pierogi pie for as long as they could; had a small garden plot to tend in Terry's backyard; and tomatoes and flowers on the balcony. Ted loved to help out whenever he could, especially chopping wood, even into his early 90's. But Ted was always the most excited for their regular trips back to his hometown of Brandon to visit his lifelong friends for coffee at the Gallery and attend mass. Let's face it, Ted never wanted to move to Winnipeg but he did it for Mom and us.

Before Marlene passed Ted said, "I'll be right behind you". He just didn't have it in him to keep going without her. He tried for us and we enjoyed our last few months with him, visiting him daily at the Holy Family Home. He was very grateful to spend his last days there where he was well taken care by the staff. A few of the ladies spoke to him in Polish and he also found a singing partner in nurses aide Francis. (Quando Quando Quando) was their favorite song and each had their own version of the words. Ted had a lifelong passion for music and by music, I mean opera and classical music. This music was always playing in his background. On our birthday's we would get the call from Dad and he would sing the traditional Polish song "Sto Lat" whose meaning was too "celebrate a happy, healthy life and live a 100 years". I'm sure many others received the same birthday call from Ted. 

Left to cherish his memory are his son Terry (Heather), son Bobby (Alissa) and his grandchildren Teren, Charlie and Sarah. Ted was predeceased by his loving wife Marlene only a short time ago on April 4th, 2024. He is also survived by nieces Susan (Bob) Ash and Janice Soares of Winnipeg, nephews Charles and Jimmy, great nieces and nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents Joseph and Maria, brothers Stan and Charlie, and sisters Josephine and Elsie. There were also four siblings Thomas; Benny; Wanda; and Joseph, that passed in infancy. 

Dad, may you rest in peace with Mom,

and to everyone else, 

"Sto Lat".

Ted’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

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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