Obituary of William Dyback

William (Bill) Dyback, age 86, of Steinbach, Manitoba, passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, in Steinbach, Manitoba.

Bill had a humble start in life. His parents farmed south of Steinbach until his father died in 1961. Being the last sibling left at home, Bill cared for his mother until her death in 1985. Having never married, Bill remained single the rest of his life.

Bill was educated at the Caruthers School 2 ½ miles west of his home on the number 12 highway. In those days he walked to school year round, even on the most severe winter days. In the spring, it was often necessary to cross swampy areas by walking on the fence wire just to get to school.

While attending the school, Bill volunteered as custodian. In the winter he would walk to the school on Sunday night. There he would prepare firewood and clear snow in preparation for Monday morning. On those occasions, he would sleep on the desks and get up early to build a fire in the stove and haul water from one quarter mile away. One activity that Bill and his brother and classmates engaged in was gathering crow’s eggs and feet, with the promise of a few coins from their teacher.

A humourous story from his early adulthood is Bill’s first trip to the Tourist Hotel in Steinbach with his father. Bill’s father told the bartender to bring a beer and two glasses. Bill took a sip and promptly spit it out; it was his first and also his last drink.

As a young man, Bill ran the family farm and cared for his mother with his brother Tom. Then in 1962, the brothers attended the Manitoba Technical Institute where Bill studied carpentry. This training served Bill well over his lifetime as it opened doors to new employment opportunities. His first job as a carpenter was with the Hudson’s Bay Company. Many of the projects he worked on were in northern Manitoba communities, including Rossville, Churchill, Cross Lake and Baker Lake, NWT. Some jobs took Bill to northern Ontario: Ogaheed and Hornpane. After the Hudson’s Bay, Bill worked for Brown & Rutherford Cabinets in Winnipeg and Manitoba Sugar (spinning out sugar).

Bill travelled throughout Manitoba as a self-employed carpenter. Bill’s specialty was building stairs.

He even travelled as far west as Kelowna, BC to build a house for a friend from St Pierre. One of Bill’s last major building projects was to build a house for his brother Tom.

Many years later, failing health forced Bill to sell his home in the country and move to the City of Steinbach where he purchased a smaller manageable property. Bill finally settled into a condo in Stone Creek Courts in Steinbach. Having brought some woodworking tools with him to his new home, Bill set to work doing maintenance and repairs for his friends and neighbours in the building, never expecting any payment.

Much of his time over the course of Bill’s life was spent helping others. This is the way he would like to be remembered.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB with interment to follow at Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Sarto, MB.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.