Marian Detka

      To Marian Detka, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Marian, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. With just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Marian really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Marian was born on September 2, 1935 at at home in Kielce, Poland. His parents were Agnieska and Jozef Detka. Marian was raised in Kielce, Poland. Even as a child, Marian had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Marian was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Marian managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Marian was raised with four siblings, Witold, Chester, Stanley, and Janina.

      All of Marian's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Marian experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in soccer. Marian's memorable achievements included.

      Marian reveled in his college years, where his imagination could run free. He was viewed by many of his classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Marian was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. He was a jovial person who loved to share his passion for fun with others. But for Marian, life was not a case of all play and no work. Marian relished the task of putting his imagination to work in class. He was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. He earned his Journeyman Roofer Degree May 5, 1970.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Marian very easy to approach. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Marian related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Marian was blessed with four, two sons, Elvis and Bogdan; two daughters, Elise and Sylvia. They were also blessed with five grandchildren, Kristi, Tyler, Joshua, Kaylee, and Avery. Marian had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Marian's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Marian had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      Marian was a Sargeant with the Polish Military for three years.

      Marian enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Marian liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were maintaining his home (lawn, gardening) and fiddling with his vehicles. Marian was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Marian recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member Holy Rosary Catholic Parish since 1961.

      Marian believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2001, Marian took it in stride as one more way to have fun. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Marian remained busy with people and projects. Even in retirement, Marian continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

      Marian passed away on February 8, 2014 at Edmonton General Hospital. Marian fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by his wife Barbara, four children Elise, Elvis, Bogdan, and Sylvia. Services were held at Holy Rosary Catholic Parish.

      Marian brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Marian Detka lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

* * * * * * * * * *

Mr. Marian Detka, late of Edmonton, AB.

passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014

at the age of 78 years.

He is survived by his loving family;

wife of 47 years, Barbara Detka;

four children, Elise (Les Brenner) McKay,

Elvis (Angela Day) Detka,

Bogdan (Lisa) Detka,

Sylvia (Dwayne) Trefanenko ;

5 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson;

one brother, Vic (Connie) Detka;

numerous other family

and many dear friends.

Marian was pre-deceased by his parents,

Agnieska and Jozef; and granddaughter; Kaylee.

A Service of Remberance will be held on,

Saturday, February 15, 2014 at: 10.00 a.m.

from Holy Rosary Catholic Church,

11485-106 Street, Edmonton, AB,

with Fr. Andrzej Sowa, omi officiating.

Cremation entrusted to

Memories Funeral Home.

Donations gratefully accepted directly to:

Alberta Cancer Foundation,

11560 University Ave,

Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2