Gordon Edwin "Ed" Topnik

Edwin passed away peacefully with his family by his side. He was one of sixteen children born to Carl and Natalie Topnik. In July of 1957, he married Carol Sobchuk and moved from Winnipeg, Manitoba to B.C., where he remained for the rest of his life. Edwin was predeceased by Carol in 2009. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his children: Earle, Marlene and Dianne, his grandchildren: Rebecca, Darryl, Joshua, Nicole and Jerrod, his great-grandchildren: Madison, Savana, Desiree and Brooklyn, as well as his many brothers, sisters and friends. Edwin always placed his family's needs first. He was a caring, supportive and generous man, who touched many lives with his sarcastic sense of humour. A Service of Remembrance will be held in Edwin’s honour on Saturday March 21, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., with a viewing at 12:00 p.m., at Henderson’s Langley Funeral Home, 20786 Fraser Highway, Langley, B.C.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Edwin’s name to the Langley Hospice Society.

For more information, please visit www.hendersonslangleyfunerals.com

Edwin came into this world on November 15th, 1929. The moment he arrived, he was faced with a challenge that he would have to learn to over come.

He was the 6th of 16 children, born to Carl and Natalie Topnik and the first to be born in a hospital. One would assume that this was a good thing, but as fate would have it, the delivery doctor had consumed a few too many drinks before arriving that day. As a result Edwin’s right arm was broken during the delivery and then set incorrectly. The lack of motion in his arm never held him back. He was always very determined and just considered it a slight set back. He was able to do anything that anyone else could, once he figured out how to work around it.

On March 3,1943, his parents purchased their 180 acre farm in Greenwald Manitoba, from the Trapp family. Life on the farm was not easy. In order to get by, everyone would have to do their part. Edwin spoke of the farm often and always with a sense of pride. The memories made there were some of his fondest and were what moulded him into the man he became. The hard work that was a part of everyday life, was never an issue. He understood that it was necessary and just what it took to run a farm. He admits that he didn't’t always like it and would refer to it as bull work. Having your family pull together and work as a team, was what it was all about.

With such a large family, there is always someone getting hurt. Ed would say, “that was par for the course”. One of his chores was taking care of the bees. He got stung on numerous occasions, but said that after awhile it just didn’t faze him. He would grab the bee, pull out the stinger and just carry on. He mentioned the time the boys were out in the woods, knocking down an old shed. He wasn’t able to get out fast enough and it collapsed on him, breaking his hip. Another time while the boys were out working in the bush, his brother Lawrence had been mistaken for a deer and was shot straight through his shoulder. He figured the cold weather and the good lord, are what kept him alive. That particular incident always remained vivid in his mind.

If there was one person that impacted Edwin’s life growing up, it was his brother Lawrence. The two were inseparable. He would always say “If you saw Edwin, you knew that Lawrence was close by and vice versa”. They did everything together.

After leaving the farm, Ed went on to work for Orange Crush. This is where he would meet his wife, Carol. They were married on July 20th, 1957. Ed’s new focus was finding a job that would bring in enough money to properly support Carol and the family that they wanted to start.

During their honeymoon in B.C., Ed stopped by the New West Lumber Division of MacMillan Bloedel to put in an application for employment. When questioned on his past work experience, he mentioned that he was born and raised on a farm in the prairies…the conversation was over and he was hired on the spot. Anyone who had grown up on a farm knew what it meant to work hard. With a job secured, they packed their bags and made the move.

The wages in B.C. were double of what he could earn in Winnipeg, but the move was very difficult on Carol. She was lonely and having a hard time adjusting without her family. Ed made a call to his sister Evelyn and asked if she would come out for a month or two, to make things easier for Carol. She gladly agreed and he remained forever grateful for her support.

Before long, there were three children to feed. Ed needed to do something to make an extra dollar. He bought himself a 1/2 ton truck, put a tank on the back and began spraying lawns and trees for pest control. He also started up his own hobby nursery, where he grew and sold a variety of shrubs.

Ed worked his way up through the ranks at the mill. When he started, he was pulling lumber on the green chain. He then learned to grade lumber and was later promoted to Supervisor. He was very proud of what he had accomplished and had worked hard to get there.

Many times when he got home from work, he would sit down to eat dinner and nod off between mouthfuls of food. As soon as his meal was finished, he got right back at it. There was still time left in the day, to earn another dollar. Though he had a busy work schedule, Ed always made time for his family and friends.

He truly enjoyed any type of social interaction. The Topniks' spent many fun-filled evenings with the Krentz and Frisk family. They would dance, play cards, or even just "bull shit a little”. Friends and family alike, were always welcome to drop by. They could stay for an hour, or a week… there was no time limit.

Ed retired at 57. He and Carol purchased two acres in the Clayton area, where they planned to build themselves their dream home. Anxious to get started, he bought himself a Bobcat, then cleared and levelled the land. He hand-picked a crew and supervised the daily construction of their home. Those men really had their work cut out for them... there was no slacking while he was around. He knew enough of the basics to ensure the job was being done properly. As he always said, “I’m a jack of all trades, but a master of none.” He was tough, but always fair… and was first to acknowledge a job well done.

Ed completed the landscaping of his property on his own and was very proud of the outcome. The yard was perfectly manicured and on many occasions, used to take wedding photos by the guests renting the hall across the street. The Clayton home became more than just a place to retire. It was a place where bonds were created and the connection of generations were made.

In February of 2009, life for the Topniks' would forever change. Ed's wife of 52 years, had lost her battle with cancer. Having his partner by his side to share his life with, was what kept him strong. This was the one event in his life from which he could not recover. From that point on, Ed relied on his family's help to make it through each day. The unconditional love and support that Edwin always displayed, had now come full circle. In that final stage of his life, his family was with him day and night. The bond he had built was strong, and his family never left his side.

Over the past 85 years, Edwin has touched many lives. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.