Edwin Harold Goritz

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our loving Father & Grandfather Edwin Harold Goritz at the St. Boniface Hospital on Friday March 24, 2023. After a lengthy hospital stay of 84 days Harold passed away very peacefully at the age of 86 years with his family and many health care staff from all disciplines, his “second family” lovingly at his side.

Harold was predeceased by his wife Martha Goritz (Kushnir), father Rudolph Goritz and mother Lydia Goritz (Weidman), brothers: Ewald, Carl, Rudy and sisters Lily and Rose, sister-in-law Clara and niece Marlene (all Goritz), mother-in-law and father-in-law Mary and Michal Kushnir, brother-in-law John Kushnir and his precious dog “Honey”.

Harold has left to mourn his passing but cherish his memory, his son Derek Goritz, daughter Sandra Goritz & grandson Justin Goritz (Kristina Stanaitis), sister-in-law Mary Goritz, nieces Twyla, Shannon (Danny), Shelley, Jen (Bill), nephews Glenn (Inga), Leonard (Betty), Larry (Sharon), Gordon (Marie) and Kevin, along with many great nieces, nephews, countless friends, neighbours and his extremely loyal dog “Dexter” -who he got to say his final good-bye to in person at his hospital bed just days before he passed.

Harold was born in Friedensfeld, Manitoba just south of Steinbach in 1937. That same year the family moved to Dencross in Brokenhead, MB. Along with working on the farm with his parents and siblings, Harold obtained his grade 12 diploma and being the youngest of his siblings he continued onto College in Winnipeg.

In Harold’s younger years he worked for the Winnipeg Free Press as a cashier. Then briefly at a steel manufacturing plant. He worked and lived at a Mayfair rooming house for young boys & troubled youth and sold vacuum cleaners door to door. At age 22, he was hired by the Manitoba Telephone System (MTS) where he started on his birthday, Jan 29, where he worked from 1959 until his retirement on Aug. 5, 1995. Dad was a very proud member of the MTS Pioneers & enjoyed the members monthly breakfasts/brunches.

Dad always had a “love of the land”, and at age of 42 years, he acquired his Real Estate Salesperson License and worked as a Realtor for 44 years. Harold worked with and for a number of Brokerages during this time but namely Delta Real Estate. He proudly held his Realtors license until his passing – even answering client calls while in hospital. Dad knew rural real estate like no other. He knew everything there was to know about land throughout Manitoba, soil types, farming and livestock operations, where what would grow or wouldn’t, what would bring the highest yield, land leases, machinery needed to get the job done and who the neighbours were. Dad just knew it all. His passion and experience was unmatchable. Frequently other Realtors would contact him to ask for his guidance and learn from his vast knowledge. Sandra and Justin followed in his footsteps as Realtors and are grateful to have had him share his knowledge and passion with us.

Harold met his wife Martha (married 50 years) at a barn dance in the Brooklyn’s area in Winnipeg’s West End/Weston area. They resided in the family home on Wellington Ave in Winnipeg, where they raised Derek and Sandra, then moved to Southdale, where dad remained living independently with his dog Dexter until his hospital admission Dec. 31, 2022.

Harold will always be remembered as a loving man whose personality, love and loyalty made him larger than life. Dad was a handsome man, a gentleman with his twinkling blue eyes, his loving smile, his story telling, his quick humour, his hearty laugh & his “wink”.

Harold was an incredible Husband, Father and Grandfather. He was his Grandson Justin’s biggest fan and travelled great distances through any weather to any province to watch Justin’s hockey games and practices. Harold often travelled with the team on the bus for away tournaments – everyone welcomed him – he was everyone’s “Grandpa”. When Justin played in Sweden as the goalie for the Canadian Bandy team – Dad was glued to the TV for hours. He also enjoyed 24 years of watching Justins indoor and outdoor soccer practises and games.

Harold was vivacious and entertaining, he was a straight shooter, trustworthy, honest, loyal and had a neverending mastery of humour. He absolutely loved life. “Everyday is a good day when you wake up in the morning”. Dad treated everyone as family and was accepting of all persons he met or interacted with (except telemarketers). Dad loved his family, friends and his neighbours on “The cove”. Harold’s door was always open, his phones were always on. If someone needed help or a ride, Dad was there. “I’ll come pick you up”. No matter what time it was where it was, what the weather was or what age we were. No questions asked. We could always count on Dad/Grandpa. All he wanted was to ensure his loved ones got home safe.

Dad had a passion for farming and for approx. 60 year’s hobby farmed in Rosewood, Manitoba. The memories we as a family made there on that land were incredible and we grew to love the land just as he did. Harold and Sandra would talk about the “freedom” that came from being in the open on the fields and after his farming years came to an end we would just go there to enjoy the peacefulness, the quiet and breathe the clean air, walking the land and just feeling “free”.

Dad knew or was related to people everywhere he went. No one was a stranger to Harold, he was magnetic. People gravitated to him. Harold would genuinely want to get to know people, where they lived, who they were, what they did, what they enjoyed and of course who they were related to.

Dad was always up for anything. Quad rides with his grandson at the family property, or with Sandra at the cottage round and round the circles we would go. Buggy rides with his dog “Honey” to the local Belair boat launch or just sneaking out to the cottage to nap on the deck in the sunshine. Dad loved wing nights, ‘The Half Moon’ or ‘Skinners’ for hot dogs, BBQ’s or taco nights at Justin’s and road trips anywhere during any season just to see the sights. Justin’s hockey and soccer games were his favorite events. At 85 years old he was still cutting grass on his 8N Ford Tractor. He loved heading out to the Gimli Islandic festival to have drinks made by his favorite bartender – his grandson on the beach and “Suntanning” on his back deck at his home. Harold was so much fun to be with. He made every encounter an adventure and always had an even better story to tell afterwards for years to come.

Family extends special thanks to all family and friends who had shared moments of their lives with Harold throughout his life and during his stay at the St. Boniface hospital. Thank you to the entire A5S Cardiology Unit health care team at St. Boniface Hospital for their love & kindness to Dad/Grandpa -whom many referred to as “Papa”. Dad wanted to express his thanks to his friends and our friends who have been supporting us all so lovingly throughout this journey.

Words could never express what an exceptional person Harold was. He has left our family with a legacy that will live on for generations. Dad, Grandpa you will always be our “Sunshine” and live on lovingly in our hearts and vividly in our minds forever.

Funeral services will be held at Green Acres Funeral Home and Cemetery on Hwy #1 East at Navin Rd on Saturday April 1, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m. Viewing will take place between 9:30-10:00 a.m. prior to the funeral. Interment at Green Acres will follow the service. All funeral attendees are invited to attend a luncheon on site following the service. Pastor Don Engel will officiate. Honorary Pallbearer is his Grandson Justin Goritz. Pallbearers are Egidijus Stanaitis, Donovan Knight, Matthew Meder, Jordan Bergmann, Dane Zarazan, Taylor Poirier.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Lutheran Church of the Cross or the St. Boniface Cardiology department.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenacresfuneralhome.com for the Goritz family.