Edward David Konrad

Edward Konrad passed away peacefully at Deer Lodge Centre on July 20, 2022 at the age of ninety-one with his family at his side. He is survived by his three children – Sandra (William), Dwayne (Wendy), and Graham; five grandchildren – Ryan Thomas (Jenn), Amanda (Scott), Ryan William, Devon, and Stephanie; three Great-Grandchildren – Nate, Kaitlyn, and Natalie; sister Adia Skogstrom; cousins Edward and Ron Kizney (Lenore), and many extended family members. He was predeceased by his wife Irene of sixty-one years; his parents Michael Koncohrada and Rozalia Szczepanska (nee Kizney); his step-father Wladyslaw Szczepanski; and his step-brother Karol.

Edward lived a full and productive life that was full of adventure and travel. Born in Winnipeg, Edward was raised from infancy in Poland, survived the Second World War and returned to Winnipeg when he was eighteen. He arrived in the winter of 1949 to a cold, snowy city that he didn’t know, with little money and little knowledge of English. What he did have was a ready smile, a strong work ethic, and a warm welcome into the home of his Uncle Walter Kizney.

Once settled in Winnipeg Edward took on whatever work he could obtain with pride, a positive attitude, and a commitment to do his best. He worked many different jobs, sometimes working two or three at a time, saving as much money as he could. One day he saw an advertisement to become a radio operator and decided to attend the Radio College of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. While Edward had strong math skills English was a challenge to him so he studied long hours every night to learn the material. His perseverance paid off earning his “Certificate of Proficiency in Radio” with one of the highest marks in the class.

On graduation, Edward accepted a job as radio operator with the Radio Division of the Department of Transportation (DOT). His first posting was to Armstrong, Ontario, a station for single men. Then fate intervened. Returning to Winnipeg for a visit Edward was smitten by a vivacious young woman he met at a dinner party named Irene Biegacz. The feeling was mutual and within a month the pair were engaged and six months later they celebrated their marriage at St Nicholas Church on August 24, 1957. In the meantime Edward had to arrange for a posting that would be suitable for a married man.

The newlyweds honeymooned at the Hotel Fort Garry for three days where Edward had one of his first jobs bussing tables. Then they boarded a train for the Aeradio station at Graham, Ontario. Little did they know that Edward was embarking on what would become a thirty-seven year career with the DOT that would take him from a remote hamlet in the Ontario bush to the most northerly reaches of Canada.

By the time Edward returned to Winnipeg in 1964 it was with a family of four in tow. However, it wasn’t long after settling into their new home that Edward returned up north for a posting to Ennadai Lake, NWT. From there he took a posting even further north to Resolute Bay, NWT in the high Arctic where a lifelong passion was born.

Over the next twenty-five years Edward worked at numerous stations across the Arctic and always tried to experience as many things as possible. He traveled extensively whether by dog sled, snowmobile, bush plane, helicopter or even icebreaker to see more of the Arctic and to visit the Inuit in their own communities. When he travelled to Canada’s most northern outposts at Alert and Eureka, he described Eureka as one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Wherever Edward went he took thousands of photographs and whenever possible he would volunteer to assist the people he met; which created new adventures. He loved to meet people: members of the royal family, prime ministers, scientists, researchers, adventurers, explorers, bush pilots, geologists, sportsman, schemers and dreamers. In addition to his duties with DOT he occupied some of his free time as a barber, bartender, cook, and was even employed by the RCMP as a jail keeper, among other things. He even found time to run his own company, “The Arctic Camera Shop,” selling high end cameras and stereo equipment, while also marketing prints of his photographs.

Edward’s career with Transport Canada, which had begun in an era of Morse code and large vacuum tubes, finally came to an end in 1994 by which time systems had become fully computerized and solid state electronics were the standard. True to his work ethic Edward didn’t stay idle for long. After a stint as night auditor with Canad Inns he embarked on a second career with the Commissionaires. Initially he worked a few different postings but finally settled into many years as the security supervisor at Cangene Corporation on the University of Manitoba campus where he retired for the second time in 2014.

In his second retirement Edward didn’t slow down. He loved to reminisce about his time in the Arctic. He contributed stories and pictures of his Arctic and remote work experiences to a book entitled “Canada Points North: The Untold Stories”. A book intended, in part, to record Canada’s control and sovereignty over its Arctic territory.

Travelling was in Edward’s blood. He made numerous road trips to Banff and Lake Louise and the surrounding mountains. For decades he travelled with Irene for winter getaways to Hawaii where they owned a time-share condo just a block from Waikiki Beach. Then, in 1997 he was finally able to travel to Poland, to re-unite with his brother Karol and visit the graves of his mother and step-father. In 2016 he travelled to visit his sister Adia in Oregon, a visit he truly treasured. A return visit was planned but never took place due to the Covid19 pandemic restrictions.

Edward was an all round skilled handyman. There was no job he couldn’t handle. He was also an accomplished, self-taught woodworker and finish carpenter who enjoyed puttering in the wood shop on a project. His first ambitious project was to build a pair of intricate desk lamps with ship’s wheels for the light switch. Through the years he built a desk, headboards for the beds at the cottage, living room tables and side tables. Later on, with finely honed skills he built knife blocks as gifts for his grandchildren. And memorably at Christmas, he was known to create the perfect Christmas tree as he would cut off some branches and then drill holes to re-attach them in better locations.

Edward lived a happy and contented life. He was happy whether at home in Winnipeg; seeing the northern lights during the long Arctic night; walking on the beach in Hawaii; or enjoying the family cottage at Grand Beach. Wherever he was, Edward loved meeting people and sharing stories. Most of all, Edward loved family and he will be greatly missed by them all.

We Love You Forever.

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