Obituary of KAROL BACHMANN

KAROL BACHMANN 1919-2013 Karol Bachmann passed away on July 10th at St. Boniface General Hospital completing a full life that spanned 94 years. Karol grew up in Lwow in what was then eastern Poland and is today the city of Lviv in the western Ukraine. He attended the University of Lwow where he added English and Latin to the Polish and German with which he was already proficient. Towards the end of World War II, Karol joined the British Army in Italy as an interpreter and moved to England soon after the war where he married Olga whom he had met while locating his parents and brother in war-torn Germany. Karol’s love of languages led to his becoming a teacher, where he quickly established a special talent for dealing with academically challenged students whom he taught throughout most of his career. A newspaper ad for a teaching position with the Norwood School Board brought his family to Winnipeg in 1957. He finished his teaching career with the St. James Assiniboia School Division in 1984. He is particularly well remembered by many of his students for his enthusiasm for teaching Latin. Karol’s special passions were his family, stamp collecting and table tennis, usually in that order. He was also very active with St. Andrew Bobola parish in St. Boniface and the Polish Combatants Association. Predeceased by his wife Olga and brother Hans, Karol is survived by his children John (Bev), Sophia Munro (Jim), Elizabeth (Ron McCulloch) and Andrew (Karrol), grandchildren Rachel (Maxime), Scott (Cathy), Ingrid (Steve), Krigh (Aileen), Ella (Ken), Christopher (Ghislaine), Aaron (Jenna) and Nolan and 11 great-grandchildren. A big thank you to the wonderful staff at Lion’s Place and the many home/health care workers who enabled Karol to live independently and proudly in his last years. Sincere thanks also to the St. Boniface Hospital Emergency staff whose kindness and compassion were greatly appreciated. Mass of Christian Burial for Karol will be held at St. Andrew Bobola Church, 541 Marion Street, on Tuesday, July 16 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the charity of your choice.