Obituary of VINKO KALIC

It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of our beloved Husband, Tata, Dida, and Uncle, Vinko Kalic. Peacefully, during his sleep, Vinko was called back to his Savior on Sunday, October 6, 2024.

Vinko was born on November 8, 1936 in Batnoga, Cetingrad, Croatia. As a survivor of the Great War, Vinko was compelled to shoulder a heavier burden of the family farm workload at a very young age. As a result, his formal education was cut short at Grade 5. Despite the hardships of daily life during this era, Vinko did find the love of his life in the neighboring village of Strmačka and married Janja Paulic on December 2, 1958.

With the realization that the young couple’s future in communist Yugoslavia was limited at best, Vinko began planning their escape and in 1960, Vinko and Janja (along with his cousin Pave Paulic and wife Milka) stole away in the night to undertake an arduous journey through the Alps, hoping to find freedom in the West. They became landed refugees in the Baden, Austria camp where their oldest child Joseph was born in 1961. The young family waited anxiously for the opportunity to immigrate and decided they would go to the first country to accept them. That country turned out to be Canada. On June 5, 1961, they landed in Montreal and began preparations for the long train trek to Edmonton where the couple were to begin their Canadian life as farm laborers. Destiny however has its own pathway and during a rest stop in Winnipeg, the couple met old friends from Croatia and decided that this was as far west as they were going to go, Winnipeg would be their new home.

Vinko held a variety of employment positions during his early years in Winnipeg.  An opportunity arose with CP Rail and Vinko was hired as an apprentice diesel mechanic. It was here that he made his mark for the next 30 years, retiring from the shop in 2001. His experience often had him tasked with many of the more difficult engine repairs and he became a master in diagnosing what ailed these big engine units. He often spoke fondly of his co-workers at CP and nurtured many lasting friendships during those years at the diesel shop.

Vinko was an active and loyal member of St. Nicholas Tavelich Parish in Winnipeg. He was very passionate about his Ford vehicles but was even more so with politics, of any kind, local, Canadian, international, but especially Croatian politics. Politics always made for a good and spirited discussion. Vinko was fiercely proud of his Croatian heritage and supported numerous Croatian causes with both financial support as well as volunteerism of time and sweat equity. He was especially active in the United Croats of Canada and was a founding member in establishing their own social hall and picnic/sports complex just north of the city. This complex has served the entire Croatian community for a multitude of social and cultural events and is still in use today. As a member of the Croatian diaspora, Vinko was a very strong and active supporter to have his native land realize their sovereignty as an independent and recognized nation. He made very significant financial donations to support the Croatian army during the battle for independence. He felt a duty to financially help in the reconstruction of the war destroyed cathedral in Cetingrad, his boyhood church. And one of his very proudest moments indeed, was receiving an official Croatian passport, for in his heart, he knew that Croatia was once again a free nation.

Vinko was predeceased by his parents Janko and Bare (Rendulic) as well as older brother Vinko, (whom Vinko was named after) and his younger brother Slavko (Cleveland, Ohio). Also a very close cousin, Pave Kalic of Windsor and brother-in-law Ivica (Ivan) Paulic and sister-in-law Milka (Millie) Paulic of Winnipeg. He will be lovingly missed by his wife of 66 years, Janja, son Joseph, daughter Barbara (Merv), and grandchildren Amanda, Ryan, Tyler (Shannon), Matthew (Madison), and Michael (Ella). Cleveland relatives, Sister-in-law Tina, niece Milka (Mike and family), and nephew Zeljko (Lori and family), Windsor family Danica and Ante, and in Winnipeg, niece Helen (Marian and family), nephew Frank (and family) and niece Maria. Vinko was a beloved brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and Godfather to many in Canada, USA, Croatia, Australia, and Germany.

His grandchildren brought him much joy and he loved to regale them with his quirky stories and jokes, some of which, we still struggle to understand the punchline. Nonetheless, we all still laughed with each delivery. With this, his final trade mark fist-bump goodbye, Vinko will be fondly remembered and sorely missed. May he rest in peace; until we meet again.

Pallbearers: Ryan Kalic, Tyler Kalic, Frank Paulic, Matthew Pichlyk, Michael Pichlyk, Ante Vranic.

On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at St. Nicholas Tavelich Croatian Parish, 2688 Main St. Winnipeg, viewing and a rosary prayer vigil will occur from 10:00 – 11:00am. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am, Reverend Father Peter Nemcek presiding. Interment to follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens, 4477 Main St.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Caritas Croatia. https://www.caritas.hr/programi/

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