Richard Sydney Glufka
Surrounded by family Richard Sydney Glufka passed away on November 2nd in Carman Manitoba at the age of 88. “Syd” as he was known throughout his life was born in Carman to parents Florence Margaret Nichol and Edmond ‘Michael’ Glufka on April 2, 1937. The first of three siblings and only boy Syd played an active role in life on his parent’s mixed farm near Elm Creek. He loved riding horses, swimming in the dug-out and playing baseball. After completing high school in Elm Creek Syd moved to Winnipeg to experience working in the city. In 1960 he met the love of his life, Alice Marie Rey from St. Claude at a local dance. Syd and Alice were soon married and began their family with twins Richard and Michael born in 1962. During these early years of married life Syd worked as a farm hand in a variety of communities. Syd moved back to Carman where he welcomed a third son Roger into the family in 1963. Looking for more consistent employment, Syd started work as an agent with the National Elevator Company in 1965. The family moved to the small hamlet of Lajord Saskatchewan. His first daughter Rosita was born in 1965 followed by Steven in 1966. The family was complete when Roberta was born in 1968.
Wanting to be closer to his parents, in 1974 Syd took employment as a technician with the University of Manitoba Soil Science Department. He traveled throughout rural Manitoba, setting up test plots for researchers, collecting soil and grain samples. He loved watching crops grow and seeing the seasonal changes in the landscape. Syd was a life-long learner. He would often watch student presentations on agricultural research and used this knowledge to ensure his own garden prospered. He was an avid reader of the newspaper, geography and nature texts and horse magazines. The position at the University meant a return to Manitoba. Being a small-town boy at heart, Syd and Alice first moved their young family to Niverville. After a few years of commuting, Syd found it easier to relocate to Winnipeg. In 1979 the family moved to Fort Richmond in the south end of Winnipeg. This allowed his family to spend more time with their grandparents who had also relocated to Winnipeg as had Syd’s sisters, Andrea and Noreen.
Syd retired from the university in 1996. He found retirement hard as he enjoyed being busy. Syd was a quiet, private man and very hard working man. He took a few odd jobs to stay active and then decided to leave the busy city. Syd and Alice moved back to Carman in 2002 where Syd maintained an immaculate yard, complete with fruit trees, a small vegetable garden and lots of flowers. In Carman Syd was a devoted curler spending many hours at the rink every winter. Syd’s happy place was at “the farm” as the family was fond of calling the 10 acres west of Elm Creek left to Syd by his late mother. Syd and Alice spent most of the summers at “the farm”, the original yard site by the creek. Syd had a small trailer brought in and he and Alice would live there from spring until fall. Syd spent hours maintaining the grounds where he planted hundreds of trees, had rows and rows of flowers and grew the biggest pumpkins around. One of his potatoes could feed a family of six easily they were so big.
Syd is survived by his wife of 65 years Alice Marie Glufka, sister Andrea Coyle of Kelowna, children, Richard, Roger (Heather), Rosita (Larry), Steven (Marianne) and Roberta (Dave), grandchildren Willow (Jude), Aven, Corbin and Rachel. He is predeceased by his parents, Florence and Michael Glufka, sister Noreen Murray and son Michael Glufka.
Syd spent his last year at the Boyne Lodge in Carman, residing in the same wing as his wife Alice. Syd enjoyed being with his wife watching TV and looking at the birds and trees along the Boyne River. He especially enjoyed visiting with his children and their families, talking about how well or not well the Bombers and Jets were doing. The Glufka family is extremely grateful for the care and support of the staff at Boyne Lodge as well as Syd’s amazing neighbors on Bishop Bay. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice: The Boyne Lodge (Box 1644 Carman, MB R0G 0J0) or The Parkinson’s society.
Surrounded by family Richard Sydney Glufka passed away on November 2nd in Carman Manitoba at the age of 88. “Syd” as he was known throughout his life was born in Carman to parents Florence Margaret Nichol and Edmond ‘Michael’ Glufka on April 2, 1937. The first of three siblings and only boy Syd played an active role in life on his parent’s mixed farm near Elm Creek. He loved riding horses, swimming in the dug-out and playing baseball. After completing high school in Elm Creek Syd moved to Winnipeg to experience working in the city. In 1960 he met the love of his life, Alice Marie Rey from St. Claude at a local dance. Syd and Alice were soon married and began their family with twins Richard and Michael born in 1962. During these early years of married life Syd worked as a farm hand in a variety of communities. Syd moved back to Carman where he welcomed a third son Roger into the family in 1963. Looking for more consistent employment, Syd started work as an agent with the National Elevator Company in 1965. The family moved to the small hamlet of Lajord Saskatchewan. His first daughter Rosita was born in 1965 followed by Steven in 1966. The family was complete when Roberta was born in 1968.
Wanting to be closer to his parents, in 1974 Syd took employment as a technician with the University of Manitoba Soil Science Department. He traveled throughout rural Manitoba, setting up test plots for researchers, collecting soil and grain samples. He loved watching crops grow and seeing the seasonal changes in the landscape. Syd was a life-long learner. He would often watch student presentations on agricultural research and used this knowledge to ensure his own garden prospered. He was an avid reader of the newspaper, geography and nature texts and horse magazines. The position at the University meant a return to Manitoba. Being a small-town boy at heart, Syd and Alice first moved their young family to Niverville. After a few years of commuting, Syd found it easier to relocate to Winnipeg. In 1979 the family moved to Fort Richmond in the south end of Winnipeg. This allowed his family to spend more time with their grandparents who had also relocated to Winnipeg as had Syd’s sisters, Andrea and Noreen.
Syd retired from the university in 1996. He found retirement hard as he enjoyed being busy. Syd was a quiet, private man and very hard working man. He took a few odd jobs to stay active and then decided to leave the busy city. Syd and Alice moved back to Carman in 2002 where Syd maintained an immaculate yard, complete with fruit trees, a small vegetable garden and lots of flowers. In Carman Syd was a devoted curler spending many hours at the rink every winter. Syd’s happy place was at “the farm” as the family was fond of calling the 10 acres west of Elm Creek left to Syd by his late mother. Syd and Alice spent most of the summers at “the farm”, the original yard site by the creek. Syd had a small trailer brought in and he and Alice would live there from spring until fall. Syd spent hours maintaining the grounds where he planted hundreds of trees, had rows and rows of flowers and grew the biggest pumpkins around. One of his potatoes could feed a family of six easily they were so big.
Syd is survived by his wife of 65 years Alice Marie Glufka, sister Andrea Coyle of Kelowna, children, Richard, Roger (Heather), Rosita (Larry), Steven (Marianne) and Roberta (Dave), grandchildren Willow (Jude), Aven, Corbin and Rachel. He is predeceased by his parents, Florence and Michael Glufka, sister Noreen Murray and son Michael Glufka.
Syd spent his last year at the Boyne Lodge in Carman, residing in the same wing as his wife Alice. Syd enjoyed being with his wife watching TV and looking at the birds and trees along the Boyne River. He especially enjoyed visiting with his children and their families, talking about how well or not well the Bombers and Jets were doing. The Glufka family is extremely grateful for the care and support of the staff at Boyne Lodge as well as Syd’s amazing neighbors on Bishop Bay. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice: The Boyne Lodge (Box 1644 Carman, MB R0G 0J0) or The Parkinson’s society.