In Memory of

Gerald

"Gerry"

Diswinka

Obituary for Gerald "Gerry" Diswinka

DISWINKA: Gerald Julian. After a long courageous battle with cancer, Gerry Diswinka passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2020. He is survived by his best friend and loving wife Justina Pankratz, her daughters Lorena (Norman) Severson of Ottawa, ON and Naomi (Marcel) Simoens of Brandon, MB, granddaughters Kayla and Kristy Simoens of Brandon, his daughter Darcie (Russell) Degagne of Winnipeg, sister Joyce Zatylny and brother Don (Judy) Diswinka of Brandon and brothers-in-law John (Agnes) Pankratz of Winnipeg and Henry (Julia) Pankratz of Toronto, ON. He was predeceased by his parents Frank and Sophie, infant brother Frank, brothers-in-law Raymond Zatylny, Peter and Arthur Pankratz and sister-in-law Lydia Miszczak. Gerald was born on his grandfather’s homestead at Rackham, MB on October 25, 1942. He attended Rackham School and graduated grade 12 from Erickson Collegiate. He obtained his B.Sc from the University of Manitoba and five year B.Ed from Brandon University. His teaching career began at Grandview, MB, continued at Sandy Lake and Erickson, MB, and in 1968, he accepted an instructor’s position at Assiniboine Community College, Brandon, where he continued his teaching/administrative positions for the next 40 years, sharing his wealth of knowledge with students and staff. During his time at ACC he also provided instruction in General Motors product service training for several years. Being a country boy, he took over the family farm from his father and continued farming barley, wheat and canola until the fall of 2019; harvesting canola with the help of his good friend Gary Miller of Sherrard, Illinois. Gerald was an avid collector of 2-cylinder John Deere Tractors. This hobby led him and Justina on many trips through Canada and the USA. They attended many JD Expos and Gathering of the Green shows in Waterloo, IA and Davenport, IA from 1992 until 2017. He valued the many friendships he made through farming and while teaching at the college. The Celebration of Gerry’s Life will take place at Memories Chapel, 330-18th Street North, Brandon, on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow at Memories Chapel. Interment will take place at a later date. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Gerry may be made to the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, MB R7A 2B3.