It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, William Owchar, age 91 on Monday, April 6, 2015 at TBRHSC with his family by his side.
Remaining to forever cherish his memory are his children, Carolyn Jones, Lynda Bobinski (Henry); Bill (Margo) (Dryden), Dennis (Richmond Hill) and Edward (Shannon) (Morinvillle), his five grandchildren Seanna and Tiffany Jones, Christopher Bobinski (Amanda Topetto), Kurt and Peter Owchar and his three great grandchildren Samantha Januszczak, Emily and Sebastian Bobinski. Also survived by his sister Anne Moore, his nieces Susan and Kathy Moore. His parents, Roman and Kateryna, brother Michael and brother-in-law Ed Moore predeceased him.
Bill was born in Shorncliffe, Manitoba in 1924. Most of his life was lived in Northwestern Ontario where he fondly looked back on a 35-year woodlands career that began with Great Lakes Paper in 1940. He went underground in the Sudbury silver mines for a short time before returning to the pulp and paper industry. On his way back to Great Lakes Paper he worked 22 years as a mechanic, then shop supervisor for the Ontario – Minnesota woodlands division in Camp Robinson with a two-year stint as Mechanical Supervisor at Dryden Paper. Moving to Fort William in 1966 he accepted many challenges and opportunities as the Woodlands Mechanical Superintendent at Great Lakes Paper until retiring in 1989.
Bill enjoyed fishing and hunting but had a special love for golf and spent many years golfing and travelling to golf with family and friends. He was a life long curler and enjoyed the Go-Slow league at PACC. He also enjoyed watching his sons play hockey and found it interesting that with family roots going back to Philadelphia his son Dennis had returned to the area as a professional hockey player. Bill spent many hours in his well-equipped workshop and was always ready to help his family with building projects at their homes.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday April 15, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the Sargent & Son Funeral Home.
A service to celebrate the life of William Owchar will be held in the Sargent & Son Chapel, 21 North Court Street on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 10:30 am with Rev. Ed Long presiding. The interment at Riverside Cemetery will follow the reception.
As expressions of sympathy, should friends desire, donations to the TBRHS Foundation-Northern Cancer Fund or the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.
