Mike Lesko

1914 ~ 2015

Mike Lesko of Thalberg, Manitoba passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 12, 2015 at East-Gate Lodge at the age of 101 years.

Mike was predeceased by Leona, his wife of 57 years. Mike was also predeceased by his parents John and Mary, his brother Steve and his sisters Katie, Teenie, Annie and Nellie.

Left with warm memories of this exceptional man are his sons Brian (Donna) of Anola and Sid (Carol) of Lac du Bonnet; granddaughters Christine, Sheila (Sean), Tracy, Denise (Darrell) and Nicole; great-grandchildren Taylor, Jenna, Nolan, Avery and Aryanna; as well as many relatives and friends. Mike is also survived by his extra special friends Ed and Diana Gunning. Ed and Diana were more than good friends; they were close family to him.

Mike was born and raised in the Thalberg area, the son of an early Canadian pioneer family that came to Canada in 1908. Mike and his pioneer family worked hard and struggled to build a farm on land covered by solid bush. Mike eventually met Leona Yadlowski at a picnic. They fell in love and they married in 1947. Mike and Leona raised their children in the Thalberg area. Mike farmed as well as worked as a mechanic with Winnipeg Supply until his retirement in 1979. Mike was an extremely talented and inventive man.

Mike and Leona were deeply in love with each other and inseparable from the time they said their wedding vows to the time of Leona’s death in 2005. Their love and devotion for each other was true and everlasting. They could always be seen walking hand-in-hand in Beausejour every Friday on their weekly trip to town.

Leona’s passing in 2005 was a hard blow for Mike and he missed her constantly. Mike was a strong man and lived on his own until December, 2014 when he started to weaken because of his age. He stayed a short time in the Beausejour Hospital and then in East-Gate Lodge until his passing on June 12, 2015. Today he is in Heaven walking hand-in-hand with Leona.

Mike will always be remembered for his unending love and lifelong dedication to his family and close friends as well as for his hard work and honesty. Mike especially enjoyed gatherings with family and friends at birthdays, Christmas, Easter and many other occasions. Mike was a quiet man who sat back and enjoyed the company of his family and friends at these occasions. Mike will also be remembered for the large garden that he planted every year and for the large well-kept yard with multitudes of flowers. There were always plenty of fresh vegetables for family and friends. In the fall, Mike would make his famous sauerkraut in 10 gallon crocks; enough sauerkraut to last the year. No matter how busy he was, Mike was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 516 Atlantic Avenue, Beausejour, MB. Prayers will be said on Friday, June 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. also at the church. Interment will follow in St. Mary Roman Catholic Church Cemetery.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the doctors and to the staff at the Beausejour Hospital and at East-Gate Lodge for their excellent care, compassion and thoughtfulness during Mike’s stay there.

In lieu of flowers, if family and friends so desire, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com

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