Obituary of Walter Mazinke

Walter Ernest Mazinke passed away peacefully at the age of 92 years on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at the Red River Valley Lodge in Morris, Manitoba. Walter is survived by his loving wife Ina, sons Bruce (Lori), Raymond (Marlies), Wayne (Dixie), 12 grandchildren; Jason (Jillian), Riley (Reanne), Brienna (Mike), Dylan (Britt), Amanda (Matt), Matthew (Britt), Corey (Hali), Reid (Bryanne), Hana, Logan, Jaeda, and Peyton and 6 great-grandchildren; Lyla, Sadie, Nash, Makenna, Madelyn, and Bowan. He is also survived by brothers Harvey (Marian), Arthur (Denise), sister Shirley Knip and sister-in-law Hedy Mazinke. He was predeceased by his parents Henry and Bertha (Schroeder), infant son Donald, and siblings Laura (Gerard) Jahnke, Eddie Irene (Elmer) Blanchard, Ruth Mazinke, and brother-in-law Peter Knip. Walter was born on June 16, 1930, at home on the farm in Sewell, Manitoba. He attended school at DeWett school till grade 8 after which he was needed to help with life on the family farm. In his younger years Walter enjoyed playing baseball, listening to hockey games on the radio and the radio broadcast program the “the Green Hornet.” He was very involved in the daily chores taking care of the horses, cows, pigs and working with the chickens in the backyard. He was instrumental in the building of the Sewell curling rink and played many a game and bonspiel with his brothers Eddie, Harvey and later Arthur. Walter also recounted many memories of dances at the Sewell curling rink. In 1954, brother Harvey introduced Walter to a beautiful lady named Ina Swain, who became the love of his life. Walter and Ina dated until getting married on July 18, 1959. Walter and Ina moved a house onto the family farmstead where they began raising their family. Life was all about the farm and his family. Walter and Ina diversified the farm in 1968 when they built a hog barn when grain was not moving. He was very involved in coaching minor hockey, was active in the Morris Lion’s Club, served a number of years on the Manitoba Hog Marketing Board and Canadian Pork Council and was on the board of the Morris Lutheran Church. Walter and Ina moved to Morris in 1985 and he continued to commute to the farm every day. He enjoyed driving to Florida in the winters and spending time golfing in the warmer weather. Walter was instrumental in teaching the boys about life on the farm and loved working alongside them for many years. Walter loved talking about what was happening on the farm and drove many miles checking out the crops on a daily basis (sometimes 3x per day). Walter never fully retired from the family farm as he was always checking in with the boys about what crops they were planting, how harvesting was going, and if things weren’t getting done quick enough, he jumped on the tractor and cultivator at the age of 85 in order to get the field finished. Walter spent his later years enjoying all the grandkids activities. He could be found at the rink watching many a hockey game, going to school concerts, talking golf, and checking on the boys in the field. His last years were spent in the Red River Valley Lodge where he enjoyed coffee time with Ina and his family and getting treats from Tim Hortons. A funeral service for Walter will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Morris United Church of Canada, 207 Ottawa Ave W, Morris, MB. The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the staff at the Red River Valley Lodge for their wonderful care over these last years. In Walter’s memory, donations may be made to the Red River Valley Lodge or the Lutheran Church of the Cross.