Hank Gorzala

Hank (Henry) Gorzala, 69, of Dauphin, passed away on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.

Hank was born on September 10, 1955, in Virden, Manitoba to Marian & Kate (Gollnick) Gorzala, the youngest of 3 children.  He was proud to be a first-generation Canadian having been born to Polish & German parents.  The friendships he formed in childhood are still his best friends today.  He spent a lot of time with family and friends out at the family cabin at Cherry Point, Oak Lake Beach, Oak Lake, Manitoba.

Hank began his post-secondary education at the University of Brandon and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in History and a minor in Political Science from the University of Winnipeg in 1980.  His 30-year career with Canada Post began in 1980 as a mail sorter/coder in his hometown of Virden with a transfer to Winnipeg in 1983, another transfer to Saskatoon in 1986 & retirement in 2010.  We moved from Saskatoon to Dauphin in 2010 and Hank then got a part-time job at No Frills in the produce department until February 2023.

Hank was an avid follower of current political and world events and a devotee of history & war documentaries.  He loved watching hockey and football and curled for a number of years at the Granite Curling Club in Saskatoon.

He was a big fan of Star Trek & remembers when it premiered in 1966 when he was just 11 years old.  He watched every episode, every movie & every spin-off from the original.  He loved the music of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin & Gordon Lightfoot.

But most of all Hank liked and became interest in and encouraged whatever it was that his 2 daughters liked.  He was a kind, gentle and loving father to them and they brought him much joy.

Hank met his wife, Elizabeth Sawatsky (Oak Lake, Manitoba) in 1981 as he was friends with her brother Peter.  They were married in 1983.  They enjoyed travels to B.C., Ontario, Florida, France, England & Scotland early in their marriage.  Two beloved daughters followed – Heather in 1988 and Andrea in 1999.

Hank is survived by his wife Elizabeth, his daughter Andrea (Bryan); sister Christina (daughter Sarah, Jorge Leon & family; son Michael Graham) nephew Tony Gabrielle (Donna & family), nephew Rick Gabrielle (Wanda & Family), niece Michelle Rabinsky (Rob & family), niece Leanne Gabrielle (Mike Thomson & family); sister-in-law Helen (Dave) Zihrul (daughter Angela & Wayne Moore and family; daughter Deanne & Ryan Turnbull and family); nephew Jeffrey Sawatsky (Taiz & Jaxon), niece Brittany Sawatsky (Cody McPhee & family), nephew Rylan Groom.  He is also survived by family in Poland and Germany.

Hank was predeceased by his daughter Heather in 2011, parents Marian (1980) & Kate (2009) Gorzala, parents-in-law Henry (1980) & Nettie (2018) Sawatsky, sister Roswitha Gabrielle (2020) and brother-in-law Peter Sawatsky (2010) and brother-in-law Roger Gabrielle.

Sincere thanks to his doctors and nurses who took such good care of Hank & his family.

Cremation has taken place according to Hank’s wishes.  No funeral service will be held.  Donations may be made to the Canadian Mental Health Association in honour of his daughter, Heather.

“Live long and prosper”

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