Obituary of Henry Jozef Wegiel

October 23, 1949 – Penley, County of Flint, Wales

January 3, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

 

Henryk “Henry” Jozef Wegiel was born October 23, 1949, in Penley, County of Flint, Wales.

 

On December 22, 2023, after attending a wonderful winter solstice bonfire, Henry fell outside of his home and broke his pelvis. He was admitted to the hospital, and his prognosis was good, though he faced a long recovery. Unexpectedly, yet peacefully, he passed away in his sleep twelve days later in Foothills Hospital on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, from a pulmonary embolism. 

 

Henry grew up in England and inmigrated to Canada by ship in 1958. The family then travelled by train across Canada, and settled in Calgary, Alberta, near other Polish families they knew.

 

Henry attended St. Peter's School in Hillhurst from Grades 2-9 and graduated from St. Francis High School in 1970. Henry met Joanne in high school in 1968. The high school sweethearts married in 1971 after their first year of university. They lived in Calgary until 1983, and then designed and built a home in Cochrane where they have lived for over 40 years. Together they experienced a tenfold growth in the population of Cochrane and benefitted from the addition of many facilities and services. While still able to, Henry would swim at our local pool. He was such a powerful swimmer; people would stop and watch him.

 

Henry studied art at the University of Calgary from 1970 to 1972. After leaving university, he worked in the construction trade, framing homes in and around Calgary. In partnership with his brother Roman, they formed their company Bear Construction. A major feather in their cap was when they were chosen to frame the Dream Home at the Calgary Stampede in 1981. Engineered Homes, a major Calgary home builder at the time, had their pick of crews but it was Bear Construction they chose to build the expansion to their headquarters. Soon after, Henry started his own company, Willow Tree Homes, which managed the construction of several larger projects including some commercial buildings in the Cochrane and Calgary area. He also designed some of these projects. Henry was proud that during his construction career, one of his techniques for building preserved wood foundations was written up in the building code. It was called The Span Over, but Henry and Roman called it the Wegiel Span. Henry was also a very capable cabinet maker.

 

An artist at heart, Henry expressed himself through many mediums. Henry excelled in art class in high school and majored in art at the University of Calgary. There he developed and demonstrated skills in sculpture, printmaking, pen and ink, graphite, etching, and painting. In the years following, he took classes in stained glass, paper making, etched glass, and jewellery making. Over the years, Henry taught himself how to do airbrushing, silversmithing, digital art, and enameling. Henry designed and created numerous silver rings and other jewellery projects, but mainly he enjoyed painting. He started out in oils and acrylics, and most recently was enjoying watercolour painting. He loved the positive feedback on his work, and it spurred him on to do more. Just months ago, he finally joined the Cochrane Art Club and was looking forward to exhibiting at their annual spring exhibition and sale, which we enjoyed attending every year.

 

A major career change came in 1991 when Joanne and Henry opened THE CAT HOUSE INC., a cat specialty retail store in Calgary. For over 24 years the store grew steadily and doubled, then tripled in size. In 2015, their store was destroyed in the big Stadium Shopping Centre fire, along with five other businesses. After losing the store, Henry continued to help run the business online with Joanne, despite his many health challenges.

 

Henry had a true love of cats and even surprised Joanne with a kitten while they were dating. Once married, they went out in their first week to adopt a kitten... but came home with two. Over the years, they have cared for and treasured eighteen cats, totalling 200 human years of love and affection, not to mention laughs and entertainment. They were more than pets, they were family.

 

The motorcycle years must be mentioned because Henry absolutely loved to ride, and he was able to enjoy it for about ten years. Just the sound of a motorcycle excited him. He used to say that motorcycle riding saved his life. It was true because after a serious riding accident, the scans revealed Stage IV cancer, a terminal diagnosis. Much to everyone's surprise and joy, he survived sixteen more years with decent quality of life, without recurrence or treatment. Henry really beat the odds and we were thankful for these extra years.

 

Henry loved to play poker with his buddies at the Cochrane Legion and often regaled his brother Roman with stories of enjoyable evenings with friends. Roman and Henry talked on the phone more than once most days. Roman was such a good caring and patient brother.

 

Henry enjoyed watching movies and TV, including all kinds of sports, especially football. He and Roman both played on the St. Francis High School team. Henry's favorite movies included World War II stories, action films, and British detective shows. He was drawn to comedy and especially loved British humour. He loved to laugh and make others laugh.

 

Henry appreciated the internet - a delight for the curious mind. He was constantly learning about art, space missions, the cosmos, history, anthropology, archeology, art history, knives and knife making, living off-grid, and cooking - he was interested in so many things. He enjoyed visiting art galleries, museums, and historical sites. Henry also liked reading, listening to good music, and going to concerts and restaurants with friends.

 

Over the years, Henry and Joanne travelled to Hawaii, Alaska, and California. They also travelled through at least a dozen more states on their way to visit family in Missouri. In 2016, they fulfilled a long-held dream of Henry's to go back to England. He was able to visit his childhood home, his elementary school, and a little museum dedicated to the coal mine his father had worked in. He also got to visit his cousin Robert and enjoyed getting to know him and his family. Henry and Joanne visited Mexico together and Henry returned to Mexico several times with friends.

 

Henry and Joanne spent many happy times at their little cabin in the woods in BC that his father and brother helped to build. There they hosted friends, enjoyed many bonfires, and got to know their neighbours and the surrounding area. Henry always felt better after a week or two at the cabin. When he started to "pine for the pines", we would go there and spend time outside every day just enjoying the sweet forest air.

 

Condolences received by Joanne include the following phrases "a kind gentle giant" and "a gentle, sweet bear of a man". A message left by a good friend on Henry's cell phone: "Have a great journey my friend. I am so much more because of your presence in my life. I miss you." Henry will be most remembered for his warm laugh and voice, his fun-loving nature, his art... so many things. Your words are appreciated, and memories are such a comfort.

 

Joanne found this poem in Henry’s computer briefcase a week after his passing. Henry is the author of the poem. It was hand printed and signed.

 

 

“Day”

 

You are the dawn

The sea of light

That ebbs & flows

At the shores of night

 

You are the morning mist

The disruptor of sleep

That envelops my mind

And pulls me from the deep

 

You are the warmth

The radiance of mid day

That lights my path

And guides my way

 

You are the twilight

The enticement to rest

That calls me home

And assures I'm blessed

 

You are the darkness

The sea of night

That ebbs & flows

At the shores of light.

 

 

Henry passed away around 6:00 p.m.

Twilight time…enticed to rest.

 

Henry is survived by his wife Joanne Wegiel (née Michaud), his brother and sister-in-law Roman and Eraine (nee Masson) Wegiel; his niece Mariah Matters (Aaron), and their sons Nikolaas and Jax; his niece Jessica Remanda (Nathan) and her three children, Justice Smith (Jade) and their son Maverick, Jordan Remanda and her daughter Ryelee, and Samantha Remanda (Dylan), expecting a baby in May. He is also survived by great-nephew Steven James Sorenson (Roni), Jamie-Lynn’s son.

 

Henry was predeceased by his parents Jozef and Ludwika (nee Kazanowska) Wegiel; and niece Jamie-Lynn Parmley.

 

A Celebration of Life will be held for Henry around the date of the spring equinox. Details will be posted early in March. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Henry’s family here.

 

In living memory of Henry Wegiel, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Cochrane, 369 Railway Street, Cochrane, AB T4C 2E2, Telephone: 403-932-4740.