IN MEMORIAM: Walter Reszytniak
May 28, 1940 - June 11, 2022
Walter Jacob Prokopenko Reszytniak at age 82 passed away peacefully on the morning of June 11, 2022 fishing in Collingwood, Ontario Canada. Walter is survived by son Peter and wife Carrie, daughter Tania and husband Ihor, as well as grandchildren Zoe, Moonya, Vika and Veronica, as well as sisters-in-law Raisa, Valentina, Tamara, and Kathy, brother-in-law Victor, many nieces, nephews, along with their children and many beloved friendships. He will now join his dearly departed wife of 55 years Ludmyla in another realm. Ashes to ashes. Memories are forever.
Walter's spirit for life was intensely passionate, his heart pure and compassionate, his attitude optimistically infectious, his work ethic tenacious, his conviction and word iron clad, his will herculean, his friendship lifelong, his love unlimited and his aura immense. "Sure Thing Wally" leaves us with priceless memories and the treasure of how to live life. May his wings soar in heavenly peace.
"The treasure of a life
Is a measure of love and respect
The way you live, the gifts that you give
In the fullness of time
Is the only return that you expect
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect"
N. Peart
BIOGRAPHY
Walter Jacob Prokopenko Reszytniak was born in Kirovograd, Ukraine on May 28,1940 to Jacob Prokopenko and Natalie joining his two older siblings George and Catherine. Jacob passed shortly afterwards. Natalie married Andrew Reszytniak and the family of five migrated throughout Europe to settle in Colmar, France as displaced war refugees where Walter's formal education ended with a techical mechanical engineering degree. After applying to the US and Canada, they arrived in Toronto, Canada in 1957.
Walter's first job in Toronto at the age of 17 was cleaning venetian blinds for $0.75/hr. He quickly realized that by working longer hours he could make enough to provide food and pay rent for his entire family. He eventually landed a job working in a tool and die shop building subcontracted components for the Avro Arrow fighter jet. He discoverd an error in the engineering schematics and was immediately promoted to oversee Quality Control. After the Arrow project ceased he was transferred to the plastics division of Lido Plastics where he managed all aspects of the manufacturing of garden hoses.
Walter eventually met Lydmyla Podopryhora and were married October 5, 1963 residing in Etobicoke, Ontario. They had two children - Peter and Tania. In 1983 the family of four moved to a self built home where Walter resided the rest of his life.
Walter was a devout husband, father, grandfather and friend. Walter founded Super Plastics in 1974 and was a global leader in garden hose manufacturing based providing expertise throughout the US and China. He was actively involved in the Ukrainian community throughout his life generously donating time to the St. Volodymr Cultural Center in Oakville Ontario, St. Volodymr Ukrainian Othodox Church in Toronto as well as various other Ukrainian philanthropic endeavors.
Walter was a builder, a community leader, an inventor, an engineer, a skilled fisherman, a gardener and an intrinsically motivated doer. His passion for family, Ukrainian heritage, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, friends and life was a driving force embedded in all his pursuits.
"Give someome a fish and they will eat for one day. Teach someone to fish and they will eat forever."