Charles Louis Kopetsky

          Charlie Louis Kopetsky, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2025, at Brandon Health Centre  in Brandon. Born on July 8, 1930, in The R.M. of Shellmouth, Charlie was predeceased by parents Adolf Kopetsky from Poland and Anna Emily Marshall from R.M of Shellmouth-Boulton.

          Charlie did not have an easy life growing up. I remember as a young boy, going to their place on the farm. His mother was my Dad’s sister married  to my Mom’s brother. She was stricken with MS quite early in her life. I remember Charlie and his sister and brother having to basically look after themselves, as their father had to keep the farm going. I remember my Mom going over there quite often to help the children with housekeeping chores.

          After growing up, Charlie farmed with his brother. Things were progressing quite well until their father, Uncle Adolf passed away. Then, because of health conditions and then debt, the farm had to be liquidated.

          It was the year of 1954 when Charlie purchased a brand new car. It was a two-tone Plymouth model Fury, which was quite fancy at that time. He was very proud of it. I was good friends with him, and that summer, we drove to a wedding in Winnipeg; Charlie, and another cousin Willie Freier, and myself cousin Bert. The wedding was in a church in downtown Winnipeg. None  of us farm boys were familiar with the city, but we did have a map and I was the navigator. Driving with Charlie in Winnipeg was an adventure to say the least. While I was looking at the map, telling Charlie which way to turn onto a certain street, he would make another turn and would get lost again. We eventually found the church, but the wedding couple were already walking out. We then followed someone to where the celebration took place, and we enjoyed the wedding reception. On the way home, we fueled up in Winnipeg and kept driving. We noticed the fuel gauge was getting quite low. We encouraged Charlie to stop at a gas station to fuel up, but he said no because he thought that we could make it home. We were just west of Foxwarren and the car needed a drink and stopped.

          These are a few stories of my cousin, Charlie. As I said earlier, he did not have an easy life, but lived to the age of 94+.

          May the good Lord and Saviour shelter him in his arms. I’d like to close with this well known verse from the Bible: John 3:16

          “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

          Charlie, till we meet again, rest in peace.

Submitted by,

Bert Marshall