Gary Kenneth Joseph Mushumanski

Garry Kennith Joseph Mushumanski aka ‘COON’ was born on February 26, 1956, in Russell, Manitoba, and passed away on October 13, 2023 in Russell, Manitoba at the age of 67. Family members and friends knew Garry by his childhood nickname ‘COON’ because of his dark features resembling that of a racoon while his siblings had light colored eyes and hair. He was the second eldest child out of six from the Mushumanski clan.

Coon grew up on the family farm 8.5 miles north of Angusville, Manitoba that is located on the west side of Silver Beach Lake as well as on the southern edge of Riding Mountain National Park, where he learned at a young age how to trap, fish, and hunt. Garry went to Lima School, a one room country school about 1 mile from home, later, attending Angusville Elementary School and then Major Pratt Collegiate in Russell, Manitoba. He spoke both English and Ukrainian. During his late teenage years and early twenties, Garry worked in a nickel mine near Waboden in Northern Manitoba, and then in construction and on the oil rigs near Edmonton, Alberta.

Garry spent most of his adult life living in Brandon, Manitoba until moving back home to Russell at the beginning of 2023, residing at Russell Personal Care Home. Coon loved to listen to rock n’ roll music, his favorite band being The Tragically Hip, and was known for his pot belly from eating too many pierogis, his witty jokes and his goofy laugh that would get everyone going.

Garry is predeceased by his parents Charles (1979) and Carol (2015), and brother Dennis (1977). Left to mourn are his surviving brothers Rik, Raymond and Russell; sister Joanne Balog (Louis); nephews Dennis (Mafel), Jesse (Veronique) and Joshua (Jaimie); nieces Samantha and Laura; and great-niece Madison.