Lorne Chipelski

During a rare blustery winter storm on September 20, 1950 parents Steve and Sophie, and older brother Larry had great difficulty making it to Russell for the birth of their second son, Lorne Chipelski.

Lorne began his education in a one room school at Seeburn where he attended grades 1-8, travelling by horse and cart or by pedal bike in summer and by horse and van in winter. From there he attended grades 9-11 in Angusville, and in 1968 attended Russell high school where he graduated grade 12.  

From a young age Lorne worked hard alongside his parents and brother Larry on their family farm south of Angusville until 1968, when Steve and Sophie retired from the farm and decided to move to Russell. Brothers Lorne and Larry continued to work together on their farm and began expanding their operation.

Starting as a young boy and as he grew up, Lorne was involved with many activities including hunting with his dear friends, known as Uncle Matt’s gang. Fishing on many different lakes in the area with friends and family. Trapping with his Dad and brother in his earlier days and with his sons as he grew older. Curling in many local bonspiels with his brother Larry and close friends even during the most adverse weather conditions. He also had a love of music and learned to play the fiddle from his father and enjoyed playing a tune for his family until he no longer could. Lorne had tremendous talents and a love for hockey and baseball.  Lorne played hockey with the Angusville Flyers as a goaltender but his greatest passion was baseball. Lorne played catcher and center field for the Angusville Cardinals dynasty in the 1970’s. Lorne was extremely dedicated, if no one could drive him to Angusville he would hop on his bike and pedal the 5 miles to town to be sure not to miss his    practice or game.  Lorne was honoured to be part of the Manitoba Provincial   Championship team that travelled to Camrose Alberta to compete at the Western Canadian Championships in the summer of 1972 where they came up short losing in the championship final. Upon their return home the community hosted a banquet in the teams’ honour and this is when Lorne went on his first official date with the  future love of his life, Leona Swereda.

Three short years later, on July 12, 1975 they were married in Sts. Vladimir and  Olga church in Angusville, which he had assisted in the construction of.  Later that year they were blessed with their first born son Ian. Two years later in 1978 their family expanded with the arrival of their second son Aaron.

In a small house with a growing family Lorne and Leona made the decision to build a new home in 1981 which was extremely challenging at the time considering their loan carried a 19% interest rate. In 1983 their family expanded once again with the birth of Andy and in 1986 their family was completed with the birth of their fourth son Steven.

In the late 80’s with both having young growing families Lorne and Larry decided to part ways and farm on their own. Lorne continued to farm with his sons until 2001 when he decided to take a step back and assist his sons as they assumed the farming operation.

At that same time he began a new chapter in his life, with his eldest son Ian. They began a custom trucking business “Chipelski Transport”.  Lorne studied hard and practiced and at the age of 53 he got his class 1 license.  

For the next several years Lorne drove truck and worked along side his sons helping out with the cattle and grain farm operation right up to the fall of 2021 when he began to feel ill and with a broken heart he had to step away as he was no longer able to help.  

While raising his family many winters were spent travelling thousands of miles to hundreds of hockey games to watch his 4 boys play, whether it was a peewee game in St. Lazare or a Junior game in Yorkton, Lorne always found time to go watch his boys.  However his proudest moments as a hockey Dad was having the opportunity to watch all 4 of his boys play together for several years with the Foxwarren Falcons.

As the years passed and life began to slow down, Lorne started to enjoy the simpler things in life, especially his grandchildren.  Lorne and Leona were blessed with 7 grandchildren. Josh and Amy, the children of Ian and Trish. Adam, Haley, and Luke the children of Aaron and Andrea, and Brookelynn and Kimberly the daughters of Andy and Anna. His priorities were no longer spending long hours on the truck or in the tractor but were replaced by    spending time in the garden with Leona on his John Deere garden tractor or with his grandchildren. Many hours would be spent standing over the workbench in his red garage fixing things that his kids had broke, repairing a grand kids bike tire or modifying one of  his many inventions or creations that he had built. There wasn’t too much he couldn’t fix.

Lorne had a great love of animals. He had a passion for raising and caring for all types of livestock. He always made sure that his chickens, pigs, horses, cows and calves were always well fed and sheltered.  A tame milk cow was always around right to his passing.  He loved his home made butter, cottage cheese, milk and cream that was readily available. 

Although Lorne didn’t like being away from home for too long, over the years he and Leona would travel to several destinations including road trips into the United States and  cruises in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico and his favourite one being his cruise to Alaska.

Lorne was very dedicated to his Catholic faith, was a determined, strong willed person, and would never give up or back down from any challenge. This was evident at the age of 60 when he overcame his prostate cancer diagnosis.

Of all Lorne’s accomplishments there was none he was more proud of than his family and being able to work alongside his sons throughout the years helping to lay the foundation for the success his boys have today.  Even with his rapid deterioration of his health, nothing would give him more joy than a house full of his kids and grandchildren. With the help of family working together Lorne was able to have his final wish to remain at home for his final days. In the late hours of Friday, May 27, Lorne peacefully passed away with family at his side.

Today we are saying good bye to a husband, father, gido, brother, uncle, and dear friend.  Although he may be gone now in body, his spirit, memories, and the legacy that he leaves behind will live on for many years to come. His   remaining family takes comfort in the fact knowing that he is off to a better place where he is now at rest. So in closing today we are not saying good bye but see you later. May you rest in peace.

Vichnaya Pam’yat