Sydney (Syd) Lloyd Pukalo

1933 – 2024 

Syd passed away peacefully on January 28, 2024, age 91 years at Holy Family Home, Winnipeg.

Syd was predeceased by mother Anne, sister Evangeline Bolianaz and father William.

Syd is survived by Marie, wife of 69 years, son Rick & wife Valerie, brother Bill & wife Louise Pukalo, sister Jeanette Block, grandchildren; Nicole & husband Travis Kirton, Adam & wife Leanne Pukalo, great-grandchildren; Wade Kirton, Alice Pukalo, and

numerous nieces and nephews. 

As a young boy Syd was first raised in Prawda Manitoba surrounded by his maternal family (Dmytrow). He had fond memories of talks with uncles and often accompanying an uncle with “how to” lessons scouting his animal trap-lines.

While Syd was elementary school age the family moved near the village of Bird’s Hill Manitoba residing on Rebeck Road with his paternal relatives. He attended the old Bird’s Hill School which is now the site of Sobey’s grocery.

When junior high school age Syd was energetic and hardworking. For years he had a daily Free  Press paper route (with pickup at Bird’s Hill Post Office) that regularly put change in his pocket. His route was from north of Bird’s Hill and south as far as Elmwood. Delivery during summer was fine on his bike, although trecking on foot in winter was less so. Another regular job after school and during summer months that lasted into Syd’s mid teen years was attending at a family’s mink ranches. He was regularly at one location just south of Bird’s Hill and occasionally working reinforcement duty at their other on Henderson Hwy. a bit north of Hoddinott Rd. Syd’s fondness for animals blossomed as the generally poorly characterized mink entrusted him with petting and scratching. 

At a young age Syd enjoyed playing sports, including baseball and hockey. His love of competition continued for many decades through curling. The Winnipeg oil companies’ league, regular men’s leagues and later senior men’s leagues gave him great joy of friendships and achievements.

Syd always had an interest in good physical health. It began at the age of 12 years. From the back cover of a comic book he sent away for the famous “Atlas Workout Program.” That was what pointed his life in the direction of physical fitness for himself, family and friends. 

Syd’s dedication to other’s well being was multifaceted. In the early 1960’s he worked part-time in Winnipeg’s first franchise gym, American Health, instructing members on proper techniques of weight-training. Upon their abrupt closing, Syd took to his home basement gym instructing womens’ weight-training classes four evenings a week. Syd found time weekends to part-time instruct weight-training in the sporting goods department at The Bay in Winnipeg’s downtown. 

In 1960 Syd competed and won titles of Mr. Manitoba and Mr. Western Canada. He set power-lifting records that stood for years before the steroid explosion. Syd was rigidly set against any chemical enhancements. He took the reins of making local competitions happen at the Red River Ex for many years. It was his way of  “giving back”. Early on, this farm boy and then the man, had physical fitness bolster his confidence to accomplish anything he chose. 

Syd judged bodybuilding and power-lifting locally (including the 1967 Winnipeg Pan American Games). He later moved on to judging Mr. Universe contests world wide.  Within this system, he personally encountered nepotism and corruption. He would not bend a knee to the expected narrative. Syd abandoned these competitions on principle.

Syd’s full-time work life began at age 18. He went west to Kitimat British Columbia working construction at an aluminum smelter plant. Returning to Winnipeg in the early 1950’s he worked as a pipe-fitters helper firstly building Milner Ridge Correctional Centre and then North Star Oil Refinery in St. Boniface. Upon the refinery’s completion in 1955, Syd was hired as an operations employee. In 1961 Shell Canada purchased the refinery where Syd remained until his retirement in 1983. The interim of 1970-80+ years he worked as a refinery manager in charge of safety/loss prevention. Syd kept busy in retirement. He could be found working in his yard, at Sal’s with grand-kids having a drink and “chipies,” attending Nicole and Adam’s soccer and hockey games, enjoying the cottage in Grand Marais, walking the shore of Grand Beach in conversations with family, and daily coffee outings with Rick. 

A Special Note in Syd’s life – of his dedication to helping others, specifically involving a  6 year old Winnipeg boy. In 1964 the boy’s parents met Syd about their dilemma. Their son David had enormous physical challenges from birth that specialists said no therapy could help. And, that David should be put in a home and forgotten about. They disagreed. Syd disagreed. He took on the challenge. (backstory @ google – “motivator Zig Ziglar about David” and see “you were born to overcome life’s challenges”) A gym was set up in the families basement. For one intense hour, every day of the year for a decade+, Syd drove across town to motivate and train David. Successes began and over the early years exploded beyond the wildest imaginations of the specialists. Syd always referred to David as his “protoge”. He knew the young boy had special standout talent and was an upcoming powerhouse to great levels of physical and mental successes. David has gone on to prove Syd’s assertions. Physically his life involves everything that we all do regularly. David’s mental acuity has brought him extreme successes in real estate. In recent years, he has had  enormous achievement in self-employed businesses. Syd liked to think that he had some positive affect on David’s moral life compass toward David having his own loving, successful family. Syd and David had close working and personal relationships that spanned the time from “a 6 year old boy” through to Syd’s last 24 hours of life.

A Special Note from grand-daughter, Nicole — Syd (affectionately known as “Pop”) loved his grandchildren Adam (Leanne) and Nicole (Travis) very much. He instilled in them the value of hard work and stressed the importance of education from an early age. Pop was generous in this regard, and ensured that his grandchildren were given the opportunity to study and obtain any goal that they had. It’s because of Pop’s values and generosity that Adam and Nicole are where they are today.

Pop also had two great grandchildren (Wade and Alice). Although he met them later in life, there was no mistaking the love in his eyes when seeing them or looking at their pictures.        

Pop will be remembered fondly by his grandchildren as always having a cheeky remark, being able to have serious conversations whenever necessary and stressing the value and importance of hard work.

We love you, Pop. Thank you for everything. You will be greatly missed.

Syd spent the last 3 1/2+ years of his life at north-end Winnipeg’s Holy Family Home. He was lovingly cared for. Thank you very much to the many staff that touched his heart.

Syd dealt with dementia. Those wishing to make a donation on his behalf can do so through the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

At Syd’s request, cremation has taken place and no service will be held.

—- Rest In Peace, Pop / Dad / Syd —-