May 3 1941 – March 29 2023
William is survived by Norma his wife of 59 years, son Dean, daughter Kim (Greg) Ftoma, and granddaughter Mackenzie. He is also survived by his brothers Henry (Doreen) and Edward (Ola), and sisters Esther and Helen, and many nephews and nieces. He was predecessed by his parents Julius and Maria, brothers Rheinhold, Rudolf, Emil, Adolf, Fred, Harry, and sisters Anne and Marge.
William was born and grew up in Green Oak Manitoba, where he enjoyed life working and having fun with his siblings and friends on the family farm. He went to Green Oak School (he had to walk 3 miles to school uphill both ways! ..as dad used to say), and then attended high school in Beausejour, working after school, and playing high-school football. William was ambitious and a hard worker, moving to Winnipeg to work and became a journeyman electrician which he dedicated his life to, volunteering and working with his local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union (IBEW) becoming treasurer, office manager and president. He worked for many contractors, up north on Manitoba Hydro projects as well as various industries in Manitoba, Ontario, BC and the USA. He spent some time with friends working in the pool industry constructing swimming pools.
William met Norma in 1962, and got married in 1964. They first lived in East Kildonan and then Transcona starting their own family, and then finally settled down in St. Andrews where he built the family home with the help of his brothers and nephews. He was very handy, always made time to help family, friends, and neighbours constructing houses and garages, doing their electrical as well as carpentry and plumbing, never expecting anything in return. He enjoyed going to his brother’s and nephew’s farms to help with the harvest in the fall.
After retiring, he spent lots of time out at Kim and Greg’s Brereton Lake Resort, building cabins, renovating and fixing the resort, helping them get the resort up and running.
During his life, he enjoyed getting together with family and friends, swimming, gardening with his wife, waterskiing with friends, fishing, watching hockey and football – a diehard Jets and Bombers fan. He volunteered umpiring and helping with girls baseball when his daughter played in St. Andrews. He enjoyed travelling with his family and for IBEW business, seeing much of Canada, the US, Hawaii and Bermuda.
Through his life, William made more friends than we can ever know, with everyone having a great story to tell about “Bill”.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Selkirk Regional Hospital and the Dialysis unit, as well as Betel Care Home in Selkirk Manitoba for all their compassionate care. William passed away at Selkirk hospital on Wednesday March 29 2023 at the age of 81.
He enjoyed reading the Bible during his life. He had the hope of living God’s promise in Paradise Revelation 21 3, 4 where there will be no more “pain, sorrow or death”.
A service will be held for William on Monday, April 24 at 11:00 a.m., in the chapel of Voyage Funeral Home, 220 Hespeler Ave at Henderson Hwy.
9 thoughts on “William Reske”
R.I.P. Bill
My deepest condolences for the Reske family.
Debbie
R.I.P
it was alway a plesure working with you at ABCO,
You taugh me so many life skill that i still used today.
many good times
Dear Auntie Norma, Dean, Kim & Greg & Mackenzie,
Our most sincere condolences to all of you. May the precious memories you have of your dear husband, dad and grandpa bring
your peace, comfort and strength during this difficult time of loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
My most sincere condolences to your family. I had the pleasure of having worked with Bill for many years in the IBEW. He was an excellent tradesman with so much knowledge to share. I learned a lot from him and he taught so many others on how to be an excellent electrician. I was happy to run into him many times in his retirement at Brereton Lake Resort and catch up with some old stories. May you rest in peace Bill, you will be missed by many.
Bill was a friend, brother, mentor, officer of our great local and a great tradesman. I was one of many that had the good fortune to know and work with Bill.
As the current Business Manager, I would like to send our membership’s condolences to the family. Bill helped make positive change for the good of all members and we will be forever thankful of his contributions.
Rest in peace brother❤️
Dave McPhail.
Bill was a true mentor to many skilled electricians in IBEW Local 2085. His craftsmanship and finger prints are all over Manitoba on the projects he worked on . His leadership in the union was valued more than he would even realize or admit to , both by management and ibew members.
I had the pleasure of working with Bill as an apprentice in the early 90’s along with my father Peter, who also adored Bill both as a craftsman and as a genuine great human being.
I know Pete will be there to welcome you Bill with a shot of Whiskey “two fingers high” at the pearly gates. God Bless you.
Russ Shewchuk, International Vice President IBEW CANADA.
Dear Reske Familiy,
We were very sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. May you find comfort with family, friends, the congregation and the promises that are held in the holy scriptures. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time and we look forward to seeing him again.