MARAIN KACZMAR

Peacefully, with his family by his side, Marain Kaczmar, 59, of Fort Frances, Ont., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.
Marain was born Nov. 13, 1948 in Watenstedt, Germany. He moved to Canada with his parents when he was a baby.
Marain lived in several places in Canada before his arrival in Fort Frances at the age of 10, and has lived here ever since.
He graduated from Fort Frances High School and shortly after that, at the age of 17, started working in the local paper mill for 40-plus years until his retirement in 2006.
He married the love of his life, Linda Gosselin, on Oct. 17, 1970.
Marain was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a member of the parish council. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
After his retirement and shortly before he had become sick, he had taken an interest in curling and ice-fishing. He always looked forward to playing card games with his family and friends. Marain always put others before himself; he was a man of few words, so when he did say something, people would listen.
He and Linda served with the World Wide Marriage Encounter ministry teams for seven years until travelling started to interfere with family time.
Marain’s wife and family were the most important thing to him. His grandchildren were the apples of his eye. Whenever they were around, Marain would light up like a Christmas tree.
He always will be remembered for his green thumb and his love of gardening. He will be especially remembered by many for sharing his garden harvest, especially the garlic seeds that he gave to many friends and family to help them get started with their own garlic crop.
His garlic seeds have been spread and planted all over Rainy River District and as far as eastern Ontario.
Marain always looked forward to a fishing trip with the family and very much enjoyed his time spent out on Rainy Lake. He also enjoyed relaxing by the fire while camping, and when he and Linda weren’t camping, he would make an evening fire, in the pit, in the back yard and they would sit and enjoy.
He was predeceased by one infant daughter, Tammy; his parents, George and Tina Kaczmar; his in-laws, Sinai and Valentine Gosselin; brother-in-law, Robert Jones; two nephews, Craig Jones and Ken MacKenzie; and niece, Janet Gosselin.
He will be forever in the hearts and sorrowfully missed by his wife, Linda, and their three children, Michelle Kaczmar and significant other, Norm Pike, of Thunder Bay, Ont., Marin Kaczmar and his wife, Julie, and their children, Mikayla and Keegan, of Baudette, Mn., and Kristina Parkkari and husband, Miika, and their children, Anna and Hailey, of Thunder Bay, Ont.
Also surviving are his sisters, Sofia (Ken) Godin and Mary (Robert) Taylor, all of Thunder Bay, Ont.; sister-in-law, Denise (Dennis) Gratton, brother-in-law, Maurice (Jean) Gosselin, and sister-in-law, Yvonne (John) Baron, all of International Falls, Mn.; sister-in-law, Rita (Harold) Schutrop of Miinitonka, Mn.; nieces and nephews, Lucy and John Keetch, Ken and Stacey Godin, and Laura and Ed Maki, all of Thunder Bay, Ont., Gerald and JoEll Jones, Allen Baron, Rae Baron, and Sandy MacKenzie, all of International Falls, Mn., Roxanne and Randy Little of Littlefork, Mn., Vicky Jones and significant other, Pat Brash, of Wisconsin, Teresa and Brian Glatz of Andover, Mn., and Becky Holenko of Duluth Mn.; and many other great nieces, nephews and cousins too numerous to mention.
He also will be missed by his devoted pet cats, Dusty and Dolly.
Family and friends will be received Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Frances for parish prayers from 1-2 p.m., where a memorial mass will be held at 2 p.m. with Fr. Frances Pudicherry as celebrant.
The pallbearers will be Dennis Gratton, Marin Kaczmar, Miika Parkkari, and Paul Fraser. The honourary pallbearers will be John Baron, Sam Harnett, Malcolm Douglas, and Frank Ball.
Interment will take place at a later date.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Tamarack House or the St. Mary’s Memorial Fund c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com