Victor Wollmann
Obituary
Suddenly, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, Victor Wollmann, age 63, passed away at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre with his wife Susan by his side.
Predeceased by his parents Joe and Mary, Siblings Eddy, Joe, Dora and his son Savanh.
He is survived by the love of his life Susan, daughter Lindsey (David) Reya, Phoenix, Paige, Aria, son Tyrone (Lorelle) Hayley, Brooklyn, McKynley, daughter Julianna (Levi), son Donovan (Nicole) C’nedra, George, Rowena, Elodie, sons Kamla and Brendon. He also leaves to mourn sisters Marie, Sarah (Joe), (Marlene), Ester (Johnny), Edna, brothers Soloman, Bill (Lois), Cornel (Lila) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dad was born in 1961 in Winnipeg Manitoba and grew up on Springfield Colony in Norse, Manitoba. Dad left the colony at age 16. Growing up with 10 siblings and many cousins there was always many adventures to be had, from breaking dishes and painting walls with honey, sneaking out to watch the hockey games at the neighbours, stealing piglets from the colony to sell to the neighbours for extra cash, throwing explosives into the river to catch fish and more endless stories from his childhood.
Dad had many jobs over the years including working on a dairy farm, pig farm, welding, stuccoing, concrete finishing and in 1986 started his own concrete business – Vic’s Concrete – which he had up until he officially retired in 2022. Dad made a lot of lasting friendships through his concrete business.
Dad met mom in 1983 and very quickly fell in love. They started dating in August, got engaged on Valentines Day in 1984 and were married on June 9, 1984. They made their home in Lydiatt, Manitoba, had 4 children and then moved to their family home in St Ouens, Manitoba. There they raised all 7 children. Church and his faith were very important to him and St Ouens Church became their family. Dad was always involved in church usually being an usher and he was the first one to make a bee line for anyone new to welcome them in.
Dad loved fishing along the river beside their family home and a high light every spring was to take all us kids down the river to Kenbro Dam to catch the suckers. Dad enjoyed being outdoors fishing, hunting, trapping, sitting around a fire with his family and friends every night and snowmobiling. One time Dad and uncle Lorne thought they would prank Donovan and Tim on their sleds. Dad rigged or ‘wollmannized’ a police light to the front of his sled and they went out to find the boys. They snuck up behind Donovan and Tim and turned on the light pretending to be the police chasing them until they figure it out. Another time Tyrone told dad the sled wasn’t working and was slow, so Dad took it out to prove it was fine. He took it down the driveway to the road and on his way back went full throttle. He came around the corner, sliding out into a donut, spun 3 times legs out and hair flying, flipped the machine and dad went sliding off it. He causally got up and told Tyrone it works fine and don’t tell mom.
Dad was always a prankster. Given the opportunity he would always have some sort of prank to pull on whoever he could. At home he had a collection of firecrackers just waiting for the right opportunity to scare guests that came over.
Dad got the riverbank shaved down to make us a beach area. Sand was hauled in and we spent many hours in the water. It became a destination spot for many friends and neighbours tubing down the river. He was so creative with cement and built stairs down to the beach a couple years later as we all loved to spend our time by the river. In winter, Dad would always make us a rink for our famous broom ball games. He built a huge slide down the riverbank that we always looked forward to having every year. Dad and mom became known for their huge New Years parties with sliding and broom ball outside and visiting inside with homemade chilli and hot chocolate. Often upwards of 75 people would come and go all day long.
In 2000, Dad and mom started a bluegrass group called Virginia Ridge with their friends Norman Voss and John and Irene Plantz. Through the years others like Mike Cahill joined. They traveled as far north as Hay River, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, to Branson, MO, Southern California and even Israel. They had many adventures on the road including polar bears, mud roads, broken down vehicles, praying for miracles, poor navigation that led to the 4 of them huddled in a hotel room bathtub sheltering from an oncoming tornado and all lived to tell about it.
In 2017, Dad and mom moved to Richer, Manitoba where Dad built with his own hands their retirement home. Dad enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren playing board games, giving quad rides and spoiling them with sweet treats. Dad looked forward to his retirement years and found so much joy in his later years with his family.
Dad was a very forgiving person and never held grudges. He made lifelong friendships and was always the first one to welcome new neighbours to the community. He never would ignore a phone call and if anyone needed help, he was there. It didn’t matter what it was, you could always count on him. Dad left an impact on everyone he met from his friends to single interactions with strangers and always made everyone feel welcomed.
In his later years sharing his faith with anyone who would listen became so important to him. He never missed an opportunity to share with a stranger or someone close to him. He would read his favourite Bible verses, share wisdom with his children and friends and made sure we all knew how much God loved us. God’s love shone through dad to everyone around him and he made a huge impact on so many lives.
Forever in our hearts, forever missed, until we meet again.
A come and go viewing will be held from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Crossing Funeral Care. as well as at the church, one hour prior to the service.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the St Ouens Country Church, St Ouens, Manitoba, with the Interment and reception to follow.
