Bukowski, Zbigniew (John). May 10, 1936 - October 8, 2012. It is with great sadness to announce John's sudden peaceful passing at home on October 8th, 2012. Father to daughter Misha and son John, son-in-law to Maria and former spouse to Isabel. John will be forever loved and greatly missed by his best friend and life partner, Donna Byrn along with all his family and friends. John was born on May 10th, 1936 in Poland. At the age of 3, in 1939 his family was deported to the Soviet. Under the amnesty agreement in 1941, 389,000 Polish citizens were freed from the Soviet. He recalls his father being in the military however had no memories of his mother. John at the age of 5 without parents along with other Poles were part of the evacuation that made the long journey from the Soviet to a Polish Orphanage Camp in India. He lived in India until he was 12. In 1948 he left Bombay by ship for the U.K. as arranged by England's Red Cross. He lived at boarding schools in England then attended Lilford Technical School graduating as a Machinist. He lived and worked in London. Around 1960 he came to Canada by ship. In Montreal he got a position with Air Canada. After his first winter he decided to drive Route 66 to California. Spent some time in LA before taking the train to Vancouver. Started working in logging camps when he arrived in B.C. In 1967, he married and had two children he was most proud of and lived in Burnaby, BC. Worked several years with Finning Tractor before starting his own business and then retired. John enjoyed playing shuffleboard. Many players called him "Golden Arm". He enjoyed times with friends at Army Navy Clubs #314, #298 and #100, RC Legion #48, #83, #228, Hope Eagles and the Firefighters Club with many years of membership. In 2009, John moved from Burnaby to Yale, BC. He enjoyed the outdoors and gardening. Avid fan of all sports. In John's eyes, the Polish teams were always the best.
A Celebration of John's Life will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 24th 2:00 pm at the Firefighters Club on 6315 Bonsor Ave., Burnaby, BC. Donations may be made to a Children's Charity. Gone from our sight but not from our Hearts.