We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Walter Gryba (Ret’d) of Dauphin MB at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre on 25 November 2006 at the age of 88 years.

Walter was born in the Municipality of Gilbert Plains MB near Dauphin and attended the one-room school Tartakiw School. He worked on the family farm until the outset of the Second World War when he moved to Ontario for work. Walter enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in Toronto ON in 1941 and served in Canada, the United Kingdom, Sicily and Italy. He was wounded in action and returned to Ontario in 1944, got married and worked at Gelatin Products in Windsor ON.

Walter returned to Gilbert Plains in 1948 and farmed on 400 acres he had acquired in 1950. He was active in the community as a school trustee for Valley River School and served on the Board of United Grain Growers. Walter and his wife moved to Dauphin in 1973 and continued running the farm until everything was sold and he retired in 1976. Walter was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Gilbert Plains Branch #98 for some 36 years and was a member of the Dauphin Branch #20 from 1986 onwards.

The Royal Canadian Legion Dauphin Branch #20 will conduct a poppy Service on Thursday 30 November at 6:45 PM followed by prayers at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday 1 December 2006.