Leonard Gluska

 Leonard Gluska, aged 84, passed away on Monday, June 15, 2026, leaving behind a profound legacy as a champion of education, community leadership, and northern development. He lived full out with purpose, passion, and commitment as a father, Gida, teacher, musician, farmer, businessman, municipal politician, community activist, and volunteer. Leonard could not have achieved so much without the constant support and encouragement of Margaret, his wife of 64 years. Together they raised four children of whom he was incredibly proud. He was also a deeply cherished “Gida” to his grandchildren and great-grandchild.

Leonard is lovingly remembered by his wife, Margaret (nee Finkaryk); his children, Brenda (Barry), Virginia, Brent (Kristal), and Gerry (Sheila); his grandchildren, Gunthar, Quenten (Monique), Steele (Corinna), Rhett, Emily, Bristol, Sarah, and Brenson; his great-grandchild, Atlas; his brother, Dennis (Melanie); and his nephew, Steven (Becky). He was predeceased by his daughter, Lori Lynn, and his parents, Fred and Lena Gluska.

A Boy from the Farm and His Music

Born on Sunday, July 20, 1941, in Grandview, Manitoba, to Lena (nee Ushey) and Fred Gluska, Leonard was raised on a farm where he learned the value of hard work through daily chores and long winter commutes to Rose Ridge District School by foot or by horse. His lifelong love for music sparked early. As a child, he would sit on the floor at night with his ear pressed against the family's battery-powered radio, listening to the Grand Ole Opry at low volume so he wouldn’t get caught.

By age 13, his musical adventures truly began. After saving up money to order a guitar from the Eaton’s catalogue and taking just three lessons from a neighbour, he joined a local band. Known initially as "the guy with the amp"—which he bought on payments from a music store in Dauphin—Leonard traveled across the winter country in a horse-drawn sleigh wrapped in his father's heavy buffalo coat. He fell asleep in the sleigh one frigid night and might have froze but for the loyal horse that knew his way home across the snowy fields. He later played in a jazz orchestra while attending Manitoba Teachers’ College and in the 1960s, he performed with the Melody Kings, broadcasting weekly live radio spots on CKDM Dauphin.

A Dedicated Educator and Champion of the Trades

After correspondence school for grade 9 and a year at Grandview High School Leonard wrote Provincial Exams for 2 grades at once before attending Manitoba Teachers’ College in Winnipeg at the age of 16. He began his 30-year teaching career at at Postup District School, a one-room country school where some of the farm boys vastly outweighed him. It was there that he met the love of his life, Margaret Finkaryk. They married on June 23, 1962, and moved to the Dauphin area before relocating to Benito in 1964 to operate a farm implement business.

Though a move to Cranberry Portage and Frontier Collegiate in 1970 was intended to last only a year, the North captured Leonard's heart. While teaching full-time, raising a family, playing in bands, and pursuing further education, he relentlessly pursued a Bachelor of Education through Inter-Universities North by driving to Flin Flon and The Pas for evening courses and summer classes in Bemidji, Minnesota and Winnipeg.

As an educator at Frontier Collegiate, Leonard developed pioneering practical programs in woodworking, small motors, automotive, metals, and welding. He fiercely championed the trades, integrating literacy, math, and self-confidence into his curriculum. He famously predicted the modern shortage of tradespeople, always asserting that the trades were an honorable and undervalued pursuit with high training standards, asking, "Would you want a guy who got 50% in his course to fix your car or build your house?"

Entrepreneurship and a Passion for the Land

While burning the candle at both ends on activities to improve northern communities, Leonard remained deeply connected to the land. Alongside his wife Margaret, he operated a family-based commercial grain and forage operation, custom agricultural services, and commercial trucking operations based in The Pas and southwest of Swan River. Despite his many titles and public duties, one of his favorite places was out in the field on the tractor as long as there was good cell service.

His love for the outdoors also made him an avid fisherman both in summer and winter. He went fishing every chance he could, often bringing his children along to strategically increase the family catch limit.

An Unstoppable Force for Northern Development

Leonard's passion for the North extended far into an extraordinary decades-long career in municipal governance. He refused to let northern communities be "sold short," operating under the firm belief that failure was never an option. He truly believed and asserted that the North, and especially its people, were a rich, untapped, and unrecognized resource with massive potential.

· Cranberry Portage (1970–1996): His local community involvement included the Cranberry Portage Community Club, the Lion’s Club (organizing talent nights and community initiatives), and as President of the Wildlife Association he led membership growth and family programming. He served the Unincorporated Village District for 26 years, including 12 years as Chairperson. His fierce advocacy helped delivered the Main Street Project, the Cranberry Portage Skating Arena, senior and low-cost housing, the Wellness Center, the acquisition of a Manitoba Hydro building for just $1 to serve as the town shop and emergency hall, and a 7 year process to acquire the old train station for the Cranberry Portage Museum.

· RM of Kelsey & Regional Leadership (1996–2021): Elected Reeve of the LGD of Consol (now the Rural Municipality of Kelsey) in 1996, Leonard drove critical infrastructure milestones. He was instrumental in negotiating with Manitoba Hydro for financial settlement related to backwater effects from the Grand Rapids Hydro dam and much essential infrastructure such as the lagoon and waste agreements, Rural Water Pipeline development,  the replacement of the Carrot River (Halliday) Bridge, prevention of the closure of the Grace Lake Airport, and an agreement with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation for fire protection services. He envisioned a coalition to build a primary highway between The Pas and Nipawin, SK to support tourism and movement of grain and wood products.

A David and Goliath Vision for Churchill: For many years and especially recently, he poured his immense energies into an effort to recognize and establish the Port of Churchill as a major shipping hub for prairie grain producers to reduce shipping costs. He firmly held that farmers should be able to market and ship their own grain by using The Pas as a railhead to the Port of Churchill via the Hudson Bay Railway. Facing heavy opposition from big corporate interests and political inertia, Leonard persisted through it all, calling the plan a complete "no-brainer." He also served as a founding member of the International Board of Directors of the Central North American Trade Corridor, the Hudson Route Associations and other committees, ensuring northern inclusion through to Churchill.

Expressions of Gratitude

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the many healthcare workers in the Northern Health Region and the many specialists in Winnipeg over the years, the Flin Flon General Hospital for the kind, compassionate care they gave Leonard. Thank you to the many friends and neighbours who have reached out with condolences. Your support means more than you can know during these difficult days.

Вічна пам'ять * Vichnaya Pamyat * Forever Remembered

PRAYER SERVICE

Monday, June 29, 2026    8:00 pm

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, The Pas, MB

Presider: Fr. Shantha Gandamalla

FUNERAL SERVICE

Tuesday, June 30, 2026    1:00 pm

Frontier Collegiate Gymnasium, Cranberry Portage, MB

Presider: Fr. Paul Bringleson

INTERMENT

Cranberry Portage Cemetery, Cranberry Portage, MB

RECEPTION

Legion Hall, Cranberry Portage, MB

PALLBEARERS

Gunthar Lundie, Quenten Lundie, Steele Gluska,

Rhett Gluska, Bristol Gluska, Brenson Gluska.

HONORARY PALLBEARERS

Family:  Emily Monaghan (Granddaughter), Sarah Monaghan Granddaughter), Barry Monaghan (Son-in-law), Kristal Gluska (Daughter-in-law), Sheila Sorochan (Daughter-in-law), Steven Gluska (Nephew), Tom Magnowski (Cousin), Ken Magnowski (Cousin), Dean Yaremchuk (Cousin), Micheal Lesanko (Cousin)

Former Students: Dennis Bruce, Dennis Hatch, Ross Petznick, Lyndon Kosmenko, Darren Smale.

Friends: Bryan Lundie, Don Bjornsson, Bruce Dodds,

Gary Wesner, Marcel Ens, George Lumax, Chris Huydema,

Bob Stillborn, Don Fyck, Roman Cherko, Boris Nowosad,

Linus Chartrand, Arden Kozmenko, Gordon Kozmenko,

Mike Spence and Everyone else who knew Leonard.

MEMORIAL DONATIONS

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leonard’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or Ride for Dad.