Bill Berlinic

Family & Close Friends

Graveside Service

July 21st

2:00 p.m.

Quill Lake Cemetery

Social & Lunch

Friday, July 21st

2:30 p.m.

Quill Lake Community Hall

Everyone Welcome

Bill was born on February 27, 1927, to Steve and Mary Berlinic in Ukraine, Russia. He came to Canada with his parents in 1929. He attended Gardenia School for one year and then Lakeview School for grades 2 to 9.
Bill worked mostly on the farm with his father. His first job off the farm was with the Hnatuik Bros., operating a D-6 Caterpillar cutting and piling bush for many farmers, moving into districts all over the province. He stayed with this job for several years.
In 1950, Bill purchased the SE½ 15-35-16 from C. D. Foster. In the fall of 1951, he married Mary Kursik. They lived with his parents for a short while. Most of the winters were spent at White Beach, Sask, in the bush, logging and cutting lumber. The first few years of farming were very difficult due to frost and hail, so most winters were spent working away to pay expenses. Eventually, they were able to purchase a small house and construct a few other buildings on their farm.
In the fall of 1956-57, Bill worked in Prince George, B.C., logging in the bush country. From 1960-63, he worked for the R.M. of Lakeview as a grader operator. In 1968, Bill went into business with his backhoe and gravel, which was purchased from Glenn Fitch, forming Berlinic Construction. He worked for Lloyd’s Manufacturing in Wadena as a welder in 1970 then in 1972, he worked for Cas Broda Construction as a mechanic at Lynn Lake, Manitoba, and another quarter of land was purchased from John Acton.
Bill and Mary moved in to town in 1978 where they lived in a beautiful home and maintained an equally beautiful yard. They moved back to the farm in 1994, where they lived in a trailer until they built their new house. They have lived there happily for the past 20 years.
Bill was always “on call” for water line breaks for the Village of Quill Lake and grave digging for Quill Lake and surrounding areas. He knew the cemeteries like the back of his hand and always dug with such precision and respect. He was known as a very skilled mechanic and welder. During the winters, Bill loved to repair and ride his Bombardier. He loved to plant and care for his sunflowers and they were kept weedless. Seeds were harvested to feed his beloved birds.
One of the annual highlights for Bill and Mary was going up to Tobin to pick blueberries with their good friends, Wingie and Rose Wong. Bill also looked forward to his annual fishing trips to Deschambault Lake with his good friends Johnny Martin, Ken Kursik, Milton Weigel and Mike Best, and more recently with his younger friends, Ron Kroeker, Ted Henrickson, and his nephew Mitchell Berlinic.
Bill even ventured into the world of politics, serving as mayor of the Village of Quill Lake for four years.
Bill was still farming his land until it was sold this past spring.
Bill and Mary have been married for 65 years and they remained on their acreage until his passing. They also resided at Caleb Village in Humboldt where the staff looked forward to him coming through the door to harrass them. He will be sorely missed.
Bill was a very generous man, a good neighbour and a hell of a friend. He donated the use of his 34 acres across from the P&H elevator to the Quill Lake Grow Project the last two years. The proceeds are returned back to events and groups in the community as needed. This is just one example of his big heart.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Steve and Mary Berlinic; brothers, Harry and John; in-laws, George and Haritona Kursik; brothers-in-law, Nicoli Kursik, Ken Kursik, Eric Blair and Dave Balantyne; and by many uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews.
Bill will be remembered for his bantering, his teasing, his contagious laughter and that smile. If he was bugging you, you knew he loved you.