Ivan Edward Thomas Pollock
January 9, 1950 – May 17, 2022
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, Dad, Poppy, son, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, cousin and friend.
Ivan will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 52 years, Susan, son Kelly (Corrine) and daughter Shannon; grandchildren, Carter, Gabrielle and Katherine. He will also be missed by his brothers Lorne (Debra) and Harvey (Isabel) and sisters Elaine Gridley, Linda Brant, Darlene (Bob) Chawrun, and sister-in-law Manon Pollock; Mother-in-law Elsie Leonzio, Brothers-in-law Don, Dean (Dana) and Dale (Gladys) Leonzio and sister-in-law Sharon (Gary) Skomoroh; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.
Ivan is predeceased by his parents Tom and Mae, brothers Stan and Ron, sister-in-law Lyne Pollock, father-in-law Rocco Leonzio and brother-in-law Doug Leonzio.
Ivan was born in Dryden on January 9th, 1950, to Tom and Mae Pollock, where he lived most of his life, with a few years in Cameron Falls, ON and Grand Rapids, MB.
Ivan was the 4th child of 8, growing up in North Dryden, attending Albert Street, Hillcrest, Riverview and Dryden High Schools.
Ivan was an ambitious, intelligent, kind, caring, witty and stubborn man. Throughout the years, Ivan earned the nicknames of Wise Owl, Igor, Silver Fox and Gentle Heart.
Ivan began his working career at the age of 12 with a paper route followed by jobs as Pinsetter at Stan’s Bowling Alley, delivery person at Reimer’s, Ontario Hydro, Manitoba Hydro, the Dryden Mill under various ownerships, CP Auto Sales, Euler Motors and officially retired from Weyerhaeuser in 2015. Ivan was also a 1st Aid and CPR instructor through St. John Ambulance and the Heart and Stroke Foundation for 25 years.
Ivan met Susan Leonzio in 1966 and they were married in October 1969, having 2 children, a son, Kelly, in 1971 and a daughter, Shannon, in 1975.
Ivan enjoyed traveling, fishing, hunting, camping, attending concerts and live theatre, carving, wintering in Mesa, Arizona and making fishing tackle for the family business, Great Northern Tackle.
In Ivan’s “spare” time, he also enjoyed restoring antique cars, being a member of the Road Runners and Vintage Wheels Car Clubs and being part of the pit crew for Ray Lapointe at the stock car races. He was also an active member of the Dryden Lions Club, holding various positions locally as well as District Governor of 49 Lions Clubs throughout Northwestern Ontario and Northern Minnesota. Ivan will be greatly missed as a volunteer in our community.
In 1989, Ivan received recognition as a Serving Brother of St. John Ambulance from Her Right Honourable Governor General Jeanne Sauve for service to St. John Ambulance.
Ivan’s ultimate pride and joy were his children Kelly and Shannon and his grandkids, Carter, Gabby and Kat. He was often found creating blanket forts, building LEGO’s on the floor, playing cards, singing songs at the campfire, telling or making up crazy stories, going to Disney, camping at Williams Bay and loved making waffles for breakfast.
Ivan could “spin a good yarn”, was known for telling jokes and was always “pulling our legs.”
There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place.
A Private interment will take place.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 2 p.m. at the Unifor Hall (Old Ukrainian Hall).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tamarack House or the DRHC Oncology Department through the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Avenue, Dryden, ON P8N 2X3
Condolences may be made to www.dcfh.com
