Eric Lewicki

Eric passed away on March 10, 2021 in the Nanaimo General Hospital at the age of 89.  He will be lovingly remembered by his loving wife of 67 years, Dorothy Lewicki; his grandchildren, Courtney Meeker and Jordan Meeker; his niece Debbie Lewicki, his nephew Darrell Lewicki, his “bratty daughter” Lisa Stockton (children Jacob and Zack) as well as close family friend, Blair Shinski.  Eric was predeceased by his parents, Jeannie and Michael Lewicki; brother Johnny Lewiski; sister Mary Wojtowicki; niece Ursula Wojtowicki and his beloved daughter, Donna Meeker.

Eric was born in Hubbard, Saskatchewan, on December 20, 1931. His family moved to a farm in Carlowrie, Manitoba, in 1944 and from there they moved to Winnipeg.  After graduation, he started his career with the Hudson’s Bay Company, apprenticing as a chef.  He moved with the Hudson’s Bay to work at their Calgary location where he met Dorothy, who also worked at Hudson’s Bay.  After many years with Hudson’s Bay, Eric took his amazing chef skills to work in a camp in Whitecourt, Alberta.  He held many chef positions over the years in Calgary and then opened a restaurant in two Husky Gas Station locations in Medicine Hat and Swift Current.  He also ran food stands at the Stampede in Medicine Hat in the summers and would often “employ” his niece Debbie during her summer visits.  Eventually the family made there way to Vancouver Island where Eric had his last chef job at the Log Cabin Restaurant.

Eric loved life.  He was a huge sports fan, particularly when it came to watching his grandchildren play hockey, baseball, football and was voted number one fan for his consistent attendance at all practices and games.  He loved people and his routine of visiting all three grocery stores in Parksville to poke fun at the staff.  One of his favorite times was the “social distanced happy hours” that we would have in his back yard, where Eric would be surrounded by the ones he loved amongst the flowers and grass his nurtured over the years.  He loved fishing and loved to smoke his own salmon in his backyard “smoke house”.  He was a skilled wood builder – making tables, cabinets, foot stools and bird houses and would often be found tinkering in his garage.  He always had a great sense of humour and would give anyone the shirt off his back.  Eric missed his daughter and his brother tremendously when they passed away and we know he is at peace with both of them.  The family would like to thank all the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff at Nanaimo General Hospital who supported him in his final days and for Yates Memorial for their kindness and support to our family