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KONOPAKI

January 20, 2007

KONOPAKI 1918 – 2007 Mr. John Konopaki, beloved husband of Mrs. Mary Konopaki of Red Deer, passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at the age of 89 years. He was born on January 10, 1918 at Bienfait, Saskatchewan to Fred and Nettie Konopaki. John worked in the coal mines for years as a young boy. He met Mary Lylach at Estevan, Saskatchewan. They were married in October of 1941 and were then posted to Red Deer in the Second World War, where he worked in the Camp Administration Office in the File Room. At the end of the war, John and Mary worked at the Club Café and by 1947; they decided to open their own restaurant business called the Peacock Inn. The Peacock Inn on Ross Street opened for business on Saturday, May 1, 1948. John and Mary had one child, Cindy born in 1959 and continued expanding their business to include a visit from Colonel Harland Sanders to persuade them to start a K.F.C. Franchise. John and Mary started serving Kentucky Fried Chicken in their downtown restaurant and expanded their restaurants and K.F.C.’s to eleven locations by 1980. Cindy and her late husband, Barry, worked and helped run the locations until the present time, where Cindy and her eldest son, Christopher still operate and manage all the seven K.F.C. locations in Central Alberta. It was through John and Mary’s hard work, time and perseverance that their business became successful. John retired in 2001, due to a stroke, but continued to mentor and coach Cindy and Chris along. He remained an active and vital part of the business until his passing. He will lovingly be remembered by everyone. He is survived by: His wife of sixty-five years, Mary and their only child, Cindy Mandrusiak of Red Deer, Alberta, six grand-children; Christopher, Stephanie, Angela, Julianna, Brenden and Spencer, all of Red Deer. He is also survived by three brothers, Walter and Helen Konopaki of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Wrally Konopaki of British Columbia and Bill and Lenore Konopaki of Penticton, British Columbia, one sister- in-law, Sophie Hegre of Estevan, Saskatchewan, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents, Nettie and Fred Konopaki. All are welcome to come and pay their respects at Eventide Funeral Chapel, 4820 – 45th Street, Red Deer, Alberta on Monday, January 22, 2007 between the hours of 7:00 and 8:30 p.m. A Public Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 6 McMillan Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Garden of Divinity at the Alto-Reste Cemetery, Red Deer, Alberta. If desired, Memorial Donations in John’s honour may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta and N.W.T., 101, 5208 – 53rd Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 5K2. Condolences may be forwarded to the family at www.eventidefuneralchapels.com Service & Interment Providers: EVENTIDE FUNERAL CHAPELS 4820 – 45th Street, Red Deer. Phone 347-2222. "DOWNTOWN RED DEER"