Oswald Igini

Oswald Karl Igini was born in Biggar, on November 19, 1929. The first son after 2 daughters to Alice and Oswald Igini. Growing up on the farm they all had chores to do. Cleaning the barn was one of their many chores. They weren’t very big in stature but they were given tasks like hauling feed in the winter by sleigh with horses from the Haffermehl place at least 6 miles each way. Ozy was in demand from neighbors and uncle Fred when an extra hand was needed.

Ozy attended Fairmont country school completing more than 2 grades in one year. He wanted to complete high school but correspondence was too much for the teacher. He always was interested in building things and enjoyed his Clydesdale horses. 
He had many skills and was a very capable worker. Some of his jobs included working at the roundhouse, he ventured to the bush in Ontario one winter, was a farmer and self-taught carpenter.

He started farming on his own up at the Lindgren place while still working for the CN. He was burned badly one night from an incident lighting a stove. It left him with issues in his legs that plagued him all his life. He got his own farm within a few years just across the road from the Igini farm where he grew grain and livestock. He was resourceful and times were tough so he tore down old structures to built outbuildings and grain storage. 

After Ozy married Verna, she and Penny moved out to the farm. Shorty after he built a new house and welcomed Cameron. 

On a trip out to BC many years earlier with Grandma Boescheler they travelled through Creston. Eventually the decision was made to leave the farm and move there. He enjoyed the climate especially and established himself. He built their home in his off hours from other carpentry work. 

Music and dancing were popular pastimes in his younger years. He learned to play guitar and the grain storage tank hosted many after hours dances where he was part of the band. He, just like most members of the family, were very capable and enthusiastic dancers.

He enjoyed gardening and his yard. Things were always maintained and to high standards. His aptitude and keenness for learning were evident throughout his life. Fixing watches and clocks inspired by his father later in life.  Always open to challenges most recently in building his apple gazebo.

His family, though small in number, were close at hand and he dedicated much of his time to aid them whenever he could. He enjoyed his annual hunting trips to Biggar with Cameron which provided connection to his siblings as well. He was joined on a few of these trips with his grand daughter Amber and Cameron’s partner Patti. In 2019, his final trip out, he celebrated his 90th birthday.

Oswald was predeceased by his wife Verna, son-in-law Brian, parents Oswald and Alice, brothers David (Mary), Albert, Rene, sisters Evelyn (Ralph Back), Verit (William Turkuk), Marguerite (Leonard Teichroeb).  Brother-in-law Norman, sisters-in-law Velma (Oscar), Lila (William), Margorie (Fred).

He is survived by his son Cameron (Patti), daughter Penny, grand children Amber, Daylene, Colin, and Kyle (Sarah) sisters Leona, Hedy and Yvonne and sister-in-law Vera

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