William (Bill) Ropchan passed away peacefully on November 25, 2018 at the age of 89 years. He is survived by his wife Dorothy; daughters: Sandi Anderson, Brenda (Bill) Ciccone; step-daughter Joyce (Les) Snell; step-sons: Dennis (Pat) Rendflesh, Terry (Pat) Rendflesh; grandchildren: Anthony Anderson, Kevin (Marianella) Ciccone, Mark Ciccone, Brent (Janice) Rendflesh, Trisha (Jeff) Hillaby, Brad (Samantha) Snell, Jaclyn Snell, Maddie Frank, Riley Frank; great-grandchildren: Eli Anderson, Paige Rendflesh, Tessa Rendflesh, Thomas Snell, Emma Snell as well as soon-to-be-born great-granddaughter Ciccone; brother Alex (Martha); sisters: Katie (Marion) Lukashyk, Mary Agnus and Anne (Eugene) Sheplawy.
He was predeceased by his first wife Isabelle; son-in-law Keith Anderson; great-granddaughter Patrice Ciccone; parents George and Sandra; brothers: Mike, Steve, John; sisters: Kay Abraham and Lil Sadoway.
Bill was born on a farm in Downing, Alberta on January 22, 1929. When he was 12, the family moved to another farm near Baptiste Lake, Alberta. He graduated from Athabasca High School in 1949, then helped his father build a pool hall in Athabasca. In 1950, Bill took a 24 hour bus ride to Chicago to attend DeForest Institute of Technology. Upon completion of the Radio & TV Electronics course, he worked for the Department of National Defence in Toronto, doing quality control on the manufacture of radio and radar equipment. Then he was transferred to inspect installation of communications equipment at various locations in Canada.
In 1955, Bill returned to Edmonton and worked at Edwards Electronics in Jasper Place. On October 8, 1955 he married Isabelle Taphorn. Sandi was born in 1956, then Brenda in 1959. In 1960, they moved to Hinton where Bill opened a TV store and helped bring TV to the town by satellite.
In 1963, the family moved back to Edmonton, Bill opened Eskimo TV Sales & Service (later to become Eskimo Video). The business operated until 1986, when Bill and Isabelle retired. In 1969, they purchased a cabin at Lake Isle. Most weekends were spent enjoying the cabin with family and friends.
Unfortunately, Isabelle suffered a heart attack and passed away at the age of 57.
On March 9, 1991, Bill married Dorothy Rendflesh. Bill and Dorothy travelled expensively and also purchased a time share near Canmore. Both Dorothy and Bill’s families have shared great relationships together., Thanksgiving in the mountains at Canmore was an annual event. Christmas, Easter and birthdays were celebrated together.
In 2014, Dorothy moved into the Good Samaritan Care Centre in Stony Plain. Bill moved to an apartment in Stony Plain to be near her. In September 2018, Bill suffered a heart attack in his home from which he never recovered.
“Those we love don’t go away
They walk beside us everyday.
Unseen, unheard but always near.
Still loved, still missed and held so dear.”
A Celebration of Bill’s Life be held at Hosanna Lutheran Church, 9009-163 Street, Edmonton, AB on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 1:30 P.M. Memorial donations may be made to The Alzheimer Society or the Good Samaritan Society.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de ROPCHAN William November 25 2018..
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta
