Allan Rosky

Allan Rosky

It is with a mixture of great sadness and a sense of consolation that we announce the passing of Allan Rosky, beloved husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

Peacefully, on the morning of Monday, February 23rd, 2026,  after a long and exhausting struggle with dementia, Allan departed. He now rests with his father Alex, mother Fern, brother Ray (Margaret Ann), and is also predeceased by his first wife Norma Jean.

Allan leaves behind his wife of 38 years Debbie; his loving children, Christopher (Rosean), Craig, Jennifer, Nikita, and Sarah Holland; as well as his grandchildren, Samantha (Dale), Rebecca, James, William, Harrison, Jacob and Mikaela; and great-grandson Damien.

He greatly enjoyed the time he got to spend with his nieces, Jill, Ashley and Katie; his nephew Rob; as well as the many sons and daughters of friends that frequently visited their Lockport home. They loved their time with him because he was never judgy, and always a regular barrel of monkeys.

The second son of Alex and Fern Rosky, Allan grew up on a farm just outside of Lockport, MB. He and his older brother Ray split their time between working on the farm, often picking potatoes, and getting up to no good. More than once, one might have found a long line of cars stopped along Henderson highway with barn nails in their tires. Rumor has it that young Allan may have made it a habit to mercilessly tease the cow his family kept tied to the tree behind the house.

The Rosky’s were a musical family, almost a franchise, with Alex on the fiddle, Fern on the piano, and both boys honing their skills on violin, guitar and the ivories. It was inevitable that Allan quickly became one of the most talented musicians anyone who played with him had ever met. Music wasn’t just another language to Allan, it was his first. His musical career quickly grew beyond gigs with his family in small local venues. Allan went on to play keyboard, violin and bass guitar in a plethora of bands over the years, everything from church groups to polka bands, garage gigs and at legions. There were weddings and New Year’s Eve socials, headliners and after-hours (not necessarily in that order). He was well thought of in the music community, renowned for his unique chord progressions. At the personal care home where Allan spent the last few years of his life, he often played piano in the common room for hours on end, continuing to play perfectly, even long after he had lost the ability to express himself with words.

When it came time to go to university and begin building a regular career, Allan and two of his musician friends chose to follow what was considered a rather unique path at that time. The three of them were among the first young men in Manitoba history to study nursing. Perhaps not so strange of a decision when one considers that the rest of the class was populated exclusively by young women. After three years, Allan became a registered nurse, and went on to achieve his Bachelor of Nursing in just one more year. Upon graduation, he spent some time teaching nursing at St. Boniface hospital, before moving on to a new career path at MONA, which would eventually become the Manitoba Nurses Union and was highly respected in his role as a Senior Labour Relations Officer for the MNU, making many life-long friends among his union colleagues and the managers he worked with throughout his long, illustrious career.

Allan spent his few years of retirement doing the things he enjoyed most. He travelled many times to Jamaica with Deb and his brothers-in-law Jeff and Mark. He continued playing in a few bands and he spent countless hours with Richard David and Ron Loutit creating and playing music. He was always there to help a friend or anyone and always ready for company.

Undoubtedly, anyone who understands Ukrainian hospitality knows that good food is woefully lonely without the accompaniment of good drink. The party started early at Allan’s with amazing food, drink and music aplenty. However, sadly, all parties must eventually come to an end. Dementia is insidious. As too many of us know too well, it begins with an almost comical absent-mindedness, advancing slowly at first, almost imperceptibly until it becomes undeniable. Though his family,made huge efforts to keep him comfortably and safely in his familiar and much-loved home, in the summer of 2020, the decision was made for Allan to be moved to the comforts and impeccable care of the staff and facilities at St. Norbert Personal Care Home. It was there that Allan lived out the rest of his days, with warm familiarity, well-being, and dignity. Dementia stole so much from Allan, and eventually stole him from all of us. Once his music and afternoon cocktails were no more, he was lost. He has now gone on to find his own peace, and there should be no doubt that when the time comes for each and every one of us, as it surely must, Allan will be there waiting, with a smile, a drink a lot of laughs … and, of course, music.

In accordance with Allan’s wishes cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, April 15th, 2026, in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel Selkirk, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Siloam Mission or Main Street Project.

Tributes: www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

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