Obituary for MAX PLANK
Max Marian Plank was better known as “Pappa Max” for his kindness, gentle demeanour and his acceptance of all. He was born in Grudziądz, Poland to Marian and Zofia (Bratkowska) Plank and lived his youth in Torun, Poland. He remembers his last walk through his favourite park at the onset of WWII, which in his own words “was lined with the beauty and scent of Linden trees”; with his mother, father and sister by his side he stated that, “This was such a perfect life and it will never be the same; we will never walk this park again!”. He served in the Polish Army during the war which instilled discipline and athleticism which he practiced to the end.
At the end of the WWII, Max moved to Dorset, UK for a short period of his life. He shared many stories of his love of the English countryside, vast beaches and Fish’n’Chips. In 1949 he set sail from Southampton to start a new life in Canada. Originally living in Winnipeg, Manitoba he met the love of his life Lucy (Skok) Plank.
Max was a dedicated family man who would do anything for his wife and children. He married Lucy on July 5, 1952 in Welland, Ontario and eventually settled in Toronto. Together they had 4 children. Loretta, Arthur, Elizabeth (John Dionne) and Maxx (Luka Michalak). He was proud to be a grandfather to 5 grandchildren and so happy to have a close relationship with his grandson, Eric. His niece, Emily McAteer lived just around the corner growing up and was treated like a daughter. He lived near his sister Janina (Stanley Chojnowski) and would visit regularly to discuss politics. His niece Mary (David) Corbett would eventually move to California and would be fondly referred to as the “Family from California”, a destination that was very special to him.
Pappa Max loved adventure and travel; especially to warmer climates as he never liked the cold. California was his dream destination to settle. Other fond trips were his return to Poland in 2008, Hawaii, Cuba and attending many national and international Figure Skating Events, to mention a few. Other interests and hobbies included politics, current events, musical theatre and boxing. He enjoyed going up to the cottage as much as possible and when in the city, he would always be in High Park, Christie Pits or Allen Gardens. “Life is Beautiful; Nature is Magic!” was his signature phrase. When he lost substantial eyesight due to Macular Degeneration, he was determined to continue to read and did this ever so patiently with a magnifying reader.
Pappa Max worked very hard to make a life for himself and his family. He worked various jobs day and night to provide for a good life. He remembered one job (steel factory) where the temperature was so hot that it melted the soles of his shoes. Being very handy, he also bought and flipped many houses over the years and ran several rental properties with Lucy. In the evenings, he took additional courses in order to attain a career position at Spar Aerospace as an Aircraft Instrument Technician until his retirement 35 years later. He regularly kept in touch with his colleagues now known as “Unifor Local 112” and attended his last Christmas Party there in 2019 with his good friend Richard Fijalkowski.
Visitation will take place at G.H. Hogle Funeral Home, 63 Mimico Avenue, Toronto, ON, M8V 1R2, Tel: (416)-251-7531 on Monday November 22, from 10am to 11am. Capacity will be limited to 35 due to Covid-19 restrictions so please RSVP on the Funeral Home website. A Funeral Service will take place at 11am immediately following the visitation.
Max will be laid to rest at Prospect Cemetery at 12:30pm following the Funeral Service. 1450 St. Clair Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6E 1C6, Section 32.
Everyone is invited to return to the funeral home after the interment for a Celebration of Life luncheon.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care.
(416)-586-4800 or www.ticpc.org to fill out a donation form.
At the end of the WWII, Max moved to Dorset, UK for a short period of his life. He shared many stories of his love of the English countryside, vast beaches and Fish’n’Chips. In 1949 he set sail from Southampton to start a new life in Canada. Originally living in Winnipeg, Manitoba he met the love of his life Lucy (Skok) Plank.
Max was a dedicated family man who would do anything for his wife and children. He married Lucy on July 5, 1952 in Welland, Ontario and eventually settled in Toronto. Together they had 4 children. Loretta, Arthur, Elizabeth (John Dionne) and Maxx (Luka Michalak). He was proud to be a grandfather to 5 grandchildren and so happy to have a close relationship with his grandson, Eric. His niece, Emily McAteer lived just around the corner growing up and was treated like a daughter. He lived near his sister Janina (Stanley Chojnowski) and would visit regularly to discuss politics. His niece Mary (David) Corbett would eventually move to California and would be fondly referred to as the “Family from California”, a destination that was very special to him.
Pappa Max loved adventure and travel; especially to warmer climates as he never liked the cold. California was his dream destination to settle. Other fond trips were his return to Poland in 2008, Hawaii, Cuba and attending many national and international Figure Skating Events, to mention a few. Other interests and hobbies included politics, current events, musical theatre and boxing. He enjoyed going up to the cottage as much as possible and when in the city, he would always be in High Park, Christie Pits or Allen Gardens. “Life is Beautiful; Nature is Magic!” was his signature phrase. When he lost substantial eyesight due to Macular Degeneration, he was determined to continue to read and did this ever so patiently with a magnifying reader.
Pappa Max worked very hard to make a life for himself and his family. He worked various jobs day and night to provide for a good life. He remembered one job (steel factory) where the temperature was so hot that it melted the soles of his shoes. Being very handy, he also bought and flipped many houses over the years and ran several rental properties with Lucy. In the evenings, he took additional courses in order to attain a career position at Spar Aerospace as an Aircraft Instrument Technician until his retirement 35 years later. He regularly kept in touch with his colleagues now known as “Unifor Local 112” and attended his last Christmas Party there in 2019 with his good friend Richard Fijalkowski.
Visitation will take place at G.H. Hogle Funeral Home, 63 Mimico Avenue, Toronto, ON, M8V 1R2, Tel: (416)-251-7531 on Monday November 22, from 10am to 11am. Capacity will be limited to 35 due to Covid-19 restrictions so please RSVP on the Funeral Home website. A Funeral Service will take place at 11am immediately following the visitation.
Max will be laid to rest at Prospect Cemetery at 12:30pm following the Funeral Service. 1450 St. Clair Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6E 1C6, Section 32.
Everyone is invited to return to the funeral home after the interment for a Celebration of Life luncheon.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care.
(416)-586-4800 or www.ticpc.org to fill out a donation form.