It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Andy Tarnowski, resident of Grande Prairie, on Thursday, March 29, 2018, at the age of 73.

Andy was born on May 15, 1944 in Brest, Poland, to John and Anna Tarnowski. In 1950, when Andy was 6 years old, the family immigrated to Canada from Germany where he was raised on a farm near Woking, AB.

Andy’s first employment away from home was as a mechanic at Stojan’s Garage in Sexsmith, AB. It was during this time in 1969 that Andy met his soulmate, Barb McDonald. They were married on December 2, 1972 and made their home in Grande Prairie, AB where they have worked and resided ever since.

Andy’s employment over the years was as a mechanic for Doug Marshal Motor City, Canfor and Coca Cola until he retired at age 63. Andy’s passion for both farming and the mechanic trade kept him at his happiest. Even while he was employed in Grande Prairie, Andy’s love of farming had him return year after year to the farm where he grew up to farm for many years after his parents retired from it. In addition to farming, he also loved doing mechanic work so much that he would work his regular 8 hour job, then come home and do four more hours in his garage. Andy was an excellent mechanic and was the “go-to guy” to get an answer to any mechanical problem you could throw at him or fix anything put in front of him. Even after retirement, Andy worked in his garage until health issues prevented him from doing so. After that, he spent his time looking after their rental property and doing yardwork.

Up until a year ago Andy was still using his quad (they were his legs as he had difficulty walking) to keep the driveway cleared of snow. When he couldn’t ride his quad any longer, he would watch out the window and “instruct” his wife on how to shovel.

Andy lived a very rich life through food, work and play. He loved food and, in his opinion, his number one survival food was cabbage rolls and Kubasa (Ukrainian sausage).

Andy’s hobby was his passion for nature and the outdoors which often took him and his brother, Nick, camping, quadding and hunting and fishing to Two Lakes which they enjoyed for many, many years.

Andy enjoyed his family, especially his nieces and nephews who were very important to him. He had a fun-loving way of cajoling them to make them laugh. More than his nieces and nephews, Andy really loved to tease his wife (she was the most endearing person in his life) and get the better of her. Andy always made time for many and will be missed by many.

Left to mourn and cherish his memory is his wife, Barb of 45+ years, sister Pauline (Dennis) Smith, brother Alex (Maryann) Tarnowski, cousins, sisters in-law and brothers in-law, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Andy was predeceased by his parents John and Anna Tarnowski, brother Nick Tarnowski, sister in-law and brother in-law Carol (nee McDonald) Durrant and Alex Durrant, brother in-law Andrew McDonald, and father and mother in-law Gordon and Anna McDonald.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2018, at 1:00pm, at Oliver’s Funeral Home, in Grande Prairie, AB (10005 107 Ave). Lunch to follow. Interment will follow at a later date.

If desired, memorial donations may be made to Grande Prairie Hospice Palliative Care Society (Box 21215, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 6W7) or to a charity of one’s choice.