Obituary of Marin Čapkun

Marin Čapkun of Konjsko, Croatia, and Burlington, Ont., passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 16, 2020, surrounded by loving family who were present for his final moments.He will be missed by his wife of 58 years, Zdenka Tonka; his sons, Jozo (Zrinka) and Ante (Wendy); his daughters Katarina (Dan Hunski) and Maryann (George Jurcich); his grandchildren Daniel, Heidi (Goran), Marinko (Caity), Marko, Jamie, Justin and Clara; great-grandchildren Linea and Adrian; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws—both in Canada and Croatia—too numerous to mention.There will be a visitation for Marin Čapkun on Saturday, February 22, at Glen Oaks Funeral Home, 3164 Ninth Line in Oakville, from 2 to 5 pm (plus a Recitation of the rosary at 3:30 pm). Join us in the lounge at 5 pm for refreshments.Please note, this is NOT a funeral service. According to his wishes, we are sending Marin overseas back to Croatia. We will conduct the funeral service in his beloved Konjsko, and there lay Marin to eternal rest.IN LIEU of flowers, please consider arranging a Mass in Marin’s memory.A lifetime of legacy...Marin left his birthplace of Konjsko in the 1950s, sailing to Canada aboard the SS Vulcania. A few years later, he returned to his homeland and found a loving bride who was willing to join him in Canada and start a family.For some years he worked in the mines (Kirkland Lake, Rouyn-Noranda, Virginiatown), then made his way to Toronto where he embraced the drywalling trade. This would be his “official” career until he retired but, because he was so good with his hands, he was also a mechanic, electrician, plumber, roofer, painter, bricklayer, welder, gardener, vintner, and more.And he was always willing to bring his talents to whoever needed his help.Whether it was history, the trades, language, faith... he loved to learn, and especially loved to teach what he knew to his children and in-laws who passed through his house, and later to his grandchildren.Upon winding down his drywall business, Marin embarked upon a daring retirement dream: he would spend the remainder of his days building a house in his birthplace of Konjsko. In the late 1990s—with his wife/helper by his side—Marin began constructing his labour of love using the know-how he had accumulated over the years... and he succeeded.Please take a moment to sign the online guestbook.