Casimir Peniuta, 72, ‘marched to his own tune’

Joie de vivre, French for exuberant joie de vivre, had Casimir Peniuta in abundance.

Father, grandfather and teacher, Peniuta was a lifelong learner with an infectious desire to know just about everything.

At the age of 10, Peniuta came to Canada with his family from Poland and settled in Gimli until he went to university and went on a world tour. Geography, languages ​​and politics were among his interests as he turned to teaching, first in rural Manitoba, then at the Louis Riel School Division in Winnipeg and for a decade at St. Amant.

Joanna Blais met and married Peniuta in 1980 while working as a speech therapist in the school system.

“It was quick,” she says. “We have both worked with children with special needs. Our son is now a psychologist in the Louis Riel School Division. Our daughter lives in Montreal and does medical research. Both children inherited his brain and ability to speak. That was a wonderful blessing.”

Peniuta taught students with special needs and took on the challenge of finding the best learning methods for each student. For him, learning wasn’t always confined to a classroom or bound by rules. His classrooms were full of aquariums, mushrooms, insects and animals.

His family remembers a time when he would take his St. Amant students to pick and crush berries to make a bottle of wine for each of their parents and always found ways to make learning fun and exciting.

“He decided it was really important for all the kids to have a Halloween experience,” says Blais. “Even though we had two young children, he picked up the class children for Halloween. It was all about “What can you do” and not about “What can’t you do”.

“From there he worked with children who were struggling, children who were at risk. His whole philosophy was that we expect as much as possible from you: “You guys are going to learn science, math and writing, and we’re just going to do it.” Over the years we’ve met them, kids who now had a job . You would say such nice things to him. The students trusted and respected him. He had such an impact.”

Peniuta’s insatiable thirst for knowledge led him to winemaking, sailing, picking mushrooms and berries, and collecting radioactive rocks. He was a fountain of knowledge and trifles and could talk to anyone about anything and embrace the learning process through any obstacle or challenge.

“He was the most inquisitive man you’ve ever met,” says Blais. “He was a real Renaissance man. He had a million interests.

“He was an accomplished artist; he was a musician (guitar, harp and piano) and spoke four languages. He was never boring.”

Peniuta spent the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic deciding to expand his knowledge of algebra.

“There was always something he would learn, even in retirement. He could throw himself in 100 percent and decide that he would learn everything. Eventually he decided to build instruments,” says Blais, who has a high regard for his handmade musical instruments, harps and flutes.

“His favorite saying was, ‘If you don’t know how to do it and you want to do it, you have to learn how to do it.’ That’s how he was with his students, kids, grandkids… He loved being a grandpa. When they wanted to pick frogs or go for a walk, he loved it. As far as interest in adventure went, he was something of a perpetual five-year-old. He had a really bad case of ADHD; his story could have been very different if he hadn’t had good teachers,” says Blais.

“When you raise a family with someone who doesn’t stick to a schedule for very long… we joked a lot that I have three kids. The mad scientist kind in him, fascinating, reading everything. He was 65 and doing a headstand.”

Cliff Carefoot and Peniuta taught together for many years and were sailing buddies for decades.

“He asked me if I would like to take a sailing lesson with him. We liked it so much that we took another sailing lesson,” says Carefoot. “I bought a sailing boat which I kept in Gimli.”

From that point on, the two men discovered trails, bogs and beaches, explored lakes, scenic spots and the wilderness around Manitoba and beyond.

And then there was the canoe ride.

“He talked me into joining him,” says Carefoot. “We paddled back from Grand Forks, ND. We had to approach it creatively. It took us 6 1/2 days… He pushed people to test themselves, to think a little further than they could on their own.”

Carefoot remembered the time he spent with his friend and Peniuta’s unique approach to life.

“He would think outside the box; Guidelines should be tested. Cas would just make these things up and want to pursue these things. He would go to the limit. He was very supportive; He listened to the individual and was willing to discuss most subjects from religion to the universe,” says Carefoot.

“He built three telescopes. He wanted to watch the stars, he loved the stars… I expected him to live longer. He was so energetic and so full of life. He marched to his own tune.”

Peniuta died unexpectedly of pneumonia on June 12 at the age of 72.

“At his funeral we had his homemade wine and everyone toasted,” says Blais. “He was ahead of his time with a brilliant mind, kind heart, creativity and love without limitation.”

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