Peacefully at Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Hospital on Friday February 2, 2024 in his 95th year. Beloved husband of 65 years of the late Isabela; loving father of Stan (Kristina), Rick (Lizann), Anthony (Diana) and Peter (Teresa); proud grandfather of Alicia Kowalczyk (Michał), Renata Ramzia (Michał), Marek (Joanna), Michael (Laura) and Veronica; adoring great-grandfather of Anastazja, Ela, Teodor, Łukasz, Rhys, Stefan, Kasia, Julia, Lyra, Karina and Helena. Predeceased by his sisters Lilja and Izabela (Joseph) Wasowicz and lovingly remembered by many nieces and nephews and family in Canada and Poland.

Stefan was born July 14, 1929, in Rypne, in southeastern Poland, to Rudolf
Reitmeier and Maria (née Lewicka). The second world war uprooted Stefan and his family, and as a young boy he spent time in Austria, Germany, and Belgium where he lived with his father, mother and sister “Izia”.

Stefan sailed to Halifax, NS aboard the migrant ship “Fairsea” in 1951, and he was joined the following year by his parents and sister. Reunited as a family, they settled in Toronto, where he met Isabela at a social at a Polish hall. They shared a love for dancing and together they created magic on the dance floor for many years. They married in 1957 and started a family, raising four sons. Stefan played semi-professional soccer for the Polish White Eagles of the National Soccer League in the 1950’s and continued to be an enthusiastic supporter of the beautiful game throughout his life. For many years he was a member of the Senior Scouts “Krag Tatry” of the Polish Scouting Association in Canada and helped to construct the Franciscan Chapel in Kaszuby, Ontario. “Steve” was a long time employee of De Havilland Aircraft / Bombardier and CAW Local 112 at the Downsview plant and he often spoke fondly of the years he spent there and the many friends he made. He was an active member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga and the Kolbe Seniors’ Club. His greatest love was for the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing, and he especially enjoyed spending time at the “farma” near Huntsville.

Over the past 19 months Stefan enjoyed living at Beechwood Residence where he made many new friends. The family is grateful to the team from Home and Community Palliative Care Support Services – Mississauga Halton, and the nurses and doctors at Trillium Health Partners for their compassion and care during the past year.

Stefan was a loving father to his four sons, and a proud grandfather of five and great-grandfather of 11. His family was everything to him and the source of his greatest joy!

Stefan, Dad, Dziadziu, and Pradziadziu: you will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed.

In memory of Stefan, donations may be made to the Polish Scouting Association in Canada (Ontario) Inc.