{
  "id": 4131887,
  "title": "‘He lived to help others’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/he-lived-to-help-others",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T07:00:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/2026/08/29/he-lived-to-help-others"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Frank Kriz was a man who lived to help others, as evidenced by the numerous stories of his kindness and generosity throughout his life. Even though he never wore a halo or wings, those who knew him would swear he was a real-life angel. Frank was always there to lend a hand, whether it was fixing a wiring issue in someone's house or organizing a group camping trip. His close friend, Brian Turner, described him as \"a very special guy\" and said, \"There's no one like him that I know.\"\n\nBorn in Trebic, Czech Republic in 1948, Kriz grew up during a difficult time for most Czech families, as the country was still recovering from the aftermath of World War II and later faced Soviet invasion in 1968. Undeterred, Kriz emigrated to Canada in 1969 and settled in Winnipeg, where he studied to become an electrician at Red River College.\n\nDespite having a full-time job, Kriz served as the volunteer caretaker at Jocelyn House Hospice, visiting the facility daily to perform various tasks, such as rolling out garbage and recycling bins, filling bird feeders, and shoveling sidewalks. His dedication to Jocelyn House was recognized when he was honored at the organization's annual Sunday Supper fundraiser in May.\n\nKriz was born into a Czech family and remained deeply connected to his roots throughout his life. He was a tireless supporter of the Canadian Czech-Slovak Benevolent Association, serving as its public relations officer from 2019 to 2022 and as its president from 2022 until his passing on November 19, 2025. Many of his fellow Czech expats, like Bob Wenzel, fondly remembered Kriz for his help with tasks like cutting grass or shoveling snow.\n\nIn addition to his work with the hospice and the Benevolent Association, Kriz was an avid outdoorsman and the founder of the Friends of the Prairie Adventure Club, a group of Hydro employees, nurses, and teachers who enjoyed various outdoor and cultural events together. He was also an avid cross-country skier.\n\nThe impact of Frank Kriz's kindness and generosity can still be felt today, as his legacy lives on through the people he helped and the organizations he supported.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Frank Kriz lived to help others throughout his life.",
    "Born in Czech Republic in 1948, emigrated to Canada in 1969.",
    "Honored for volunteer work at Jocelyn House Hospice until death in 2025."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}