Memorable Manitobans: Paul Pura (1914-1999)

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Paul Pura
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Educator.

Born at Winnipeg on 14 September 1914, son of Ukrainian immigrants Roman Pura (1866-1942) and Anna Pura (1877-1961), he attended St. John’s Technical High School and the University of Manitoba. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He was mentioned in dispatches and his name was brought to the attention of King George.

Following his military service and discharge in May 1945, he returned to Manitoba and married Rose P. Dressler (1914-1987) on 22 September 1945. The couple had four children.

He continued his career in education and was Teaching-Principal at Steep Rock School (1947-1950) and Whytewold Beach School (1950-1952). He was then Principal of Woodhaven School (1952-1964), Birchwood School (1959-1964), Assiniboine School (1964-1965), and Britannia School (1966-1979) in the St. James School Division. He also served as President of the St. James chapter of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society.

He died at the St. Boniface Hospital on 25 February 1999.

Sources:

1921 Canada census, Ancestry.

Obituary [Roman Pura], Winnipeg Tribune, 1 October 1942, page 5.

Obituary [Anna Pura], Winnipeg Tribune, 10 May 1961, page 64.

Obituary [Rose P. Pura], Winnipeg Free Press, 25 October 1987, page 26.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 27 February 1999, page C13.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Nathan Kramer and Murray Pura for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 9 August 2020

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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