Born in 1922 in Wegzynow, Poland, Gene Gerwatoski was one of 3 sons of Peter and Florentyna (also spelled Florentynol, Florentina) Gerwatoski. In 1931 the family immigrated to Canada and settled in the DeBolt district in Alberta. Gene and his brothers Ted and Stanley helped build the log house for the family in 1933 with planks they sawed themselves. Gene did bush and sawmill work in 1940, but eagerly wanted to join the RCAF and be a pilot. However, his school marks were not high enough. In 1942 Gene volunteered to take his brother Ted’s place in the army, serving for 3 years. He was in training in Camrose and Victoria, also stationed in Goose Bay. Because he was Polish (not Canadian), Gene was denied some positions, such a paratrooper, and he had trouble being able to vote, (although finally he was allowed to vote). Even when the war with Hitler was over, Gene was still training for Pacific Antiaircraft and the Japan war. In 1946, Gene was able to become a Canadian Citizen. Gene met his future wife, Mary Gorski, through her brother Mike (with whom Gene was in basic training in Camrose), when Gene was invited to his house. Mary and Gene were married on February 19, 1949 in Athabasca. Gene and his brothers owned a sawmill starting in 1947. He also bought a section of land from the VLA. In 1951 the couple built a house. Together they had 6 children: Edward (1950), Peter (1951), Elizabeth (1952), Tom (1955), Albert (1959), and Florence (1963). In the winters, from 1947 to 1983, Gene also had a trap line. He started working on the pipelines in 1977, until he became very sick, and he and Mary moved to Grande Prairie in 1980. Being well again few years later, Gene worked in construction in Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, and Peace River. Mary and Gene travelled around the world: The Holy Land, Israel, Egypt, Greece, and USA, and a cruise to Bahamas. In 1988 they visited their homeland, Poland. Gene had a heart attack in 1994, and the same year both hips were replaced. Gene died in 2006 at age 84 in DeBolt AB.
Source: Bridges to the Past pp. 160 – 163 (family history); pp. 485-486 (Gerwatoski Sawmills)