Alexander Plonka Obituary In Loving Memory Of Alexander Plonka Alexander Plonka (Alex to anyone who knew him) passed away peacefully at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital the morning of July 5, 2024. Born in Fernie, BC, on July 17, 1951, Alex is predeceased by his parents Czeslaw and Aniela, and his niece JJ. Alex is survived by his wife Joyce, his sons Jarrett (Izabella) and Jason, his grandchildren Nathan, Henryk, and Emiliana, his siblings George, Stan (Carol), Tony (Josie), Anna (Bruce), and Helen (Frank), numerous nieces and nephews, and dozens of friends, former coworkers, and acquaintances who considered Alex to be second father or brother. Alex was born to Polish immigrants who settled in Canada after their World War II service in the Royal Air Force. Alex spoke proudly of growing up with very little, and earning his own way carrying odd jobs such as delivering The Vancouver Sun, moving furniture, and setting bowling pins in a bowling alley before machines existed to do it. When he was older he operated an autobody shop with his brothers, where began his lifelong love of hot rods. Growing up at the birth of the Rock 'N Roll era, Alex wanted to become a drummer, and taught himself to play by using bread knives on boxes until he had money for a drum set. He formed the band 'Midnight Confession' with his brother Tony and some friends, and they played at school dances and became the winners of Battles of the Bands in the South Kootenays. In 1969, Alex joined CIBC and began a career of over 40 years in banking. Shortly after joining, the bank transferred him to Dawson City, Yukon. Although he fought the transfer, Alex later admitted it was probably the best year of his life. When he wasn't working as a loans officer, he was making friends, serving as a volunteer firefighter, or playing drums at Diamond Tooth Gertie's. Alex returned to southern BC and worked in various CIBC branches. In 1977, he met Joyce Stark of St Paul, Alberta, whom he married in 1982. They eventually moved to Kelowna when Alex was transferred to a plum posting as the manager of the Capri Centre CIBC branch. He was 29. There, Alex developed a reputation as a 'fixer', and demonstrated his skill at uniting his team and turning struggling branches into top performers. He was transferred to Victoria, Campbell River, and finally Port Alberni in 1994, where he also served as president of the local Chamber of Commerce. Rather than move to Port Alberni, Alex settled in Qualicum Beach, where he remained for the last 30 years of his life. In the early 2000s, CIBC downsized, and Alex chose to become a mortgage specialist at TD, where he worked until he retired in 2013. Long after retirement, he remained a mentor to many younger mortgage and banking professionals. Alex had a busy life outside of work. In his younger years, he loved scuba diving, water sports, photography, and fishing. Most of all, he was a self-taught mechanic and woodworker, which were his passions. He built the majority of the furniture in his familys house, along with various gazebos, garden sheds, and children's play houses (including one for his grandkids last summer). In retirement, his favorite project was turning a storage unit he purchased into a 'guy garage' man cave where he spent his days working on restoring his prized 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS surrounded by personal and auto memorabilia. In retirement, Alex also joined the Seaside Cruizers car club, ultimately becoming its president, and the face of the famous Fathers Day Car Show. Alex was a devoted family man. He never missed a single Christmas concert, band concert, school play, baseball game, or other event. He firmly encouraged his sons to do their very best in everything they did, to study and to practice whatever they needed to, and he was unfailingly supportive of his sons and his belief in what they could achieve if they just worked hard. More recently, Alexs grandkids were his pride and joy, and his face beamed when he spoke of them, and he never missed a chance to shower them with hugs and "whisker kisses". Alex kept in touch with extended family as well, often using summer vacations to visit both his and Joyces family. In 2010, he took the trip of a lifetime to Poland with Jarrett and Jason to visit family and explore where his parents grew up. To all who knew him, Alex was a genuinely good guy with a big heart. He was always willing to lend a hand to family, friends, neighbours, or even acquaintances, with just about anything, and this was often the first thing people remarked when they learned of his passing. Many in the community saw him walking his daily miles around Qualicum Beach, and his friendly face and "hello" will be missed. Alexs funeral will be held at the Church of the Ascension in Parksville at 11 am on Saturday, August 24, 2024, followed by a reception and celebration of Alex's remarkable life at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider volunteering for the Seaside Cruizers, or making a donation to the renal unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Services Memorial Mass Saturday August 24, 2024 11:00 AM Catholic Church of Ascension 887 Wembley Road Parksville, BRITISH COLUMBIA V9P 2E6 Celebration of Life Saturday August 24, 2024 12:00 PM Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, Parksville