Anton “Toni” Trgovcevic

On Monday, May 6^th, 2024, Anton “Toni” Trgovcevic passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family.  Predeceased by his loving wife of 62 years, Roswitha (née Strasser) (2023), loving father of Richard (Suzanne), cherished uncle of Susan Miletic-Mizzi (Paul) and Tayler Mizzi, and the best Dido ever to grandchildren, Kendryck Trgovcevic (Josh) and Eric Trgovcevic.

Anton was born in Svilaj, Yugoslavia on January 21, 1936.   Anton’s parents, Blaz and Eva Trgovcevic, had three children.  Predeceased by his brother Mato (1926 – 2001) and sister Janja (1928 – 2020).  Anton left Yugoslavia in 1956 to escape the communist regime.   He settled in Austria, where he met the love of his life, Roswitha Strasser.  They were unable to immigrate to Canada until passing a health check.  Unfortunately, Anton received a false positive for Tuberculosis and had to stay at a Tuberculosis hospital in the Austrian Alps.  During his two years in the Alps, he apprenticed to be a leather cobbler making shoes and purses.  Anton and Roswitha were finally able to immigrate to Canada in 1960.  The couple married and settled in St. Thomas, Ontario.  Anton worked in tobacco, construction and became a loyal Ford Motor Company employee.  He retired from Ford in 1998 after 26 years of service.

Family was always Anton’s first priority and the most important and sacred part of his life.  Anton and Roswitha had only one child, Richard.  Richard was the most important person in their lives.  They were so very proud of him.  Spending time together fishing, at the trailer in Long Point, watching Richard play high school sports (never missed a game), tinkering on equipment, any moment Anton could be with Richard brought him joy.

To say Anton was a people person would be an understatement.  He was well–known and his stories were legendary at Marina Shores in Long Point; this was Anton’s favourite place to be.  He would regularly disappear in the morning and then reappear for dinner after getting the low-down on the entire park’s latest news.  Anton would always be the first one to help out and also the first one to let everyone know how it should be done correctly.  There was nothing Anton would not do for his friends and family (except cook – thankfully Roswitha kept everyone well-fed).

Being of Yugoslavian heritage, his priorities were family, friends, food, togetherness, and Slivovitz.  Toni did not consider a celebration complete without svinjetina (pork) or prase (pig), a shot (or many more) of the traditional plum brandy, Slivovitz, and finish off with the dessert of palacnike and baklava.  You never left Toni’s company hungry, thirsty or bored.  When people say Toni was a one of a kind, he truly was.  Anton will be missed but never forgotten – he is a legend to his family and the many, many friends who loved him. Friends and family are welcome for visitation at Westview Funeral Chapel, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.  Interment at Woodland Cemetery at 12:00 p.m.  Reception to follow.  In lieu of flowers, donations in honour of Anton may be directed to the Canadian Cancer Society.