Wrestler, police officer, diver.
Born on 5 September 1936, he came to Canada from Central Europe in 1951 with his stepmother, Adolfine “Lina” Stojke (1913-2001). His father, Oskar Stojke, a single parent at the time, had died in the first days of the Second World War in Poland. Upon arrival in Canada, he worked at his uncle's farm at Waldersee. He then joined his mother in Winnipeg, where he attended school to learn English. He acquired a stepfather when Adolfine married Wilhelm Reich at Winnipeg in 1953.
A man of imposing stature, Stojke spent ten years as a popular amateur wrestler known as “Mr. Clean.” In 1962, he and fellow Manitoban Ole Oleson, a former professional wrestler, formed a partnership as a tag team in the local amateur wrestling scene. Meanwhile, he was an employee of Winnipeg Hydro for several years, and then joined the Winnipeg Police Department, where he worked in several divisions for over 27 years. He was instrumental in the formation of the WPD Search and Rescue Dive Unit. During the winters, together with friend Brian Stevenson, he trained teens and police officers to be certified scuba divers, ending with their certification dive at West Hawk Lake. He also volunteered year-round with the WPD Police and Pal Program, and spent many summers taking teens into the wilderness for a two-week canoe adventure.
He frequented the Central YMCA, where he was well-known and admired for his impressive physical strength, especially in the bench press. He also enjoyed the family cottage at Lee River, and hunting trips with friends. Despite his tough exterior, he was appreciated for his kindness and gentle nature. With his wife, Angie, whom he married in 1965, he had one son.
He died at Winnipeg on 2 July 2012 and was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.
Obituary [Adolfine “Lina” Reich], Winnipeg Free Press, 1 September 2001.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 6 July 2012.
“Armin H. Stojke,” Hunter Family Tree, Ancestry.
“Ole Oleson,” Wrestling Epicenter.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 17 September 2026
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