For Posterity's Sake Genealogy 

The Canora Courier

09 May 2007

MANDZUK  MATWIJECKZO  OKRAINETZ  OKRAINETZ

Canora Courier, May 09, 2007 Page 12 - Personal items of interest to Invermay & district readers

Peter Okrainetz, age 79, died suddenly this week.

Canora Courier, May 09, 2007 Page 16 – In memory of:

MATWIJECZKO: In lov­ing memory of Rosie and Nick Matwijeczko, our mom and dad, our baba and gido, who passed away May 7, 1996 and February 22, 1987.

May the winds of love blow gently,

And whisper so you can hear;

That we still love and miss you,

And wish that you both were here.

You have gone to be angels,

Secure in our Father's care;

One day we will all be with you,

As a complete family again up there.

-Loved and missed by great-grandson James, grandson Jamie, Rose Marie, Rick and Lawrence, Judy and their families.

Canora Courier, May 09, 2007 Page 17

A funeral service for Nick Mandzuk, 90, of Veregin, who passed away in the Kamsack Hospital on Friday, Mar. 30, was held on April 5 in the Chapel of E. Andrychuk Funeral Home at Kamsack with Pastor Rowell Puedivan and Pastor Daniel Guiboche officiating. Burial was in the Veregin Community Cemetery.

"Father, Husband, Grandpa, Strawberry Farmer, Gold Miner, Logger, Inventor, Famous Pancake Maker"

Nick was born near Veregin Saskatchewan on November 21, 1916 and died on March 30, 2007 as the result of a brain tumor.

Born and raised on the farm three miles south of Veregin to homesteading parents, he was the third youngest child in a big family of brothers and sisters. He grew up farming, but as a young man he worked mining in northern BC and later logged and sawmilled but the farm always remained his home base.

In 1955 he married Lydia Klatt in her hometown of Oliver, BC. The couple then settled back on the farm near Veregin and over the years, four girls were born to them.

Nick farmed, drove long distance truck and spent many summers up at his gold claim in northern BC.

At age 70, Nick started strawberry farming, and at his peak, had 10 acres in rotation. A member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, he died with the belief and the promise of eternal life. Nick loved life, his family and his STRAWBERRIES.

Nick is survived by his four daughters, Donna (Ted) Howard, Judy (Marcel) St. Germain, Ruth deCrom and Debbie Mandzuk-Bugera; 12 grandchildren; two brothers Fred and Steve and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Alexander and Effie; his wife, Lydia; brothers, John, Bill, Mike, Harry, Samuel (in infancy), and sisters, Mary and Anne.

Canora Courier, May 09, 2007 Page18

PETER OKRAINETZ: Peter was born on March 2nd 1928 on the family farm near Rama, Saskatchewan to Vincent and Mary (nee Yawney) Okrainetz. He attended school in Rama from grades one to grade eleven and then took grade twelve at St. Joe's in Yorkton. After grade twelve, Peter took a crash six week teaching course at Normal School in Saskatoon. He started his career at Winthorpe in the Foam Lake area. He then taught at Wolna, Dobrowody, Boxmoor and Invermay teaching a total of thirty-seven years. During the course of his career, he had approximately 1000 home room students. He was principal for fourteen of those years. Peter always expected the best out of each of his students, regardless of ability. He demanded respect from his students but in turn, he respected them as well. Peter was very thorough and ensured that after the students left his class, they knew the material. He was a master teacher.

It was while Peter was teaching in Dobrowody that he married the next door neighbour's daughter and the love of his life, Elizabeth Kresak. They were married in August of 1952 and had four children. Peter and Elizabeth became soul mates. They depended on and supported each other through the good and bad times. Their dream was to provide the best opportunities for their children and together, they met that goal.

Peter loved farming and the land. He thought nothing of picking roots and stones for hours to improve the quality of that land. He took pride in the crops that he grew although he never admitted the true extent of his accomplishments. In the later years, he realized the importance of passing on this heritage to the next generation and truly enjoyed farming with his sons and nephews. Peter was a true steward of the land.

Peter was actively involved in the community. He has many years' experience as boys' minor fastball league coach and as assistant coach of Invermay Midgets. For four years, he was secretary-treasurer of the minor hockey league. He served on the Invermay recreation board for eight years and was one of the original members to help organize the Invermay Winter Festival in 1976. He also attended meetings to research the history book for the community. He instructed cadets, he was a member of the Hospital and Ambulance boards, a volunteer fireman, a Kinsmen member, as well as a RM and town councilor, director for Division four of SARM, treasurer and president of the Invermay Arena and Master of Ceremonies of many weddings, anniversaries and community functions. He was instrumental with the building of the Invermay Community Hall and up until his death was the treasurer of the Hall Committee. Peter worked tirelessly to help organize and improve the community in which he lived.

As well as giving to his community, Peter gave endless hours to serve the SS. Vladmir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church in Invermay. He was cantor and choir leader of the church, holding church treasurer, vice- president, and secretary positions. He organized many church anniversa­ries and special religious occasions. He was the parish campaign chairperson for the St. Volodymyr Village Project in Saskatoon. He devoted much of his time to help with the building of the church belfry as well as improving and up­keeping the interior and exterior of the church. Peter's faith was always strong. He was a dedicated servant of the Lord.

After Peter retired from teaching in 1984, he continued to farm but he also enjoyed being able to travel. He enjoyed the bus tours, the Cruise to the Panama Canal and the trip to Hawaii. Peter even took all the grandchildren to Disneyland. He especially liked the excursion to the Ukraine to learn where his family came from. During his years of retirement, he spent countless hours reading, playing cards with family and friends and staying involved in the church. For the last number of years, he enjoyed pattern dancing because he felt the dancing community was one big happy family. It was in this capacity, that he spent his last moments. He took one last dance before he died.

Peter will be lovingly remembered by his wife Elizabeth of Invermay, his two sons: Boris (Debbie) Okrainetz of Allan, SK and Methodius (Glenda) Okrainetz of Saskatoon, SK; his two daughters: Audrey (Gordon) McLelland of Saskatoon, SK and Karen (Darrell) Slugoski of St. Albert, AB; his four brothers: Joe of Canora, SK, Mike (Olga) of Saskatoon, SK, Frank (Jennie) of Hamilton, ON and Carl (Nettie) of Canora, SK; his three sisters: Adeline (John) Bosovich of Wadena, SK, Rose Moroz of Wainwright, AB and Stella Grona of Rama, SK; his six grandchildren: Tanya (Greg) Brons of Saskatoon, Sk., Shannon (Robin) Hahn of Melville, SK., Ryan Okrainetz (Jana Dushinski) of Saskatoon, Sk., Evan, Jesse and Reed Okrainetz all of Saskatoon, Sk.; his three great grandchildren: Carissa, Maris and Easton all of Saskatoon, Sk. He was predeceased by his parents: Vincent and Mary; his brothers: Paul, Steve, Wasyl and Tom and two in infancy; his sisters: Anne Krawetz and Nellie Haichert. Prayers were held at Leson's Funeral Home in Canora on Tuesday, May 1st at 7:00 p.m. The funeral was held at SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic church in Canora on Wednesday, May 2nd at 10:00 a.m.