John’s Obituary
John Kalenchuk passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Home in Saskatoon, SK, on June 29, 2019, at the age of 95 years.
John was born February 27, 1924, in Sturgis, SK. He was the oldest son of Nick and Amy (nee Dwernychuk) Kalenchuk. John attended both Badgerdale and Christiania country schools. In the 1940’s, John adventured to Ontario to pick tobacco, then accepted a job working in construction in the city of Toronto. While he was in Ontario, he had the opportunity to view Niagara Falls, which left such a lasting impression he still recently spoke of the experience. Upon returning to the family farm, he met Mae Hrynowetsky and they were married in 1948. Through 56 years of marriage, they enjoyed travelling to Hawaii, Cancun, England, France, and Ukraine. John and Mae were blessed with six children: Eugene, Glen, Dan, Bernice, Lorie, and Kelly.
Together, John and Mae lived on their family farm until they moved to Canora in 2003. After Mae passed away in 2005, John had the support of his neighbours, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Heshka, who would bring him baking and fill part of his lonely days. Mike and John took a trip by train to see the polar bears at Churchill, MB. While the days were long and the years passed by, John filled them with meeting people for coffee and activities at the Keen Age Centre. There, he met his companion, Pearl Lazaroff, and with time they became a couple, going to events in Canora and Yorkton and enjoyed many evenings playing cards. John continued to live in Canora until 2017, when he moved to Saskatoon to be closer to family.
John’s work life included farming, carpentry, selling Electrolux vacuums, adjusting crops for Sask. Crop Insurance and later he enjoyed fishing and collecting antiques. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
John was predeceased by his parents, Nick and Amy Kalenchuk; his wife, Mae; sister, Mary Currah; sisters-in-law: Mary Rurak, Mabel Hyrnowetsky, and Pauline Matechuk and brothers-in-law, Edgar Currah, Matt Danyliuk, Mike Rurak, Nick Hyrnowetsky, and Nick Matechuk.
John is survived by his son, Eugene (Pat) Kalenchuk, grandchildren, Bradford (Raeanne), great-grandsons, Douglas and Devon, Michael (Tracy), great-grandsons, Austin and Matthew, Leslie (Bryan) Looker, great-grandsons, Anthony and Dominic; son, Glen (Janet) Kalenchuk, grandchildren, Andrew (Leah), great-grandchildren, Jaxton, Kashlin, and Nyah, Jennifer (Jason) Kalenchuk, and great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Madden; son, Dan (Pat) Kalenchuk, grandchildren, Jared (Heather), and great-granddaughters, Paisley and Sawyer, and Ryan (Katie); daughter, Bernice (Jim) Tratch, grandchildren, Kerri (Travis), great-grandson, Grayson, Kyle, and Kourtney (Brydon) Leahm; daughter, Lorie (Mark) Kalenchuk; son, Kelly (Glenda) Kalenchuk, grand-daughters, Katrina and Kaleigh; his sister, Rose Danyliuk; brother, George (Jeanne) Kalenchuk; and his companion, Pearl Lazaroff.
John’s family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful care that was provided by Dr. Kurt Roelens and the Sisters and staff of St. Joseph’s Home in Saskatoon.
In John’s honour, a Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 5, 2019, from the Chapel of Leson’s Funeral Home. Funeral Services continue at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 6, 2019, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Canora, SK, with Rev. Fr. Petro Tsenov officiating. Interment will follow in the Canora Cemetery. Casket Bearers are Andrew Kalenchuk, Bradford Kalenchuk, Jared Kalenchuk, Kelly Kalenchuk, Ryan Kalenchuk, and Kyle Tratch. Cross Bearer is Kourtney Leahm.
Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to St. Joseph’s Home (33 Valens Dr., Saskatoon, SK, S7L 3S2) or to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Canora, SK, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of John Kalenchuk.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Kalenchuk 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Canora, Province: Saskatchewan