The Melnechuk Family Web Site

Remembering Uncle Nickel Tarangle
Written and presented by Janice Melenchuk Bell
August 10, 2007, Abbotsford, British Columbia

At this celebration of Uncle Nickel’s life, it is an honor to remember the gifts he gave to me and to our extended Melnechuk family throughout his life.

My father (John Melenchuk) and Pearl were next to each other in the line of 10 children born to Mike and Catherine Melnechuk. I am one of the 29 nieces and nephews--the children of these original 10 siblings--who was privileged to call Nickel Tarangle, “Uncle Nickel”.

From the time I was born through to age 9 or 10, Uncle Nickel and Aunty Pearl’s home was like my second home—first in Elk Point and then during the years that they lived in my hometown of St. Paul, Alberta. To this day, whenever I read a book about a 1950’s vintage home with a screen door on the back porch that opened onto a big garden, a kitchen with a shiny metal table and chairs and a long set of kitchen cupboards down one wall with a fridge on one side and a stove on the other, and a black dial phone on the kitchen wall with a long dangling cord—I am effortlessly transported back to safety and comfort and love of Uncle Nickel and Aunty Pearl’s home in St. Paul.

The smell of car grease and gasoline coming from Uncle Nickel’s mechanic’s coveralls that hung by the back door, when he worked at the Zarowny garage in Elk Point and then later at the Tannas garage in St. Paul, was mixed with the smell of wonderful food coming from the kitchen. I have fond memories of sitting on the back porch shelling peas, practicing my addition or subtraction on the blackboard at the bottom of the stairs, enjoying Aunty Pearl’s perogies and cinnamon rolls, playing with Linda’s extensive collection of paper dolls and listening to her latest rock and roll 45 rpm record on the record player in her room, or pretending with Brenda that the little room off her bedroom was an office one day and a bank or a hospital the next. With Harold, I was always off an adventure around our small town--usually on our bikes. His hair-raising stories about strange activities within the mysterious Catholic Church or the day he took me to the local abattoir and I watched transfixed and horrified at the bloody process of slaughter that ended up as roast beef and hamburger are memories that I will never forget.

Those were the days when, under Uncle Nickel’s tutelage, we knew every car on the road and loved riding in the Tarangle’s long black, shiny 59 Chev Impala with the big wingtips or in our ‘57 turquoise Oldsmobile. My Dad and Uncle Nickel frequently bantered about which was the superior automobile—Ford or Chev. Our families would frequent the surrounding northern lakes on numerous fishing expeditions, whatever the season. I remember one day in early spring when Aunty Pearl and Uncle Nickel and my father stood on the shore of a fast moving stream snaring fish (flipping them in the air and onto the bank with long poles)—an activity that was supposed to be reserved only for the local Indians—but that spring day we took home a lot of illegally snared northern pike to our frying pans and freezers!

Central to all these memories is Uncle Nickel—a short, balding man with wire-rimmed glasses who frequently had a smile on his face—not just a tiny smile—but a large, full-toothed smile that filled his face. Whatever the challenges of his life were—he seemed to have some funny comment—usually about his balding head—that offered humor and encouragement. One day during the St. Paul rodeo, I came down with the flu while staying at their house. I remember despairing that all the other kids got to go to the rodeo and watch the bucking broncos and have cotton candy while I lay on the couch in Tarangle’s living room feeling miserable. Uncle Nick came home from work early that day—just to check on me and make sure that I was OK and comfortable. That kind of devotion was evident in his caring for Aunty Pearl during her many illness episodes and was likely an example to his children, Linda, Harold, and Brenda who have shown deep love and devotion in caring for their father in his elderly years.

Uncle Nickel’s character shown through humor, generosity, kindness, and cheerfulness have been hallmarks of his life that others remember as well:

From Ruth Melnechuk Eli: “He was one of my favorite brother-in-laws. I enjoyed his cheerful disposition and the many pleasant times we shared together as a family, especially those years when their family lived in Loma Linda, California.”

From Jenell Eli Hollett: “I have some precious, childhood memories of Uncle Nickel and Auntie Pearl from the time they lived in California. Brad and I stayed at their house after school quite often. I remember Uncle Nickel coming home from working as an auto mechanic dressed in coveralls with his hands stained with grease and a gentle smile on his face. As a child it seemed to me he was always smiling at children. I somehow always knew he cared about me, even though I can't recall any specific time he verbalized it. His love for Brad and me, as the niece and nephew who were always hanging around his house, came through in his smile, the way he talked to us, the way he let us watch while he fixed things, and the many jokes and playful moments he shared with us. He had a way of making each person feel special, whether you were 7 or 70 years old. I'll really miss his happy outlook, his kind ways, and his ever present smile.”

From Ellen Tkachuk Martin: “I remember Uncle Nickel as always joking, being cheerful, and having time for us when we were kids.”

From Sandi Kiehlbauch Toms: “I remember Uncle Nick as always friendly, always smiling. Though we seldom saw him, in my little child eyes I remember feeling that he cared genuinely for me”.

From Michael Melenchuk: “My memories are staying at a cabin at one of the northern Alberta lakes with Uncle Nick and having a great time with him, Harold, and the rest of their family. The other memory I have is visiting the Tarangle’s when they lived in St. Paul. I recall sitting on the front lawn of their house--and I remember laughing. When I think back as an adult, it was amazing how Uncle Nickel had the ability to make sure you smiled and laughed in his presence. Even when I was that young, you really had the feeling he was directing all his charm at you...he had that amazing gift. He would of made an excellent sales person!!”

From Bob and Debbie Merritt: “We really liked Uncle Nickel. He was always happy. We remember his kind, gentle manner and the quips he would always come up with. We will never forget his laugh and his smile. He made you feel happy just being around him, even if he had his head under the hood of a car--a very special man.”

From Brad Eli: “My memories extend back many years when I was in kindergarten--age 4 or 5--in Loma Linda. Aunty Pearl and Uncle Nickel’s house was where I went after school. That is where I enjoyed their very special dog named “Sporty”. I enjoyed observing the special bond between Aunty Pearl, Uncle Nickel, and “Sporty”. Later in my life, I named my own dog “Sporty” in honor of their great dog.
To me, Uncle Nickel had a distinctive way of being--he worked on cars and showed me how tools worked and even had a shop in the back of their house. That was the house next to the dry riverbed that a year later flooded--completely wrecking their home. I remember walking in the house after the flood, with yards of mud covering the floors. My next memory is of their home/farm in Canada. I visited there with my family and got to go to the barn with Uncle Nickel. This is the place where he lost Aunty Pearl. I remember how much he missed her and told my mom that he loved her forever despite her many illnesses. Ducks, cows, and a farm--along with a spectacular smile that was truly from the heart. I never saw him angry, curse, or be short-tempered, rather he always seemed truly happy to see me and the other members of our expansive family. The sadness of his passing will never block the shining of his life in my heart and mind.”

Thank you, Uncle Nickel—from all of your nieces and nephews--for your example and for the life lessons you taught us. Enter now into the joy of your rest, and we’ll see you in the morning, likely with a huge smile on your face!

Tribute to John Melenchuk
Written and presented by Eva Melnechuk Proskiw
Funeral service, Beauvallon SDA Church
February 2004

On behalf of the Melnechuk family, I would like to pay tribute and celebrate the life of our brother, John. We were a family of 8 girls and two boys, so you can be assured that we regarded the boys as being pretty special. John was the older brother and Bill is 6 years younger. Given our close proximity in the birth order of our family, John and I were very close as we were growing up and that relationship continued into our adult lives. John’s wife, Violet and I were good friends even before she married John. She was a conference secretary in Edmonton and I was the church schoolteacher in Edmonton. As young people, we had many social times together.

I remember John and I walking along the railroad track one Sabbath afternoon and he was telling me about a wonderful girl that he had eyes for at CUC. I remember saying, “Yes, John, but if she has been raised in Vancouver, how do you think she will adapt to a farm family from Beauvallon?”

“Well”, he said, “I’m not going to be a farmer, and I won’t be living in Beauvallon!”

How little we know what life has in store for us and the many curves there are along the Pathway of Life.

Violet proved to be a wonderful wife and she adopted the Melnechuk family as close as her own. John was a Doctor of Optometry for 46 years in St. Paul, Alberta and when he retired, he farmed his Dad’s land in Beauvallon—and he loved it. Anton and I had many fun times with John and Violet on the farm.

As I mentioned before, John and I did many things together as we were only two years apart and brother Bill was too young to be a playmate, so it was John and Eva who talked and walked to singing meetings and school and made plans for our lives.

Let me share a few stories: Because we grew up during the Great Depression, we were children of a poor family where money was scarce. Consequently we had to be ingenious as to how we could make some money:

We picked wild strawberries and sold them for 10 cents a quart to the Beauvallon Hotel.

John developed a trap line and trapped muskrats, rabbits, and weasels. He sold the furs to the Hudson Bay Company. These skins had to be mailed to Edmonton. Once he caught a skunk and tried to get the smell out by burying it in a shallow grave for a week or so. Finally he got it ready for mailing. He turned to me and said, “Eva, would you mail this parcel for me?” Of course, I was always ready to do things for John so I took it to the post office, not realizing what the contents were. The postmistress weighed the parcel and I heard her remark, “There is a smell of skunk around here. I wonder why?’ It was then I realized what kind of parcel John had asked to me mail!

When John was about 12 years of age, he discovered that if he took his older sisters’ perfume bottles and filled them with water, he could sell them to girls at school for 5-10 cents a bottle. After all, the perfume smelled nice and he could make some money. But when he insisted that the perfume bottles be returned, his scam was uncovered.

John always knew the value of money and he was generous with it. He helped several of our family members when they were in need. He was always interested in the welfare of his extended family. He wanted to know how we were doing physically, financially, and spiritually. Family members always felt welcomed in the home of John and Violet and we treasured that we could talk about any topics—home, school, politics, church, etc. This legacy has been passed on to his children: Janice, Karen, Laura, and Michael. They have learned the value of work, concern about others, and family togetherness. Thank God for a loving and caring brother.

Here’s another story that comes to mind: When Anton and I lived in Beauvallon and my mother and father lived on the hill in town, John and Violet would come to church every week from St. Paul. Sabbath dinner would be at my Mom and Dad’s place and very often some of our other sisters would come home to visit with their children. After Sabbath dinner was over, Violet would round up the children and say, “Okay kids, let’s all go for a Sabbath afternoon nature walk”. And she would look at John and say, “Do you want to come along?” He would reply, “Oh no! I don’t want to miss hearing what my sisters have to say!”

John was never the same after his wife Violet passed away in 1999. In December 2000, he had a bad accident that the doctors attributed to a stroke. And dementia set in. Two years ago, it was Anton’s and my privilege to have him move to Kelowna into a house just across the street from our home. We would see him almost every day. He would stand outside the garage door and when he would see Anton in our yard, he wave and call out: “Hello, Tovarish” or sometimes his greeting would be in French, “Comment ca va?” (which means “How are you’?). And so we spent much time together. But this was interesting—When I would visit him and start a conversation, I would often begin the conversation by saying, “You know…” He would point his finger at me and say, “Eva, if I would know, you wouldn’t have to tell me!”.

As his dementia increased, is was sad to watch him try hard to cover his memory loss. When someone tried to have a conversation with him, you could see just how hard he would try to maintain his dignity and say something appropriate. Very often he would come out with a remark that was funny and yet quite appropriate! Quite often in the privacy of our conversation he would say, “I’m just useless and this head of mine doesn’t work right”. So he knew that he was loosing his memory and that was very frustrating to him.

It is with heartfelt thanks to his live-in caregiver, Lita that he had two good years in Kelowna—although he never acknowledged Kelowna as his home. Lita took him to a smaller church in Kelowna every week and when they would ask if there were any visitors, his hand would always go up and he would say, “I’m from St. Paul, Alberta”. He enjoyed this church because Pastor Dubyna and Pastor Zaft (former ministers who served in Beauvallon) also worshipped there and they always acknowledged him and visited with him in his home. As a family, we wish to thank Lita for the excellent care she provided for him. She took him for a drive every day and he believed he was teaching her how to drive. She would read to him and I frequently saw his Bible and lesson quarterly on the table. She would stimulate his thinking as they watched a television program together. With the “Price is Right” TV program, she would say, “John, how much do you think that item is worth?” And then she would offer her best guess about the price and they would laugh when they learned who won. Thank you again, Lita. We will never forget your kindness and concern for John.

John loved to sing. Every Friday evening we would sing together and watch a music video. He even participated in a Kelowna choir last year for a special program. Anton and I, along with our son, Bryan and daughter, Elayne, recorded a tape of some gospel songs and John enjoyed listening to that tape. Once when we travelled together we sang along with the tape—all the way from Kelowna to Abbotsford and John knew every song and every word of each song from memory. It is the message of these spiritual songs that gives us the hope that we all cherish: we will meet again. I am going to ask my family, Anton, Bryan, and Elayne to join me as we sing this song that John loved. “What a Day That Will Be” when we all meet again.

Dr. John Melenchuk
Obituary published in the St. Paul Journal, February 2004

Dr. John Melenchuk was born on March 8, 1921 in Beauvallon, Alberta and passed to his rest on February 12, 2004.

His life was dedicated to service to his patients, his community, and to his family. Growing up in Beauvallon, Alberta his parents stressed the importance of education. He began a teaching career in the early 1940s, but returned to university to study optometry. In 1951, Dr. Melenchuk graduated from the Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. Responding to the needs of his community, he set up an optometric practice in a small building adjoining the William’s Furniture store on the main street of St. Paul. The population of the town in 1951 was only 300 and there was no running water!

Dr. Melenchuk soon had a thriving practice as people in the area learned about the quality of vision care he provided. In 1965, Dr. Melenchuk built the first mall in the town of St. Paul and relocated his practice to the new building. He mentored several new optometry graduates, including his son, Dr. Michael Melenchuk, who joined his father’s practice in 1987.

Dr. Melenchuk continued his lifelong commitment to education through community service. He was one of the founders of Glen Avon School and became the first elected Trustee in 1955. For the next 22 years, he served the community as Board chairman for Glen Avon School from 1956-1967, and also served on the Provisional Board and the first Board of the St. Paul Regional High School. In 1977 he received a Long Service Award to mark his retirement as a school Trustee. He organized the first Toastmaster’s Club for the town of St. Paul. He also served for many years on the Board of Trustees for Canadian Union College in Lacombe, Alberta.

He provided many years of leadership in the Beauvallon Seventh-Day Adventist Church. His retirement from optometry in 1997 allowed opportunities to donate optometric equipment and his services in the Ukraine. The first optometry clinic was established in Kiev, Ukraine. He also assisted with the restoration of an historic church in Myrnam. Retirement also provided an opportunity to return to his farming roots where his days and memories were measured by the passing seasons and the farm work connected with each phase. His father’s farm became a special place—“the closet thing to heaven” for him.

Dr. Melenchuk was predeceased by his wife, Violet (Luchak), his father, Mike Melnechuk, his mother, Catherine (Chernowsky) Melnechuk, his sisters, Mary (Slusarenko), Dora (Nahorney), Jessie (Tkachuk), and Pearl (Tarangle). He leaves to mourn his children: Dr. Janice (Bell), Karen (Randy Ferguson), Laura (Albo), Dr. Michael Melenchuk (Pamela Schurman) and 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by four sisters, Annie (Tarangle), Eva (Proskiw), Caroline (Kiehlbauch), Ruth (Eli), and one brother, Bill Melnechuk.

Funeral Service will be held Friday, February 20 at 1:00 P.M. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Beauvallon with interment to follow in the Church Cemetery.

Tribute to John Tarangle
Written and presented by Eva Melnechuk Proskiw
Funeral service, Abbotsford, British Columbia
August 2003

John Tarangle and my sister, Annie, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on August 7, 2003 so I have many fond memories of my brother-in-law over a period of 65 years.

As many of you know, John was a schoolteacher, a graduate of “Normal School” in Edmonton as it was known then. He began his career by teaching Grade 1 through10. He loved learning and through the years he attended summer school until he earned a Master of Education degree. He specialized in Business Administration and Language. He worked in schools throughout Alberta and British Columbia and served in the Abbotsford School System for 13 years before his retirement.

He loved languages and was proficient in several: Ukrainian, his mother tongue; English, his second language; French (in St. Paul, Alberta he was taught by Francophone nuns while enrolled in high school); Spanish; and Russian.

In this age of computer technology, he enjoyed using the Internet and Email immensely.

As a teacher, we was a “Serious, No-Nonsense Type”, and I speak from personal experience as I was a student in his Grade 10 class in Beauvallon, Alberta. Here is one of my experiences as his student:

In a History assignment, each student in the class was to write a research paper and present it to the class. A discussion would then follow. I remember working very diligently on the project and I felt I had done a good job. However, after I presented my work, my teacher, John, only said, “Good” and nothing else happened—no discussion, no other comments. To say the least, I was very disappointed by his lack of response to my hard work.

Years later, when we reminisced about Beauvallon school days, I mentioned this incident that had disappointed and surprised me. John said, “Eva, I never heard one word of your class presentation. When you stood up to give your report, all I saw was your sister Annie, and I just went into a daydream, hoping that Annie and I would get married that summer!”

So much for my “Serious, No-Nonsense” teacher. He was in love!

John did have another side to him; he wasn’t always serious. He was the eldest of a family of five boys and 5 girls. Annie’s family consisted of 8 girls and 2 boys and so there were often visits between the families. The Tarangle home was always open and we were made to feel welcome. Here is a story about the other side of John:

When the Tarangle family would get together and we would be invited to visit, Annie and I would frequently be in the kitchen. Soon we would hear peals of laughter coming from the living room where the men were visiting and this would often continue for several hours. Annie and I would be curious about what was going on. She would watch the men laughing for a few minutes and would just look at John and shake her head. When Annie left the room, John would say, “I’d better stop this nonsense. Annie doesn’t like it”.

Later, after the guests left, Annie would ask John, “Well how are things with your brothers?” John would reply, “ I don’t know” or “I didn’t ask them” or “We didn’t talk about that”. Annie would say, “John, I just can’t understand how an intelligent professional man like you could waste two hours being so STUPID!”

John, taking no offense would reply, “Well, I always have to act so professional, so once in awhile I have to let my hair down--even though there isn’t much there--and we had fun!”.

On our way home, I would ask my husband Anton, “What were you guys talking about that made all of you laugh so much?” Anton would say, “Nothing really. But the Tarangle brothers try to outdo each other in telling tall tales and jokes. We sure laughed and had fun. I really like that family!”

John loved his church and he served as church elder for many years. I know many of you here enjoyed his Sabbath School class. I always appreciated his strong principles and his ability to look at a problem objectively and unbiased—looking at “both sides of the coin” as the saying goes.

We will miss John. His death brings us sorrow, but we are not without hope—as the song that my husband Anton, our daughter Elayne, and I will now sing.

Life Sketch: Jessie Melnechuk Tkachuk
Written and read by her niece Jenell Eli Rusk
at the Memorial Service
Santa Rosa Seventh-day Adventist Church
Santa Rosa, California
December 15, 2002

Today, we have the privilege of remembering and celebrating the life of Jessie Melnechuk Tkachuk. We remember her as a wife and mother, a grandmother and great-grandmother, a sister, an aunt, a neighbor, an Adventist church member, and a friend. The titles and roles were different, but to each of us she was the embodiment of unconditional love and hospitality. These character traits are the common thread woven through all our memories – Jessie smiling as she welcomed us into her home, her warm hugs, her good food, her genuine interest in us and in our lives. These are the things we will miss the most, because we have all lost someone special to us -- a woman who understood the meaning of love.

Jessie was born in Sturgis, Saskatchewan, Canada on May 26, 1914 – her mother's birthday. She was the third daughter born to Mike and Catherine Melnechuk, wheat farmers on the Canadian prairie. After a brief move to Pennsylvania, her family moved back to Canada and settled in the town of Beauvallon, Alberta. By the time Jessie reached her late teens, her family had grown to include her parents, eight girls and two boys.

Jessie was a happy child, a little blond who worked hard and enjoyed school. During her early childhood, her parents joined the Seventh-day Adventist church through the influence of their neighbors.

When she was a teenager, Jessie began volunteering to bring the cows in from the far pasture. Before long, her family realized she and one of the handsome local boys, Nick Tkachuk, had found this creative way to see each other in the evenings. Jessie and Nick's love grew and they were married in a moonlit ceremony on December 21, 1930 at Nick's home. The bride was 16, the groom was 20.

The young couple settled on a farm within a few miles of their families. Their early married years were filled with hard work and pleasant visits from younger sisters, cousins and friends. Jessie and Nick were known for their generous hospitality, a trait that remained strong throughout their lives. Jessie's sister Annie remembers, "We loved going to Jessie's place because they were both young and there was time to play and talk. Young people came to their house a lot because it was a fun place to visit."

Just 11 months after they were married, Jessie and Nick faced the grief of burying their firstborn child. Their baby daughter, Ethel Ruth, was born prematurely on November 9, 1931 and died four days later. She was named after Jessie's youngest sister, my mother Ruth, who was two years old at the time.

On October 13, 1933, Jessie gave birth to daughter Ellen Grace. Because Jessie and Nick still lived close to their parents' homes, Ellen spent her early years embraced by aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Jessie's sister Eva was 10 years old when she began helping the family.

Eva remembers, "I spent two summer living with Jessie and Nick, helping to look after baby Ellen. I loved living with them. They were a fun couple and I enjoyed being given the opportunity to try and do some cooking and baking. They would just laugh if something didn't turn out as it should have."

Eva continues, "Throughout her life, Jessie often experienced health problems, yet her indomitable spirit pulled her through. Recently, Jessie and I laughed as she reminisced about a time she was very ill early in her marriage. The local pastor came for a visit. Very solemnly, he shook his head and said, ‘I'm afraid this dear sister will not live to see the green grass this spring.'
"‘Well,' Jessie said, ‘I guess I showed him, because I have outlived him for nearly twenty years.' That was Jessie – always a positive attitude, a ready laugh, and a willingness to meet a new challenge."

In the early 1940's, the family of three moved to Vancouver Island to work at Rest Haven Sanitarium, where Jessie worked in the dining room and as treatment aide, helping with massage and hydrotherapy. Her dream of becoming a nurse began to take root as she worked with patients. Jessie and Nick lived briefly in Edmonton, Alberta during the Second World War, then relocated to New Brunswick at the invitation of a doctor they knew from Rest Haven. Later, they moved to Ontario, Canada for a few years, where Nick worked as a contractor and Jessie worked as a nurses' aide.

In 1954, Jessie and Nick moved to Arlington, California, to be near Ellen's family. Their son-in-law Bob Martin was attending La Sierra College. Nick built a set of duplexes on Megginson Lane, and the two families lived side-by-side until Bob received his first teaching assignment in Victorville. For about 10 years, Ellen and her family lived within a few hours of Jessie and Nick. The two families were very close and shared many special times together. Pictures of the grandchildren, Brenda, Richard and Laurie, decorated the piano and the walls of Jessie's home, and filled the photo albums. Jessie's grandchildren knew there was a special drawer at Nana's house filled with little things for them, so they would race to see what was in the drawer as soon as they arrived.

Jessie was an active grandmother, an adventuresome grandmother. She would ride anything at Disneyland with her grandchildren, even the rides the other adults avoided. She would jump waves at the beach and climb up a ladders to pick fruit.

Later, when her grandchildren married and had children of their own, she relished the pleasures of a new generation. Each of her five great-grandchildren had a special place in her heart as she learned about their personalities, watched them grow, and had the opportunity to be part of their lives.

In the early 1960's, a few years after their move to California, Nick built a large home behind the duplex. Jessie and Nick often shared their home with college-age relatives attending La Sierra College or Loma Linda University. Their home was a wonderful place filled with music, good food, and many special times with family and friends. Jessie was a willing hostess for Saturday night Rook parties, which often included nephew Mike Slusarenko's family, Ellen's family, and sister Ruth's family. Jessie, her oldest sister Mary and youngest sister Ruth took turns hosting holiday dinners and family gatherings. These were large affairs with sisters and brothers, sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family and cherished friends. These gatherings could be as many as 30 people or more, but there was always room for everyone with plenty of good food, laughs and hugs to go around.

During the summers, Jessie, Ellen and Ruth would take day trips or week-long camping excursions to the beach with five children and a few extras cousins or friends in tow. Sister Ruth remembers, "Our husbands were amazed that we could pitch a tent by ourselves and make the campfires to roast potatoes and corn. We had many opportunities to talk during the hours we spent together. Jessie was almost like a mother to me. Many times, she would encourage and counsel me when I needed the advice of someone older and wiser."

Nick and Jessie's vacations often included trips to Canada to see their parents and siblings. Daughter Ellen remembers, "When Mom and Dad took vacations to Canada, we usually went with them. One year, when Brenda and Richard were young, Mom sewed matching shirts and dresses for the trip. We were the perfectly matched family that vacation.

"Another year, Dad bought a truck and camper for our trip to Canada. My Auntie Mary and two cousins came along. All together there were 10 of us. At gas stations or rest stops, when we all started piling out of the back of the camper, people would just stop and stare. I'm sure they wondered how so many people could fit into such a small space."

In the early 1960's, Jessie fulfilled her lifelong dream when she graduated from Riverside Community College as a registered nurse. Although she especially enjoyed working in delivery room and the newborn nursery, Jessie's administrative skills opened doors quickly. Within a short time after her graduation, she was named afternoon supervisor of all nursing personnel at Parkview Hospital in Riverside. Jessie was known as a fair, hard-working and efficient administrator. In the 1970's, Jessie and Nick were co-owners of Canyon Crest Convalescent Hospital, where Nick was the administrator and Jessie was director of nurses. Jessie's love of people, her kindness and her administrative ability were the hallmarks of her nursing career. She related to patients as a gentle, caring and capable nurse, whether her patients were newborns or the very elderly.

Jessie was a deeply devoted Christian who valued her relationship with God and knew Jesus as her Savior. A lifelong Seventh-day Adventist, she had a deep desire to serve God and her church. She and Nick served as missionaries in Taiwan for one year in 1976, working in the Adventist hospital. Throughout her life, she spent time handing out Christian literature to help others learn of God's love for them. Even when it was inconvenient or she wasn't feeling well, Jessie was a person you could count on to help with a potluck, to assist in a visitation, or to open her home. She was very involved in the Tender Loving Care program at the Santa Rosa Church, visiting shut-ins and sharing flowers from her garden.

Jessie and Nick moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1983 to be closer to Ellen. Son-in-law Bob Martin had died of cancer the year before, so they lived with Ellen until Nick bought four acres and built a home just outside of town. Within a few years, he built a home next door for Ellen. Jessie and Ellen had the joy of spending the next 20 years together.

During their retirement years, Jessie and Nick enjoyed living on their acreage in Santa Rosa, close to their daughter and grandchildren. Extended family visited frequently because their home was a place warmed by hospitality and love. Their yard was filled with flowers and trees, their garden overflowing with berry bushes, fruits and vegetables. Just beyond the fence were chickens, sheep and granddaughter Laurie's horses. Nearly 50 years had passed since they were farmers in Alberta, but they still loved working the land and having family visit. In 1990, Jessie and Nick celebrated their 60th anniversary in the Santa Rosa church, surrounded by a large representation of family and friends.

During a trip to Canada in the summer of 1991, Nick died unexpectedly. When they returned home, Ellen moved in with her mother. Jessie worried that she wouldn't know how to live alone, because she came from a large family and was always the happiest when there were people around. As Jessie neared her 85th birthday, her health began to deteriorate more rapidly. She found it difficult to read and gradually declined to the point where she needed round-the-clock care. She gently passed to her rest on Monday morning, December 2, at the age of 88.

Jessie is survived by:
Her daughter, Ellen Martin
Her grandchildren: Brenda & Hans Schermann; Richard & Sherilynn Martin;
Laurie Martin & Toby Daly
Five great-grandchildren: Nicholas Schermann; Andrew, James and Michelle Martin;
and Devon Perkins
Four sisters: Annie Tarangle, Eva Proskiw, Caroline Kiehlbauch, and Ruth Eli
Two brothers: John Melnechuk and Bill Melnechuk
And many nieces, nephews, additional family members and friends.

Jessie loved people and lived her life surrounded by those she loved. She was truly an incredible woman who seemed to face each day with this motto -- "The pathway of live has many curves, but with God's hand in mine, I can walk through sunshine and shadow."

As one of her nieces, I have cherished memories of my Auntie Jessie and the wonderful times we spent together. I'm sure each of you have cherished memories as well. So together we look forward to the day when Jesus will raise Jessie to life eternal, and we will never say goodbye again.

Tribute to Violet (Luchak) Melenchuk
Written by a loving grandson
December 1999

HOPE*
“I love you, and if I don’t see you again before I go, I want you to know that I am thinking about you”. These words were spoken by my grandmother to me on October 11th, 1999 the last time I saw her alive.

It was Thanksgiving weekend, of this year, when I learned that my Nana had only two weeks to live. After 40 years of endlessly and painfully battling chronic arthritis, her body had finally said, “enough is enough”. Her immune system had given in to rapid leukemia, which would, in two weeks, end her life. It’s ironic really, that after hoping for 40 years to be cured of arthritis, it was leukemia that would take in her life in only two short weeks.

The whole family congregated in St. Paul, Alberta, to join with their nana, mother, and wife, for the last Thanksgiving ever to be held as a complete family. All of the cousins came, including the new baby, which Nana had hung on long enough to caress and love. Football games, card games, and family movies were only a few of the many events which shaped, what turned out to be, the most eye-opening weekend of my life.

My Nana was a religious woman who stood by her faith, with a fire in her eyes and on her tongue. She was not fanatical however, she simply knew what was right and what wasn’t, and she told you if it wasn’t. Even though her beliefs were strong, she didn’t harp or patronize; she would very simply and tactfully explain what was on her mind. But it was her hope and faith in Jesus that left an impression on our hearts and minds.

It was Sunday already, which meant turkey, sweet yams, cabbage rolls, and mashed potatoes; you couldn’t forget the mashed potatoes. Everyone was congregated around the table, in a kind of silent respect that one would find at a memorial of sorts. Prayer was said and tears were shed. It was not the first time that weekend that emotions ran higher than a kite, but it was definitely the most sad moment of the weekend. After prayer everyone looked around the table not knowing what to do next. Do we eat? Do we cry some more? Do we just sit there? Luckily Nana took over and asked for some juice. After eating for a while, my aunt Janice stood up and proclaimed, as only she can, that is was time to toast the mother of the hour.

A few stood and gave tearful, choked-back toasts of thanks to Nana for all she had given them in their lives. Then my Nana said, “It’s my turn”. So all eyes and ears went to her.

Imagine having to make a toast, knowing full well that it would be your last. No writer, no matter how good or how famous, could have put together the feelings and emotions of one’s whole life time better than my Nana did on that Thanksgiving evening.

“I would like to thank my children for all of their love and support. I would like to say that I cherish my grandchildren with my whole heart. I would like to thank my husband for everything; I could not ask for more from him. And I would like to thank God for blessing me with such a full life and a wonderful family. I love you all and that’s all I have to say”, my Nana said with all the love and composure she could muster.

Monday morning my family said their goodbye’s, gave their last hugs and kisses to the one who had given us more hope than a thousand doves, more love than a thousand cherubs, and a faith that was second only to God’s.

That was the last time I saw my Nana, but looking back on her life and then remembering her toast, there is one thing that is simply unexplainable. After having more pain and more setbacks than any human deserves, how she could thank God for her full life and wonderful family simply amazes me. I can’t explain it, not even a bit. How someone has the courage and faith to say what she said in her toast is beyond my comprehension. I only know this--that my hope in life, is to live my life in such a way that no matter what happens, I can make that my last speech, too. If I can do that, then I’ve been given the best prize of all. Better than the Stanley Cup or the World Championship, I will have lived how my Nana taught me to live, because that was my Nana’s hope for me.

Violet (Luchak) Melenchuk died on October 17, 1999, 4 days after her 76th birthday.
*“Hope” was written by a loving grandson for a course assignment in high school English in December 1999.

Violet (Luchak) Melenchuk
Obituary of Violet (Luchak) Melenchuk, published in the St. Paul Journal, October 1999

Violet (Luchak) Melenchuk passed to her rest on October 17, 1999 in St. Paul, Alberta at the age of 76 years.

She was the much loved wife of Dr. John Melenchuk; mother of Janice Bell (Curtis), Karen Ferguson (Randy), Laura Albo, and Michael Melenchuk (Pamela). She was the beloved “Nana” to 9 grandchildren, Ryan, Kory and Joshua Ferguson; Brenden, Jordan and Ashley Bell; Cara and Jamey Albo; and Ava Grace Melenchuk. She is also survived by her sister Sadie Webster and 4 brothers, Bill Lucas, Michael Luchak, John Lucas, and Alec Lucas. She was predeceased by her father, Nicholas Luchak; her mother, Mary (Kusyk) Luchak; and her 2 sisters Doris (Luchak) Mathews and Janice (Luchak) Chance.

Violet was born on October 13, 1923 in Hamlin, Alberta. When she was 3 years old, her family moved to Vancouver, B.C. Violet attended Seymour Elementary School, Templeton Junior High School, and graduated as class valedictorian from Commercial High School. She not only distinguished herself as an excellent student, but also as an athlete who won awards in a variety of sports including gymnastics, track, basketball, baseball, and grass hockey. Her interest in secretarial work led her to attend Canadian Junior College from 1942-1944 and she became employed by the Alberta Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists. In the spring of 1946, responding to the shortage of nurses, she decided to change careers and become a nurse. She graduated in 1949 as president of her class from Portland Sanitarium and Hospital. She was the first nurse to be allowed to marry during her nursing coursework. In August 1948, she married John Melenchuk and the couple spent their first year apart—she in Portland, Oregon finishing her nursing diploma while he attended Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, Illinois. She later joined her husband in Chicago and enjoyed her work at the La Rabida Rheumatic Hospital for children.

In 1951, John and Violet chose St. Paul, Alberta as a place to set up an optometry practice. The small town of St. Paul only had a population of 300 and no running water! Over the next 48 years, Violet helped her husband establish a thriving optometric practice serving as office manager and bookkeeper, raised and educated 4 children, and generously contributed her creativity and energy to the local church and community.

Violet had a great capacity for happiness and a deep spirituality. Her positive attitude and graciousness were continually evident throughout her life as she learned to live alongside the debilitating illness of rheumatoid arthritis. She delighted in the activities and accomplishments of others. She loved playing games with her precious grandchildren.

Our dear wife, mother, and grandmother died as she lived—showing incredible courage and strength that came from her trust in God. We would like to thank friends and family for the many cards, flowers, phone calls, and letters of encouragement sent to Violet over the years and the many prayers offered on her behalf. We are particularly grateful to Dr. Michel Magnan, and caregivers from homecare and St. Therese Health Center in St. Paul for their compassionate care and support. Our thanks is also extended to Dr. Eugene Kretzul and nursing staff of the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Dr. Matilda Villjoen and nursing staff of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton.

A time for visitation is scheduled for Thursday, October 21 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Yewchin’s Funeral Chapel, St Paul. Funeral service will be held Friday, October 22 at 1:00 pm at the Beauvallon Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Beauvallon. Pastor Warren Kay will be officiating with internment to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Paul Evangelism Fund, c/o Box 425, St. Paul, AB TOA 3A0 would be gratefully appreciated.

John Carl Eli, Jr. (February 27, 1930 - September 30, 1990)
Life Sketch/Tribute
Written with love by his daughter Jenell (Eli) Hollett
Read by Dr. Klooster, Dean of the Loma Linda School of Dentistry at the funeral in Loma Linda, California, October, 1990

John Carl Eli loved life. Although the statement is a simple one, the life he loved was a complex mixture of devotion, challenge, commitment, and priorities. And there is no doubt about his priorities - his God and his family always came first. For most of his sixty years, he did all he could to make life easier for his mother, his wife, and his children.

John was born in Austin, Texas on February 27, 1930. He and his younger brother Ken were raised by their mother and maternal grandmother who through many lean years, held the family together with hard work and traditional values. After the family moved to Houston, John became a Seventh-day Adventist in his teen years. He made many special friends in the church and sang in a male quartet. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. While stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, he met Ruth Melnechuk at a church social. Ruth was living with a group of girlfriends in Tacoma and working as an office nurse. In a memory book, John wrote, “ I liked her because her hair was pretty, she went to church, and she was fun to be with”. Ruth remembers she found him attractive because he was “happy, tall, thin, good-looking and nice. He treated me nicely”. In his typical individualistic style, John suggested an unusual first date. He asked Ruth to accompany him to Auburn Academy and pose as his engaged girlfriend from Texas so he could gently dissuade an academy girl with a teen-age crush. John and Ruth dated from October 1951 until April 1952, before the Army sent him to Germany. It was during this time Ruth discovered the challenge of dating a man known to his family as Carl Jr. and to herself as Johnnie. After they were married, Ruth sometimes laughingly told people if she became upset at John, she’d just switch to her other husband “Carl.” Before he left for Germany, John proposed. With her engagement watch and hopes for the future, Ruth returned to her hometown in Canada to work as a nurse and make wedding preparations. They were married in Beauvallon, Alberta, Canada on September 6, 1953.

In her dresser Ruth has a box of letters they exchanged while John was overseas, and while he was home In Texas. While John could usually out-talk the best, he was not a detailed writer. In fact, his letters at best would be termed “sparse.” One postcard reads, “It’s me again. Just thought I’d let you know how things are. I’m still lonesome for a certain person and I’m sure you know who. So much for that. I’ll sign-yours, Johnnie”.

The newlyweds moved to Houston where John worked as a draftsman, then in construction. He was accepted to La Sierra College in 1954, and a year and a half later their first child, Jenell Diane was born January 1956. Because of all the teasing he did about keeping the baby in a glass bubble with a dish of food and water, Ruth was pleasantly surprised when John turned out to be a doting father.

John attended Loma Linda School of Dentistry from 1956-1960. In July 1960, a few weeks after graduation, son Bradley Allen was born.

Dentistry was a perfect occupation for John. His gentle, caring nature attracted patients and created a comfortable office atmosphere. He would often accompany a child back to the reception room, so their younger siblings could have a chance to sit on the dentist’s knee, open their mouths, and get a prize, too. He patiently explained complicated procedures and truly thought of each patient as an individual. Once, after reading in the newspaper that fire had destroyed a patient’s home, he went to see the family and gave them money.

John was a generous man in many ways. He gave both of his means and of himself freely, but you’d almost never hear him talk about it. To John, helping others was something you did privately. His greatest generosity was for his family. When his children were small, he would play with them on the living room floor after worship Friday evening, in order to make the beginning of Sabbath fun and special. His wife and kids, unlike himself, loved the combination of sunshine and sports. Anyone who has ever seen a beach outing of the Eli family can chuckle as they remember Ruth and the kids in bathing suits playing in the sand and surf, and John, clothed from head to toe, from fingernails to ears, sitting under an umbrella to escape sunburn. He rarely put his toes in water under 95 degrees, but just to prove to his teenagers that he really could water-ski, he jumped into lake Perris, skied about 100 yards, then quickly wrapped himself in a towel to get warm again. John drove the boat time after time while everyone else water-skied and took up snow skiing so the entire family could enjoy skiing vacations. He would do almost anything to make his children happy or to make life a little easier for them, even if it meant inconvenience or extra work for himself.

His love for family encircled Ruth’s parents, brothers, sisters, their spouses and the nieces and nephews, who knew him as “Uncle Carl”. He almost considered them his “other set of children”, and like most fathers, freely gave advice whether it was requested or not. But as John’s own children did, they listened, knowing his words came from the desire to see each one succeed and find fulfillment in their lives. Uncle Carl’s way of showing affection for his nieces was teasing. He knew how to find that vulnerable spot that would spark debate, and after his verbal teasing he’d laughingly say, “I really pushed your button”! But at the times when they sought his counsel on more serious matters, he’d listen thoughtfully, suggest pros and cons and inevitably offer his favorite piece of advice -”Will it matter in five years?”.

John loved to learn. He was a voracious reader and had a vast amount of knowledge in many areas, notably science, real estate, and law. He was fascinated as he discovered new information, and took hours to share these discoveries with his children in personal conversations from the time they were small. Through these life-long conversations he instilled in his children an insatiable desire to learn. Before the word entrepreneur was in vogue, he was one. Yet he retained an integrity and a set of moral standards that were seldom seen in the serious business world.

John and Ruth lived in the Loma Linda area for 34 years. He was active in many organizations including the Republican presidential task force, dental associations, the Loma Linda University Alumni Association, church and community activities.

On October 23, 1989, John suffered a medium grade heart attack. Bradley came from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was practicing dentistry and Jenell flew from Keene, Texas to be with their parents during John’s hospitalization. This warning that John’s heart was not healthy was a shock, but the family was grateful that he seemed to be recovering. Eleven months later, on September 30, 1990 John suffered a fatal heart attack. The last eleven months of his life, John experienced some wonderful moments. He lived to see the birth of his third grandchild in March. His three grandchildren were a source of great joy and pride for him, and he cherished them. Each of their accomplishments, from the first smile to the first lost tooth, brought excitement and approval from Grandpa. During his last months he spent many pleasant times with his family. He and Ruth enjoyed a relaxing two week vacation during Christmas in Texas, and this summer spent a week at the beach and a day at Sea World with Jenell and her family. He was excited that Brad and his family moved to Pacific Palisades in June because he was able to see them almost every weekend. John spent hours each weekend visiting his mother and tenderly caring for his needs. He enjoyed a visit from his brother and his wife in early summer, and saw many special relatives at a wedding in August. For a man who valued his relation with people more than any other earthly pleasure, it was a time to be with the ones he loved.

John was a man of humor, intelligence, integrity, and spirituality. He knew his Bible well. After his death, the verses he underlined in his Bible have brought comfort to those closest to him, and friends along with his family look forward to the day when he will hear the voice of Jesus calling him to eternal life. Then once again John can be with the people he loved.

Obituary: Catherine Melnechuk (May 26, 1894 – January 11, 1980)
Written by Violet and John Melenchuk
Read at the funeral in Beauvallon, Alberta, January 1980

Catherine Chernowsky was born in Chernovtsi, Bukovina, Austria, May 26, 1894. When she was nine years old, she came to Canada with her parents and two sisters to the district of Canora, Saskatchewan.
One January 19, 1910, she married Mike Melnechuk, settling on a farm in Sturgis, Saskatchewan. Here four children--Mary, Dora, Jessie, and George--were born. George passed away at the tender age of three months. The Melnechuk family farmed at Sturgis until 1917, when they moved to Youngstown, Pennsylvania. There they were blessed with two additional daughters—Annie and Pearl. In 1920, the Melnechuks returned to Canada to settle in Beauvallon, Alberta. John, Eva, Caroline, Bill, and Ruth completed the family circle of eight daughters and two sons. The family farmed in the Beauvallon district for 51 years.

Catherine stepped out alone in faith embracing each Bible truth as it was presented, becoming a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church in 1920. Her husband joined the church a year later. Catherine and Mike both shared the vision of raising a Christian family and educating their children. Though she never had a day of formal schooling, Catherine learned to read and write Ukrainian. She loved to read her Bible and the precious truths learned were lived out in her life. Her love and trust in God, her patience, and her continual encouragement will always be an inspiration to her family.

Catherine Melnechuk loved people. She loved to entertain in her own home and usually after the chores were done, she would walk over to her neighbors and spent a few pleasant hours visiting. She was hospitable to both friend and stranger and no one was ever turned away from her door. In the early 1930’s when times were hard, many a stranger, riding the box cars, would drop off at the Melnechuk farm and always be given food and lodging, if necessary.
She was industrious; her hands were always busy caring for the needs of others. Leisure moments found her busily knitting or embroidering. Her hands were never idle.

In those days when medical care was not always available, Catherine was often called to the bedside of one in need. She assisted women in her neighborhood as a midwife

Perhaps much more could be said about Catherine Melnechuk, but Solomon in the book of Proverbs has beautifully portrayed a word picture of her life in these words:

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”

At the time of her husband’s sudden passing in 1971, Catherine suffered a partial stroke, from which she never fully recovered. She had to have continual personalized care, which her children provided for her. Later, when she was not able to be managed at home, her daughter, Eva, and her son-in-law Anton Proskiw lovingly took her into their Pleasant Meadows Senior Citizens Home in Winfield, British Columbia. There they tenderly watched over her until on Friday evening, January 11, 1980, she quietly fell asleep in the Lord.

Mr. and Mrs. Melnechuk’s greatest ambition, which they saw fulfilled in their lifetime, was to give their children an education and at the same time remain Christians true to the Seventh-day Adventist faith.

Not mourning, but rather looking forward to the soon return of Jesus and to meeting both Mother and Dad Melnechuk again, is their eight daughters and two sons:

Mary Slusarenko, homemaker from Clearbrook, British Columbia has eight children, seven of whom travelled to the funeral to pay their last respects to a loving, kind grandmother: Michael and Joy Slusarenko from La Sierra, California; Ed and Marg Slusarenko from Grimsby, Ontario; Evelyn and Stanley Tucker from Riverside, California; Gladys and Arnold Van Eaton from Grande Prairie, Alberta; David Slusarenko from Winnipeg, Manitoba; Johnny and Roberta Slusarenko from Medford, Oregon; Judy and baby Jason Melashenko from Laurelwood Academy in Gaston, Oregon.
Dora Nahorney, homemaker from Edmonton, Alberta has five children. Four were at the funeral: Lawrence and Bernice Nahorney from Carstairs, Alberta; Joanne and Wally Latoski from Edmonton, Alberta; Albert and Bunty Nahorney from Ardrossan, Alberta; Helen and Mike Humenny from Quill Lake, Saskatchewan.
Jessie Tkachuk, registered nurse from Riverside, California has one daughter.
Annie Tarangle, nursery teacher from Abbotsford, British Columbia has one son.
Pearl Tarangle, homemaker, who was unable to attend, lives in Aldergrove, British Columbia. She has two daughters and one son.
Dr. John Melenchuk, optometrist from St. Paul, Alberta has three daughters and one son. Janice and Curtis from Calgary, Alberta, Karen and Randy from Calgary, Alberta, and Laura Melenchuk from Edmonton were present at the funeral.
Eva Proskiw, teacher, who now owns and operates a Senior Citizen’s Home in Winfield, British Columbia, has one son and one daughter.
Caroline Kiehlbauch, teacher and Day Care owner from Calgary, Alberta, has three daughters and one son. Sandra, Milton, and Twyla were at the funeral.
Bill Melnechuk, mechanic and truck driver from Trotwood, Ohio has two daughters.
Ruth Eli, registered nurse from Redlands, California has one daughter and one son.

Love and respect to Catherine Melnechuk were also shown by the attendance at the funeral of one daughter-in law and seven sons-in-law. Catherine also leaves 32 grandchildren who have loving memories of Baba Melnechuk and the “House on the Hill”; 58 great grandchildren and 5 great, great grandchildren.

Her family pays tribute to her life of prayer, love, and devotion.

Obituary – Mike Melnechuk (November 21, 1888- November 5, 1971)
Written by his children
Read at his funeral in Beauvallon, Alberta on November 8, 1971

Mike Melnechuk was born in Valowchi, Bukovina, Austria on November 21, 1888. At the age of 14, he came to Canada with his parents to the district of Canora, Saskatchewan. On January 19, 1910, he married Catherine Chernowsky and they farmed in the district of Sturgis, Saskatchewan. Here four children were born and in 1917 he moved his family to Youngstown, Pennsylvania where he farmed and worked in a factory. In 1920 he returned to Canada to the district of Beauvallon where he raised his family and lived for the past 51 years. It was at Beauvallon where he joined the Seventh-day Adventist church in 1921.

Mike was a man of few words as his family and neighbors will testify, but the words he did say were well chosen. He had two objectives in life: to raise a Christian family and to give his children an education. He had the joy of realizing both of these goals. All of his children are members of the Seventh-day Adventist church and his eight daughters are contributing their talents as homemakers, teachers, and nurses. One son is an optometrist and his other son operates an automotive business.

Though Mike had no formal education and never held a church office, his philosophies and teachings are left as gems. His children remember Friday nights at home where they spent many happy hours singing. Though he never joined in the singing, he always urged them to sing more. As they grew older and began working on their own, he always asked them if they paid tithe. He was very particular about the family being ready for Sabbath and attending church. He was a man of strict honesty, leaving no one who could say that they had been cheated in their business with him. He instilled in his family the idea that work is a blessing and not drudgery or a curse. He enjoyed working and taught his family that a job done to the best of one’s ability is a reward in itself. Another belief of his was that it isn’t what you think of yourself that counts, but rather what other people think of you. He wasted no time in self-pity but accepted life with its problems as a challenge. He never turned anyone away who was in need and he practiced the Golden Rule.

He often talked to his family about how good God was to him. It gave him great joy to visit his children and see how they prospered. Just three weeks ago he said, “I am ready to die. God has assigned to man three score and ten years. I have been blessed with an additional 13 years”.

He was blessed with good health for all of his 82 years. Just recently he underwent two surgeries and was making good progress towards recovery. His sudden passing has saddened many. Grieving their loss of a good husband and wonderful father are his wife, Catherine, of Beauvallon, Alberta; Mrs. Mary Slusarenko, who operates a childcare nursery in La Sierra, California; Mrs. Dora Nahorney, a homemaker in Edmonton, Alberta; Mrs. Jessie Tkachuk, Director of Nursing at Canyon Crest Convalescent Hospital in Loma Linda, California; Mrs. Annie Tarangle, who operates a kindergarten in Abbotsford, British Columbia; Mrs. Pearl Tarangle, a homemaker who lives in Langley, British Columbia; Dr. John Melenchuk, an optometrist in St. Paul, Alberta; Mrs. Eva Proskiw, an elementary teacher in Langley, British Columbia; Mrs. Caroline Kiehlbauch, Director of the Fairyland Kindergarten and Day Care Center in Calgary, Alberta; Mr. Bill Melnechuk, who operates Melnechuk Motors in Simcoe, Ontario; and Mrs. Ruth Eli, a registered nurse in San Bernardino, California.

There are 32 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends whom he has cultivated through the years

We will miss him but the blessed hope of meeting on the resurrection morning gives us the courage to press forward and lead such lives that we will be ready to meet him.