KUSHNIR - Mr. Wasyl Anton Kushnir, beloved husband of May Kushnir of Yorkton, formerly of the Hamton district passed away on Friday January 27, 2006 at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home. He was eighty-eight years of age.Wasyl was born on March 14, 1917 at the family farm near Hamton Sask., a son of Anton and Marinka (nee Krepakewich) Kushnir. Wasyl was raised on the family farm and received his education at Oleskow School from grades 1 - 9. After his father died Wasyl helped on the family farm and on October 18, 1936 was united in marriage to May Semeniuk. May then joined Wasyl on the farm. Wasyl was one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He dedicated his life to Jehovah and was Baptized in 1935. He really enjoyed talking about Jehovah's promises and was fearless in talking to anyone about it. He served as a Congregation Overseer for several years in Hamton and was a good speaker in both English and Ukrainian. Besides farming Wasyl also had many other occupations. He was involved with the scrap metal business which he enjoyed very much and did right up to the time he died; he was an auctioneer and held a license for over 50 years taking this part of his life from Ontario to Alberta. After moving to Yorkton in 1958 Wasyl found brief employment with the McLeod's store. He also built the present home that he and his family continue to live in to this day and then built over a dozen homes and sold them in Yorkton. Although Wasyl continued to farm, the scrap business always was his real interest. He also had a shop on the farm where he did blacksmith work for the local farmers as well as built stone boats and snow plows for local people. During his life Wasyl was a member of the Auctioneers School of North America for over 50 years and when he had the time, enjoyed music, singing and reading especially items of history. Throughout his life he was an honest and generous man in his work dealings. His wife and family and was especially generous to his grandchildren and great grandchildren whom he loved very much.
He leaves to mourn his passing and to cherish his memory his wife May of over 69 years. His son Darrell John of Pickering, On.; daughters: Judith Janet May Walker of Yorkton, Sk., Sharron (Dale) Hudson of Fort Qu'Appelle, Sk.; grandchildren: S. Paul Kushnir, Tanya (Warren) Chin, Alex (Esther) Kushnir, Colin Hudson, Derek (Laura) Hudson, Joshua (Melinda) Hudson, Suzanna (Chris) Jones; great grandchildren: Devin and Brooklyn Kushnir, Logan, Sophia, Kennedy and Sunnee Hudson and Anthony Jones. As well his brother Paul Kushnir of the Netherlands; sisters:, Anna Kushnir of Wawa, On., Marion (Vernon) Leoppky of Duarte, California. Wasyl was predeceased by his parents; sons: Gerald William Kushnir, Dallas Jonathan Kushnir; daughter - in - law Jocelyn Kushnir; brothers: Peter and John and sisters: Helen Kachan and Katherine Jason.
Funeral Services were held on Saturday, February 4, 2006 at 2:00pm from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Mr. Gerry Kreba of the Maple Ave. Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses officiating. Words of remembrance were given by son, Darrell Kushnir.