Obituary of Peter Woloschuk

WOLOSCHUK - Peter George Woloschuk was born on a farm near Stornoway, Saskatchewan on December 4, 1914, son of Nykolay and Wasylena (Wintonyk) Woloschuk. He attended Angove School for his junior grades. In 1930, his parents moved to a farm near Saltcoats where Peter completed High School. During this time, he was also assisting his parents with the farming oprations during the 'hungry '30s'. After being accredited by the Department of Municipal Affairs as a Secretary-Treasurer, he held that position in the Rural Municipality of Calder No. 241 until the fall of 1955. He was also the Secretary-Treasurer for Wroxton Village, Justice of the Peace and had a sideline for Harland Fire Insurance, legal conveyancing for the ratepayers and for brush clearing. He enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War, returning to his Wroxton job afterwards. His most important work in Wroxton, though, was meeting Mary Kereluk, who arrived on a train from Insinger to teach school. They were united in marriage in the Yorkton Ukrainian Orthodox Church on October 10, 1942 by the late Very Reverend Frank Kernitsky. The couple raised two children, Boris and Lesya. Peter was also the secretary-treasurer of the Ukrainian Orthodox parish of St. Elia during the time they constructed their new church. The photograph of that church that appeared in the May 1979 issue of National Geographic magazine always had a place of honour in their home. In 1955, the family moved to Thorhild, Alberta, near Edmonton, where Peter accepted a position as Secretary-Treasurer of the County of Thorhild No. 7 for the next 21 years. He also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Village of Thorhild for a number of years and Secretary-Treasurer of Thorhild Senior Citizens Home as well as Thorhild County General Hospital in Redwater in the formative stage. His wide-ranging interests included politics as President of Alberta Social Credit League for Andrew-Redwater constituency in the final stages of the party's existence. He was also instrumental in having an Alberta Government Liquor Store and a Federal Post Office located in Thorhild. As a staunch supporter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, he ws treasurer of the church in Thorhild and also of the Radway Central Committee, with parishes in Fedorah, Redwater, Radway, Waskatenayu, Newbrook, Thorhild and Egremont. On his retirement in 1976, Peter and Mary moved to Edmonton where they resided until the Fall of 1984. While they were there, Peter was Treasurer of St. Andrew's Church for a few years and member of the Order of St. Andrew. In 1984, the couple moved to Ottawa to be near their children and grandchildren, Kevin, Jerin, Quentin, Nicholas and Alexandra. Peter and Mary joined the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Peter continued to be active as Vice-President of Ukrainian Self Reliance Association and President of St. Andrew's Order, Ottawa Branch, for a number of years. During these many years, Peter and Mary traveled extensively across Canada, in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. They particularly enjoyed meeting with relatives in Ukraine. Everywhere Peter went, he had a camera attached to his hand so there is a wealth of photo stories of all these trips and every family event. Peter was interested in everything and everybody….down to small details. His photographs always had who, when, where and what was going on recorded on the back of each and every one of them! Peter was predeceased by his wife, Mary, his parents, Nykolay and Wasylena (Wintonyk) Woloschuk, brother Metro James and his wife, Annie (Polischuk), brother Norman and sister Anne (Sorokan) of Prince Albert. Sadly missed but fondly remembered by his son Boris (Constance Hill) and their children, Quentin, Nicholas (Whitney Grove), and Alexandra (Andrew Coghlan), daughter Lesya Dunsmoor (Peter Royds) and her sons Kevin and Jerin (Amanda) Dunsmoor. Peter enjoyed hearing about the activities and accomplishments of these grandchildren, working their way through school, jobs and travel, marriages and births. He delighted in having great grandchildren: Benjamin and Logan Woloschuk in Toronto; Talia and Acacia Dunsmoor in Vancouver. Also remembering their time with Peter are sisters, Mary and Irene Woloschuk; sister-in-law Kay (Werbowetski) Woloschuk of Yorkton; and, brother-in-law Maurice Sorokan of Saskatoon. There are also nieces and nephews: Wayne, Lesia and their daughter Alicia (Brad); Gregory, Susan, and their children, Cole and Jenna; Joanne, Andrew; Betty, Norman & Kathy. Even over the last several years, Peter visited Yorkton, Wroxton and area as often as possible. He enjoyed sitting with old friends and their families, pulling out memories of life around there 60 years ago. And, he always had an active, up to date interest in what all members of the extended family were up to. Family, friends and service to community and church filled a busy 94 and