Obituary of Walter John Ivanochko

IVANOCHKO - Mr. Walter Ivanochko, beloved husband of Nina Ivanochko of Bredenbury, passed away suddenly on Sunday, March 26, 2006 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. He was 61 years of age. Walter John Ivanochko was born on February 4, 1945 in the Homefield district of Saskatchewan; a son of Nick and Annie (nee Charanduk) Ivanochko. The family moved to Bredenbury in 1958 and Walter attended school in the Hardrock district of Bredenbury, Saltcoats and later took a welding course at the Moose Jaw Technical Institute. On April 25, 1969 he married Nina (Morgan), and together they raised three wonderful children - Tracey (Matt) Harasymuk of Yorkton, Cindy (Brent) Stechyshyn of Swift Current, and Jason (Tricia) Ivanochko of Yorkton. Just as important as the bond he felt for each of his children was the special bond he had with each of his grandchildren - Brett & Tyler Herasymuk, Caleb Stechyshyn, and Jaiden and Kaitlyn Ivanochko. He was lovingly known as "Grandpa on the Farm". He was so proud to learn that Cindy and Brent would make him a Grandpa again in May. Walter loved life - whether it was working his fields; having coffee with "the guys", coaching Jason's hockey team or watching his girls swim. You could always hear Walter in the crowd with his boisterous laughter. Over the past few years he took up "quadding" - the deeper the mud and water the better he liked it! He also took up gardening recently and loved sharing the surplus with whomever needed it - the only thing that perturbed him was the deer eating off his freshly transplanted tomatoes but then what could you expect when you fed them all winter. He was involved in multiple activities in the community and always willing to lend a helping. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Eugene and will be lovingly remembered by his two sisters: Lee (Clarence) LePage of Calgary, and Irene (John) Paterson of Toronto; and four brothers: Jim of Calgary, Myron of Yorkton, Gerald (Bettie) of LaRonge, and Gordon of Tillsonburg, Ontario; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends. Prayer services were held on Thursday evening, March 30, 2006 from the Chapel of Bailey's Funeral Home, Yorkton. The funeral service was held on Friday, March 31, 2006 from the Bredenbury Community Hall in Bredenbury. Very Rev. Father Bryan Bayda C.Ss.R. of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church officiated. Leading in the responses were cantors Ed Pindus, Colette Karapita and members of St. Mary's parish choir. Family friend, Fred Nicholson gave the eulogy. Prelude music was played by Lorne Neal and Ruth Datema, and soloist Donna Smith sang 'These Hands'. Crossbearers were grandchildren Bret Harasymuk and Jaiden Ivanochko. The interment took place in the Bredenbury Cemetery with Perry Janett, Gary Burman, Don Taylor, Terry Kitzul, Don Kitzul, Greg Scott, Dwight Leppington and Brian Soke serving as the casketbearers. Arrangements were in care of Bailey's Funeral Home. Interment Details Bredenbury Cemetery