Obituary of John Semchuk

The family of John Semchuk of the Theodore Health Centre and formerly of Yorkton, beloved father of Chris Drobot & Karen Mehling, sadly announce his passing on July 23, 2023. He was 96 years of age.

A private family Funeral Service will be held.

Memorial donations in memory of John Semchuk may be made to the Alzheimer Society as gifts of remembrance.

 

     The family of John Semchuk sadly announce his passing at the Theodore Health Centre on July 23, 2023.

    John was born on July 7, 1927 to William (Wasyl) Semchuk, an unaccompanied immigrant to Canada from the Ukraine at age 17, and to Katrina Stapinski of the Insinger area. Born on the family farm his birth was preceded by that of his brother Michael and his sister Mary, with a brother Alexander to follow.

    John attended Yemen school. He later regretted that responsibilities on the farm prevented him from furthering his education and that his family was unable to determine what happened to his father’s parents and his brothers and sisters in Ukraine who were not heard from after 1918.

    John married Victoria Surkan, daughter of Petro Surkan and Maria Grumetza on July 12, 1953. They raised three daughters, Christine, Charlene and Karen. Some years after Vicky’s death he remarried, to the former Francis Hilbert.

    John and Victoria managed a mixed farming operation in the Insinger district until 1982, after which time they moved to Yorkton and John worked at the Yorkton Bus Depot.

   Over the years he worked or volunteered as Secretary/Treasurer of the rural Yemen School District (and was involved in the closure of rural school houses that occurred in the 1960’s), as a caretaker at the St. John Suchawa country hall, and as President of the New Horizons Senior Centre. He enjoyed hunting, square dancing, gardening and travel. John lived in his own home until 2017 after which time he moved to the Bentley Retirement Home in Yorkton. He entered long term care in December of 2022, first in Canora, then in Theodore.

    John is predeceased by his wife Victoria, his parents, his brother Alexander, his brother Michael and his sister-in-law Ann, his sister Mary and his brother-in-law Bill Zurakowski, his daughter Charlene Keats, and his grandson David Drobot. Also, all of Vicky’s family and their spouses except sister-in-law Olga Surkan. He is survived by his daughter Chris (Dennis Drobot) and their son Tim (Myra Chan) as well as his daughter Karen (Ron Mehling) and their children Michelle (Roman Raml), Scott (Keshia Reigh-Anne) and Amanda (Kody Pollon) and Charlene’s daughter Tina (Troy Gould). John’s family also includes eight great grandchildren, Bryan Stupak, Katrina Raml, Jessica Raml, Mikayla Keats, Karston Mehling, Kai Mehling, Alexis Pollon, and Alyvia Pollon. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces.

His family gives thanks for a long full life and commits him to Eternal Memory.

Vichnaya Pamnat

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