Obituary of John Uhryn

John Arnold Uhryn was born December 14, 1947, to John and Katie, (nee Dereniwsky) Uhryn. He attended the Kitzman Farm School until grade 8 and completed Vocational School in Prince Albert. In 1969, John started mining in Northern Manitoba, working in Thompson, Rentan Lake and Lynn Lake. In 1973, John bought the family farm, just northeast of Rhein. It was there that he raised his family: Annette, Amanda, Carla, Kevin, Aimee, Jannah and Gayla.

John was a farmer. He worked hard at all he did. Nothing made him happier than tending to his land. He was fulfilled spending hours on the combine with his Ukrainian music playing.  He also served as a RM counsellor for many years. If he wasn't on the field, he was working on his yard, a new project in the shop or helping out a neighbour. John was the very definition of 'Neighbour'.  He would do anything to help out and everyone knew that 'Big John's Welding Shop' was always open.

John always made sure to make time for his family and friends.  To say he made an impact on the lives he touched would be an understatement.  His selflessness, determination and good old-fashioned stubbornness were the driving force to all his success.  Whether that was farming the land, raising his animals, working as a mechanic, welder, carpenter, or simply using his ‘MacGyver skills’ to build anything you could dream of (go-karts, trailers and gadgets). He could do it all!

John loved to dance. One night in February 2003, he attended a dance in Dubuc and met Heather Gage. It was love at first dance and they married in 2006. It was then that they became a wonderful blended family. John continued farming until 2008, when they sold their beloved farm and moved to Yorkton.  With retirement came new adventures. They travelled to Yuma as snowbirds, to Ukraine with the Solonenkos, roadtrip to Alaska, visited Churchill, Nashville, Vegas, Cuba and Mexico, went to Disney World and on a Caribbean cruise. Their last trip was to the Maritimes with the twins.

John's faith was very important to him. He was an active parishioner of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church and a proud member of the Knights of Columbus. John lived his life with love and forgiveness in his heart. He was a true example of living a life with integrity.  Family meant everything to John. He was a very kind and generous man. He also had a great sense of humour and immense pride in all of his children.

John enjoyed playing cards, gardening, cooking (especially making head cheese and chicken feet!).  He loved to fish, hunt, go camping and boating and of course, smoking fish and making sausage from his bounty. He especially enjoyed taking Tristen to check his trapline and playing dice with his grandchildren.

John was famous for entertaining and loved to throw parties. Whether it was a Tuesday night supper with his kids, 60 people over for an anniversary or having ‘The Gang’ over for cards, he was happiest when his house was full and you were guaranteed to never leave hungry. His home was a place of both solace and celebration. All were welcomed. It was always filled with his loving family, great friends, an abundance of food, lots of laughter, dancing and enough love to last a lifetime. We were blessed to have John in our lives and he was truly loved by many.

John will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Heather; his children: Annette Uhryn, Amanda Uhryn, Carla Groenewald, Kevin Uhryn, Aimee (Stewart) Guy, Jannah (Gerwyn) Thomas, Gayla (Chad) Dionne, Mark Gage; his grandchildren Tristen (Kaybrie), Kate, Casey, Emry, Brooklynn, Tessa, Mason, Keegan, Sophia, Drew, and Hudson.  He also leaves to celebrate his life: sisters Theresa (Walter) Denischuk, Pat Belay; brothers Wes (Donna) Uhryn, Peter (Susan) Uhryn, Ben (Teresa) Uhryn; brother-in-law Barry (Katherine) Shiells and his God-daughters Lynne, Cheryl and Bernadette; as well as his special family, ‘The Gang’, many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbours. 

He is predeceased by his parents John and Katie Uhryn; infant brother Eddy; sister Fran Uhryn;  brother-in-law Walter Belay; mother and father-in-law Sheila and Lynn Shiells; stepson Scott Gage; son-in-law Pete Groenewald; and 2 infant grandsons Karson and Oliver.

Вічная Пам'ять  -   Eternal Memory