Obituary of JOHN PAWLYCHYN

JOHN PAWLYCHYN

April 20, 1946 – August 21, 2019

On Wednesday, August 21, John passed away surrounded by loved ones and ready to take on his next project in the heavens above. John left the way he would have wanted to, living life to the absolute fullest, until he suffered a stroke early Sunday. He graciously gave his family a few days to be with him, so we could tell him how much he meant to us, before he let go.

John was many things to many people, but first he was a farmer born and raised in the Manitoba Interlake in the tiny hub of Chatfield. After what he deemed enough years in school, he headed out to the Alberta oil fields to help his parents buy their farm. From a young age, he was driven to help.

After meeting his first wife Janet, it was time to get serious about settling down. He went to school to become an electrician which eventually transitioned into becoming one of the most highly regarded electrical inspectors with the City of Winnipeg.

Shortly after marrying Janet, his daughter Marla and son Craig were born and their years were full of camping trips, curling, golfing and working to help his family and friends with whatever it was that they needed help with. He would often get calls at home “Johnny, do you know what to do if . . . ?” Of course, he always knew the answer and was only too happy to jump in his truck and head over to your place to lend a helping hand.

During this time, John’s true gift surfaced. He was an inventor. He loved solving problems. It didn’t matter what the issue was, he would march off into his garage when any query arose and in no time, would immerge with a new tool he just made to solve the problem - and of course - it always did.

As his children aged and moved out of home, John was faced with the largest challenge of his life when his wife Janet was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. During those seven months Janet fought, John was with her every step of the way, supporting her, loving her and caring for her.

Shortly after Janet’s passing, John met his dear Donna who had recently gone through a similar experience with her wonderful husband Boris. Together, John and Donna were able to find laughter, love and adventure again. When they married, John received the best gift from Donna: three amazing stepchildren, Michael, Larissa, and Dan who he treasured.

The next chapter in John’s life was all about becoming a grandpa, a role he was born to fill. Grace, Violet, Olivia, Jack, Katia, Julia and Nadia – seven little names that meant more to him than anything in the world. If John had just one regret, we are guessing it would have been that he didn’t live just a few more weeks to see his second grandson born, but we all know he will be there that day, welcoming that little man into the family in his own special way.

As much as John loved helping people, he cherished every animal he met. Whether it be a mother deer and her fawn that he had to stop driving to watch and make sure they safely crossed the highway, to his beloved family dog Muffin, who was always so much more than a companion to him.   

John’s other love was the snow.  He could recount every winter storm Winnipeg experienced and would be up well before dawn on those days getting his snow blower out and plowing not only his driveway and sidewalk, but those of the entire block (yep, the back lane, too).  He was like a kid in a candy shop on those special Canadian winter days.

John’s 73 years were packed with adventures of all sorts; flipping tractors, working on oil rigs, road trips across Canada, becoming a father, ATVing through the Interlake, high-end camping (nowadays we kids call it glamping), golfing on some of the world’s best courses, African safaris, and welcoming seven beautiful grandchildren into this world.

John leaves to mourn everyone that he touched during his 73 years (so half of Winnipeg, really).  At the top of this list is his dear wife Donna, his children Marla and Sean Barr (with their children Violet and Jack), Craig and Julie Pawlychyn (their children Grace and Olivia), his wonderful step-children Michael and Caroline Seredycz, Larissa and Henlo Wiese (with Nadia and grandson on the way), and Dan and Jess Seredycz (with their girls Katia and Julia). He also leaves his dear brothers and sisters Ann and John Peiluck, Mary Ptashynski, Kathy and Ross Kidd, Phil and Lois Drohomereski, Deanna and Cec Pringle, Victoria and Peter Midtdal, and Eleanore and Randy McMahon. John’s warmth and helpful nature will be deeply missed by his brother and sister-in-laws; John, Peter and Sonya, Jean (Randy), Pat, Dennis, Ed and Nancy Prociuk and their respective families.

John also left so much love and knowledge to his dear nieces and nephews; the Cheguis family (Judy, Noel, Bernadine, Scott and Charles), the Smalleys (Joanie, Robbie and Ashley), the Pawlychyns (Michael, Carol, Christine and Chris), the Kidds (Shane, Warren and Colleen), the Drohomereski family (Shannon, Michael, Zander, Connor, Ryan, Georgia, Hunter and Jessie-Lynn), the Midtdals (Devin and James), the McMahons (Justin, Aaron and Shaylyn), and many, many more.

John was predeceased by his first wife Janet (2004), his parents Kay (1987) and Michael (1985), his brother Alex (2005), brother-in-law Nick (1992), and his nephews David Peiluck (1999) and Ron Chudy (1985).

To all of you that knew John – worked with him, golfed, curled, camped or lived within his snow blowing home radius – know that he treasured you as we his family do now.

Our Dad’s funeral will take place on Monday, August 26^th at 10:00 am at St. Anne Ukrainian Church (35 Marcie Street). The interment will follow at Glen Eden (4477 Main Street).

In lieu of flowers, we suggest doing what John always did with a beaming smile: go out and help someone today, a stranger, a coworker, a neighbour, a loved one. If you are so inclined to make a donation in our father’s name, we would suggest either the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Cancer Care Manitoba. Oh, and if you are missing John and just want to feel his presence, make yourself a stiff Caesar, grab a Sudoko puzzle, put on some Martina McBride, and ask yourself “I wonder how I should do this project?” Guaranteed, John will be right by your side.