Obituary of Bill Spilchuk

SPILCHUK - William (Bill) passed away peacefully at St. Peter's Hospital in Melville, Sk. on January 10th, 2010. He was born on March 31st, 1922 in the Churchill District near Ituna, Sk. Bill attended Churchill school from Grade 1-8. His first lesson in economics and business management was learned as a young boy in selling gopher's tails (1 cent) and crow's feet. In order to earn enough to fulfill his dream of farming, Bill went to work on the CN railway and later at a logging camp in Kenora, ON. He returned home and married Sophie Premak on November 10th, 1946. They bought their first quarter of land in 1947 and his vision started to become reality. He continued to work off the farm, doing carpentry work; building schools, the post office, and elevators. The farm land base expanded as did the family. Bill and Sophie raised 6 children. Bill had a deep religious faith and was dedicated to his church, and as such, served on St. Nicholas Parish (Churchill) executive, and later as a loyal member of the Sacred Heart Parish in Ituna. With love and devotion, he faithfully carried out the duties of sacristan in both parishes. He served as a committee member of Sask Wheat Pool and the Churchill Snow Plow Club. In 1969, Michael and Ernie joined in partnership of the family farm. Bill and Sophie retired from active farming in 1994, and moved to their home in Ituna, where they enjoyed seeing their family and friends meet in love and harmony. Bill was extremely proud when his sons and grandson took over the family farm. He was so proud of all his children and celebrated their successes. Bill led the family by example, was an honourable man true to his word. "Please" and "Thank-you" were always in his vocabulary. Bill was proud of his family and having everyone gather together was of utmost importance. He especially loved to have the entire family out on a beautiful harvest day. He was proud to share the farming experience with his sons, grandsons and great-grandchildren. He was always and will continue to be the cornerstone of the family. Like "footprints in the sand", may the footprint that he left behind, be our guidance as we journey through life. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten. Bill is predeceased by his parents Dmytro and Anna (nee Spilchak) and his sisters Dora (Ilko) Kushnerenko and Mary (Alex) Halipchak and by numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law. He is survived by his wife Sophie (nee Premak), his son Michael (Kristine Kolybaba) and their children Colin(Heidi) - [Karina, Brendan, Daniel], Sheldon (Sheila) - [Jake, Maquire, Quaid], Shaun (Treena) - [Donavan, Kendra, Damon, Kane], and Cora (Jon) - [Camden]; his son Ernie (Marion Nakoneshny) and their children Richard (Raquel) - [Chelsea, Katelyn, Matthew], Duane- [Taggart, Madison], (Tammy), Diane (Ryan) - [Tristan, Darian], his daughter MaryAnne (Jack Shymko) and their children Nancy (Donavon) - [Dena, Cassidy, Duncan], Sara (Marty), Laura (Jason) -[Noah], and David; his daughter Theresa (Terry Dahlman) and their children Danielle (Dave) and Tyler (Whitney); his daughter Pat (Bill Betker) and their children Angie and Kelly and his daughter Christine (Dan McArthur) and their son, William, by his sisters Catherine (Sister Fotenia, SSMI) and Annie (Sister Andronica, SSMI). He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Rose Smysnuik, Jean Dubacz, Anne Grebinski, Anne Premak, Pauline (Ken) Brozer, Kathy (Bob) Glassford, and brothers-in-law Steve (Joanne) Premak and Ted Premak. Prayers were held on Tuesday evening, January 12, 2010 from Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ituna. The Requiem Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 from Sacred Heart Church with Very Rev. Father Boris Kyba, C.Ss.R. as Celebrant. Cantors, Wayne Boczulak, Ladmer Moskal and Heidi Spilchuk led in the responses. The crossbearer was William McArthur, the epistle-reader was Sara Shymko and the altarservers were Brendan and Daniel Spilchuk. The sacristan was Larry Tymiak. The interment took place in the Parish Cemetery with Colin, Richard, Shaun, and Duane Spilchuk, Tyler Dahlman and David Shymko serving as the casketbearers. Arrangements were entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home.