PROKEY BUCHKO

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PROKEY BUCHKO Prokey Buchko passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 27, 2002 at the age of about 102. Although he celebrated his 100th birthday last August, he really was a few years older than his "official age". Coming to Canada as a young child in 1901 the best the government could do was arbitrarily assume he was born on the day he arrived in Canada from the Ukraine. The fact that he was actually a few years older than his "official government birthdate" didnt phase him at all. He knew that he was in his 90s and that if he had to live an extra few years to reach his "government age of 100 years, so what". He kept walking and joking with the Maples staff until last year when he was around 101 and a fall resulting in a broken hip slowed him up a bit. Hed often complain that "Im in my 90s you know" while he did his physiotherapy with his walker down the hallway. In the last few months his age finally caught up with him and he gave up the physiotherapy with the walker and reluctantly switched to a wheelchair. This still never slowed down his appetite or humour and it was really only in the last couple of weeks that he spent a lot of time sleeping in his bed. The thing that sums him up best is probably what he said to one of his grandchildren back in 1987 on his farm when he was driving the tractor with a load of bales to feed some of the cattle. He turned to his grandson and in an angry tone said "Im too old to be farming, I should be retired, Im going to quit farming and move to Gimli". He was 89 years old at the time. Retirement in Gimli consisted of transforming a rather large backyard into a very large garden. This still wasnt large enough to keep a couple in their late 80s busy so they regularly returned to their Arnes farm to look after an additional garden there. Prokey spent the last several years at the Maples Care Home in Winnipeg and treated the staff to his humour and good nature. We are thankful for the care he received while living at the Maples and appreciate the efforts of all the staff that provided support for Prokey during his time there and who did so much to ensure he remained as comfortable as possible. Prokey is survived by his daughters, nephews, a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss him. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 2 at 2:00 p.m. in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Gimli, with Deacon Ray Sutton officiating. Interment will follow in the Gimli Community Cemetery. Gilbart Funeral Home, Gimli in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 30, 2002