OREST MICHALUK

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OREST MICHALUK Passed away peacefully at home on May 29, 2006 at the age of 71 years. For the past several years Orest had suffered from respiratory problems due to pulmonary fibrosis which slowly took his breath and, ultimately, his life away. Orest is survived by his loving wife Shirley (nee Kozar); son Ryan (Shelley), grandchildren, Heather and Ross; mother Nellie (nee Wasyluk), mother-in-law Jean Kozar and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jeanette and Greg Griggs. Orest was predeceased by his daughter Michelle, father Peter, brother Nestor and father-in-law Fred Kozar. Orest was born on September 5, 1934 in Ethelbert, MB. He moved with his family to Gilbert Plains, MB in 1944 where he attended public school. After graduating from high school, Orest obtained his Teachers Certificate from the Manitoba Teachers College in Winnipeg. Orest married his childhood friend and sweetheart, Shirley Kozar on July 13, 1957 and they spent their first year together with Orest teaching grades one to nine in a one room schoolhouse at Blackstone, MB. The following year Orest and Shirley moved to Grandview, MB where Orest took on the dual role as school Principal and teacher at Grandview Public School from 1958 until 1965. In 1965 Orest and Shirley moved to Esterhazy, SK where they opened a Marshall Wells Hardware Store. Over the years, the store changed names to become a Link Hardware Store and later a Home Hardware Store. In 2005, Orest and Shirley sold their store and retired. Orest was an active member of the local business community and served for almost forty years on the Esterhazy Economic Development Committee, several years on the executive of the Esterhazy Chamber of Commerce, and a term on the executive of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce amongst other memberships and associations. Orest loved people and took a great interest in other people. He was especially fond of family and friends and took a genuine interest in learning about their lives. He carried this love of people to his business at the hardware store where he took a sincere interest in his customers and their needs. Orest garnered great pleasure and a sense of personal pride whenever he was able to help a customer with their requirements, even when the size of the sale was very small. What was important to the customer was important to Orest and he just wanted to help. Prayers will be held on Friday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. (Saskatchewan Time) in St. John's Anglican Church, Esterhazy, SK. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 3 at 1:00 p.m. (Saskatchewan Time) in Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Esterhazy, SK with Archdeacon Ken Buchan officiating. Interment to follow in the Town of Esterhazy Cemetery. Those wishing may make donations in Orest's memory to St. Anthony's Hospital, Esterhazy, SK or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan. Arrangements by Peter Carscadden Funeral Services Ltd, Esterhazy, Saskatchewan.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 02, 2006