WALTER KURYK

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WALTER KURYK Walter Kuryk died on November 17, 2008 at St. Boniface Hospital after a brief illness. He was born on January 31, 1922, the last of seven children to Johanna (Boychuk) and Peter Kuryk. His early years were difficult, as were the times. He finished high school and soon after enlisted in the RCAF. He spent most of the War years on the west coast of Canada assessing movement of enemy subs. After his career in the air force, he was a switchman at CPR for 35 years. He married the love of his life in 1943. Walter and Jean celebrated their 65th anniversary this past June. They had two children Claudia and Martin. Walter's passion in life however was singing. He was every choir director's delight. He began in church choirs as a boy. Later, his beautiful rich bass voice added to the Bohonos Male Chorus, the O. Koshetz Choir and of course to the choir at Blessed Virgin Mary Church. He never missed those Thursday night practices. Some of his best times were on choir trips to Europe, Ukraine and South America. His other passions were gardening. Such incredible tomatoes ripened under his care. He had many good weekends with family and friends at Camp Rusalka. He was a good bowler, golfer and was very lucky at the VLT's He was predeceased by his son Martin, his parents, his siblings and their spouses George (Doris), Ollie (Bill), Mary (Henry) and Bud, his in-laws Nikodem and Anne Zaniewich, Ivan Kalinchy, and his sister-in-law Helen (JB) Boychuk. He was also predeceased by his nephews Bob Boychuk. Andrew Kuryk, Billy Matrick, and Eddy Weppler. Left to mourn his passing are his beloved wife Jean, his daughter Claudia (Andrew) Serray, his granddaughter Larissa Klymkiw, her father Peter Klymkiw, and his sister-in-law Terry Kuryk. There are also many nieces and nephews who will also miss their Uncle, the Patriarch of the family. In particular Donnie Kuryk who was like a son to him. Panakhyda (Prayers) will be sung on Friday evening, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 965 Boyd Avenue. Divine Liturgy and the conclusion of the funeral rite will be on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Church. Rev. Frs. V. Bashutskyy and N. Yakiwchuk will officiate. Pallbearers will be Travis Bender, Jim Dudych, Tom Dudych, David Kuryk, Ric Kuryk, and Rob Kuryk. Flowers graciously declined. Donations may be made in Walter's memory to the Ukrainian Adoption Services Inc., 777 Pritchard Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2X 0E8, the (Blessed Virgin Mary) BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church, 965 Boyd Avenue, or to the Humane Society, 45 Hurst Way, Winnipeg, MB R3T 0R3. Interment at All Saints Cemetery.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 22, 2008