MICHAEL WEPRUK

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MICHAEL WEPRUK Michael Wepruk died peacefully at the Personal Care Home in Vita, Manitoba on January 15, 2011, age 97. Our father was born August 15, 1913 south of Sundown to Petro and Maria Wepruk. He married Helen Skrumeda on June 15, 1946, bought a poolroom in 1949 in Sundown; the store and café were added and family life became public. He was interested in politics, playing cards, sports, reading, and having company. He will be remembered for the time he gave to the Sundown baseball and hockey teams, chauffeuring the boys to baseball games and coaching them, making the ice for the town's first hockey rink in our backyard and refereeing the hockey games (for which he had to first learn to skate). In his youth he harvested for farmers in southwestern Manitoba, trapped mink, weasel, lynx and muskrat and continued trapping until 67 years of age. He was a jack-of-all trades, at various times planting trees for Manitoba Forestry, operating a bulldozer and caterpillar in Thompson, MB and truck driver and carpenter for his brother Nick in Emo, ON. As an entrepreneur he built cribbing for wells, attempted to grow wild rice on the Wepruk farm, and later in 1977 began a Christmas tree plantation. Dad will be greatly missed by his children: Pat (Marc Chabot), James (Denise) and Jackie (Rick Austin). He leaves behind to mourn his passing: his beloved brothers Paul (Alice), Bill (Dorothy) and Stan (Elma), his grandchildren: Tamara Wiebe, Corey (Sonja), Laurier and Patrick; great-grandchildren: Micayla, Shayda, Jadyn and Ryleigh and a multitude of nephews and nieces. His parents, brother Nick and sisters: Anne Bodnarchuk, Nettie Kereliuk, Helen Osachuk, Val Anderson, Kate Kereliuk predeceased him. In the last two years, with failing eyesight and hearing, he gave up watching sports and Jeopardy, reading, and playing cards. His sense of humour remained intact to the end in spite of mounting health problems. Thank you, Dad, for all the laughs and teaching us to play cribbage - though you took excessive pleasure in skunking us! J. Thank you to the staff at the Vita Personal Care Home, Vita Hospital staff and Home Care for the time, attention and care provided with patience and humour. Special thanks to Joy Andrusiak for taking care of Dad's needs when distance prevented us from being there. Burial and funeral liturgy will take place May 7, 2011 (pending) at the Ascension of our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church in Sundown. Arrangements by BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL 1-204-346-1030 or 1-888-454-1030

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 25, 2011