Mike Shypit

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MIKE SHYPIT
Apr. 8, 1930-Nov. 29, 2018

Mike Shypit passed away at Vita Personal Care Home a few months short of his 89th birthday. He was proud to have battled through high blood pressure, gout, a heart attack and surgery, diabetes and almost 20 years of bladder cancer. He would happily boast, “They call me Miracle Mike”. He was a miracle.

Our father was predeceased by parents Nick and Mary, wife of 57 years Jean, younger sister, also Jean (also Mike!), and younger sister Dorothy. He is survived by older sister Helen of Vancouver, younger brother Jerry of Kimberley, sons Jeff (Diane) of Winnipeg, Rick of Aptos, CA, and Al (Sandra) of Winnipeg, grandchildren Linda and Lana, and various nieces and nephews.

Dad was born into a farming family of modest means in Sirko, MB (near Sundown, not too far from Vita). His early memories were of the hardships of the Great Depression and for all of his life he refused to buy anything on credit. He left school before finishing grade 10 to go out and work for a living. Dad was often heard to say “the hard times were the good times”. His values surrounding what is important in life were forged in times of lesser privilege and lesser prosperity.

In 1955, Dad married Jean Tkachuk and they acquired a 2-room house just outside Sprague that had previously served as a hay barn on 160 acres of rocky land and bush. Over the years, Dad added rooms to the house, raised cattle, hogs, chickens, geese, rabbits, shot deer and other game for the family to eat, planted expansive gardens, and generally carved out an almost self-sufficient life. He was highly resourceful and if he did not know how to do something, he would teach himself. He downplayed his skills as a mechanic or carpenter, but was good at both. Eventually, he took a job at the new particle board factory in Sprague and became a stationary engineer. He would say proudly, “I have a trade now.”

The first thing Diane said when told of Dad’s passing was, “Well, he was a force.” He was a physical force, the strongest man around, winner of many an arm-wrestling challenge. But even more, he was an intellectual force. He probably never fully understood the depth of his intelligence. He could do math in his head, recall small details of events from decades ago, cite historical or political facts as if he’d read about them 10 minutes ago. More than one person said he was the smartest man they’d ever met.

Dad was a simple man with complex thoughts. He had a gift of gab and would talk to anyone, friend or stranger. He liked everyone, so, of course, they liked him back. He joked around, laughed easily at himself, and took equal pleasure in small talk or big discussions. He could see all sides of a problem or issue and quickly distill it into a common sense resolution. He was an open-minded and good-natured debater. He could disagree with people with such good humour and cheer that they might scarcely notice he was on the other side of the argument. He liked to tell how all three political parties tried to recruit him to run for office.

Community was important to Dad and he was tireless in his belief that the rural community he lived in was going to build up again. Bright city lights weren’t an attraction for him; he took more joy in watching a timber stand mature or a hayfield produce unexpected bounty. His early work in pulpwood camps left him with an abiding appreciation for machinery and the honest labour of keeping a power saw or a tractor running reliably. His proud 70-year dedication to the Detroit Red Wings was another example of a life-long affinity rooted in Dad’s early years. He became a Red Wings fan in the early ‘40s because they had several Ukrainians playing for them. He never forgot where he came from.

Well into his 80’s, Dad kept busy riding his quad around the farm, feeding the cats and birds, shooting at bears who ventured too close, following baseball, hockey, politics, or having coffee with friends.

The family wishes to thank each and every of the many people who helped Dad, with special thanks to Lawrence and Ruth Nordstrom. Dad was sincerely grateful to all who were kind to him.

Cremation has taken place and a gathering to celebrate his life will take place at the Sprague Community Centre on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 at 2 p.m.

As published in The Carillon on Dec 12, 2018