DANIEL HNATIUK

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DANIEL HNATIUK Quietly at 1:15 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2000 at the age of 87 years. Daniel is survived by his wife Mary; daughter Rosemary and grandson Stefan. The last surviving member of a family of six, he is also mourned by many nephews and nieces and their numerous children. He is the last of the pioneer generation in the family. Dan was born on March 23, 1913 as his parents, Peter and Anna Hnatiuk, were en route to their homestead in Fisher Branch. He completed eight years of schooling at Maidstone School, then continued his studies by correspondence to achieve Grade Ten standing. He continued to be an avid autodidact all of his life. Like many young men at the time, Dan sought his fortune south of the border, working on the assembly line in Detroit until the Great Depression wiped out most jobs, at which time he returned to Fisher Branch to take up farming. In 1934 he married Mary Tomchuk, the girl from across the swamp (the Interlake equivalent of the girl next door). Shortly thereafter, Dan began working for the Ukrainian Farmers Co-op in Fisher Branch. He worked as a clerk, as the manager and served on the board of directors until he retired. Through his involvement with the co-operative movement Dan became an insurance salesman for the Co-operators and later for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation. At the same time he continued to operate his grain farm. In addition Dan was active on the board of the Fisher Branch Hospital for many years. He also served as Justice of the Peace, then Magistrate in Fisher Branch for over twenty years. Dan was a committed socialist and very active in the CCF, and its successor, the New Democratic Party. His interest in politics never failed, and even after poor health forced him to radically reduce his involvement, he kept up with what was happening locally and internationally. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Fisher Personal Care Home, the Fisherton Cemetery Committee or Amnesty International. A commemorative ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 9 at the Ukrainian National Home in Fisher Branch, MB at 1:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fisher Funeral Home, Fisher Branch, MB (204) 372-6271.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 07, 2000