ELIAS MELNYK

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ELIAS MELNYK On December 21, 2000, Elias Melnyk, age 77 went home to Jesus for Christmas at the Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg, MB after a lengthy illness. Elias was born January 24, 1923 in the Carpathian region of Ukraine in the village of Lanchin to Mykola and Evdokia Melnyk. When he was three years old his father passed away, leaving behind a young boy and his two sisters and mother. In 1939 he left his village to go to Germany to find work. After the Second World War ended, he met Nadia Yakubowich and they were married December 16, 1946 in Germany. In 1949 they immigrated to Canada with their two young children, Lydia and Nick, settling in the Benito, MB area. They spent the next 17 years in the Swan River Valley where three more children, Ruth, Mary and Anne were born. After looking for various types of employment, Elias finally found full time work with the Canadian National Railway with whom he was employed for 36 years. In 1966 the family moved to Winnipeg where he continued working for C.N.R. until his retirement in 1987. He attended the Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Winnipeg and was always willing to support missions - especially those that reached out to needy people in Ukraine. He leaves behind his wife of 54 years Nadia; five children, Lydia McKinnon, Nick (Esther) Melnyk, Ruth Melnyk, Mary (Leslie) Matyas, Anne Melnyk, all of Winnipeg; his sister Melania in Ukraine and ten grandchildren, Cheryl (Larry Roy), Carrie, Neal McKinnon, Timothy, Nicole, Aimee Melnyk, Gwendolyn, Eric, Sean, Sara Matyas, and family in Ukraine and friends in Canada. He was predeceased by his parents; his sister Justina and his son-in-law Alex McKinnon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 23, 2:00 p.m. at Klassen Funeral Chapel, 1897 Henderson Hwy. with Rev. Dr. John Tkachuk officiating. Additional funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 27 at 1:00 p.m. from Paull Funeral Chapel in Swan River, MB with Rev. Dr. Steve Skoworodko officiating. Interment to follow at the Benito Cemetery. Viewing prior to the services. In memory of Elias Melnyk donations can be made to Evangelical Mission To Ukraine, #802 - 9916 - 113 St. N.W., Edmonton, AB T4K 2N3. Arrangements entrusted to Klassen Funeral Chapel, 338-0331

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 23, 2000