WILLIAM BILL URICHEN

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WILLIAM "BILL" URICHEN It is with great sorrow that the family of William Urichen and those communities that he served, share with you his sudden passing at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, Dauphin, MB on January 13, 2001 at the age of 71 years. Bill was born on January 7, 1930 just one half mile west of where he lived most of his life. He was the eldest of seven children born to Olga (Palyszniuk) and Nick Urichen. Bill attended Valley Village School and spent his entire life on the family farm devoting his life to his family, church and community. He was married to Lil (Luba) Petrycia on July 20, 1968 and they were blessed with one son Gregory William on December 29, 1974. Family life was very important to Bill and he always included his family in all his decisions whether it was what should be sown in the spring or whether he should participate in a bowling tournament. Bills life was one of commitment and dedication, always keeping harmony in all things in his life. He served his church and community with great pride and sincerity. His efforts on behalf of his church will long be remembered in his musical ability where he served as a church cantor for almost 50 years in the Valley River, Keld and Dauphin Ukrainian Catholic Churches. Bills beautiful tenor voice was also a part of his church choirs and the Ukrainian Festival Choir. Bill had faithfully served as Eucharistic Minister in the Resurrection Parish. His community will remember his service as a municipal councillor for the R.M. of Dauphin for 15 years as well as many other boards including the Dauphin Hospital Board, Dauphin Hospital Foundation, St. Pauls Home, Handi-Van, as well as the Valley River Community Centre, and Trembowla Cross of Freedom. The Knights of Columbus #3497 was an organization that he served with great pride in various capacities including Grand Knight at the time of his death. He was also a member of the St. Viators 4th Degree Assembly. Bill had a natural ability for sports with 10-pin bowling being his passion. He had bowled for 35 years at the local, national and international levels always able to fit competitions into his busy schedule. Bill loved the game of golf and enjoyed fishing as well. Bill was a people person who loved the interaction with all ages. He had a love not only for people, but for the land. Bill had a deep affinity with his Maker which was seen in his great love and appreciation of nature and all its creatures. He took great pride in his farming practices and the crops he produced. Bills understanding of the land went far beyond textbook practices and his herd of Black Angus cattle was his ultimate pride. He had also spent 22 and one half years as school bus driver for the Dauphin-Ochre area School Board, enjoying the camaraderie of the many students he drove over the years. Bill enjoyed life to the fullest every single day, and he never missed an opportunity to stop to talk, joke, laugh, dance and to love. Bill was predeceased by his mother Olga in 1975, his father Nick in 1980, his father-in-law John Petrycia in 1981 and his brother Walter in 1989. Bill is survived by his wife Lil; son Greg of Russell; two brothers, Alex of Valley River and John (Ann) of Russell and Mesa, AZ; three sisters, Elsie (John) Bordyniuk of Winnipeg, Emily Kuzmiak, and Luba (Lawrence) Safronetz of Sifton; his mother-in-law Anne Petrycia of Brandon; brother-in-law Borden Petrycia of Brandon and three sisters-in-law, Mary (Ed) Langevin, Irene (Jake) Kosior, all of Winnipeg, and Alice Petrycia of Brandon, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren. A rosary will be conducted on Thursday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m. by the Dauphin Knights of Columbus, Council #3497 followed by prayers at 7:00 p.m. in the Dauphin Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection. Funeral service will be held on Friday, January 19 at 10:00 a.m. in the Dauphin Ukrainian Catholic Church. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Mitrat Michael Buyachok will officiate and interment will follow in the Dauphin Riverside Cemetery. Cantor for the service will be Marvin Procyshyn. An honour guard will be formed by members of the Dauphin Knights of Columbus, Council #3497 and the St. Viators 4th Degree Assembly of Knights. All of Bills friends and associates are to consider themselves as honorary pallbearers. Active pallbearers will be Mike Kamfoly, Raymond Hadway, Ernie Gawaziuk, Mervin Odut, Ken Yakielashek and Don Demchuk. A Eulogy will be read by his niece and godchild Pat Funk. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba or to the Historic Church of the Resurrection in Dauphin. The Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Service, Dauphin, MB has care of the arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 17, 2001