NICOLAS DANYLUK

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NICOLAS DANYLUK B.A, B.Ed Nicolas Danyluk died Sunday, September 21, on his 85th birthday, at the Riverview Health Center. Nick was born September 21, 1918 in Olha, MB. He grew up on the family farm near Rossburn and received his early education there. From an early age he knew the importance of education and determinedly walked great distances in harsh winter weather in order to complete his high school education. In 1936, he attended the Manitoba Normal School and began his teaching career at Braddock School in 1937, with 42 students from Grades One to Nine. In 1940, he moved to Harrower School and taught there until he joined the RCAF in 1942. That year he married Rose Labay and they lived on various bases on the west coast: Jericho Beach, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and Sea Island. After the war, he returned to Manitoba and resumed his teaching career at Harrower until 1948, when he began to teach in Oakburn. He graduated the University of Manitoba with a B.A. in 1950, and became Principal of Oakburn School in 1952. In 1954, he assumed the principalship of Goulding School at RCAF Stn. Gimli and remained there until 1968, when he took a position with the Assiniboine South S.D. He received his B. Ed from the U of M in 1959. He loved teaching and had the extraordinary gift of making the most complex subjects easily understandable. He was greatly respected by his students, and retired from teaching in 1975. Nick had many talents and was always very involved in the community in which he lived. Whether it was arranging movie nights in the Oakburn Hall in the 1950s for the whole community; singing Handels Messiah with a community choir; painting; writing; translating; or traveling; his opinions and advice were constantly in demand. Above all, he was very involved with his church. It began with moving a small church to Menzie, MB; then continued as chief fund-raiser for the construction of the new Sacred Heart Church in Oakburn; he was a Founding member of Sacred Heart Parish in Gimli, and built the church there. He was also a founding member of St. Basils Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Winnipeg and wrote several histories of St. Basils, the Olha District, and the Parkland area, often not taking credit for his work. He was a founding member of the Oakburn Legion and did all the fund-raising for the construction of the Legion Hall there and very involved with Legion activities in Gimli. He served on numerous Parish Councils as Secretary and historian, and as President. He did not seek glory for himself, but did what needed to be done, and was a man of vision. He loved to sing and belonged to several choirs over his lifetime. He undertook several projects to translate English songs into Ukrainian, including a now official translation of the National Anthem. Numerous Centennial projects around the province received the benefit of his assistance. He was a great student of nature and familiar with every type of bird and plant that flourished in Manitoba. He loved to go for long walks in the woods and fields and was an expert in wild mushrooms. In his later years, he enjoyed trips to the casino and was luckier than most people were. He loved gardening, reading, CFL football, hockey, crosswords, bridge, and traveling, and kept his mind active until the end. He was a kind, self-effacing, humble and gentle man with a different sense of humour; one who loved to make people laugh and who tried to lighten everyones load by putting himself and his needs last. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus Branch No. 11021. Nick was predeceased by his parents, Anton and Irene Danyluk; brothers, Max, Alec, Matt, and Peter; sisters, Lily Deyholos, Mary, Rose Yarish, and Lena Bowey. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Rose; his children and grandchildren, Donna (John Alexander) of Winnipeg; Darrel (Bonnie), Michelle, Mark, and Robert of Calgary; Andrea (Ed Tokaryk) of Winnipeg; Rene (Paul Stanway), Nicole and Scott (Johanna) of Edmonton; Ted (Jean), Matthew and Stephanie of Melville, SK; one sister, Olga Titus of Brandon; a foster son, Russell Harder, and numerous nieces and nephews. Panakhyda (Prayers) will be said at St. Basils Ukrainian Catholic Church, 202 Harcourt St., on Wednesday evening, September 24 at 7:30 p.m. Family viewing will also be at St. Basils at 6:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy in gratitude for Nicks life will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. at St. Basils Church, on Thursday, September 25, to be followed by interment at St. Michaels Parish Cemetery in Olha, MB at 4:00 p.m.; Rev. Father Isadore Dziadyk, OSBM, officiating. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Scott Stanway, Mark Danyluk, Matthew Danyluk, Robert Danyluk, and nephews, Gary Danyluk and David Danyluk. Cross-bearer will be granddaughter Stephanie Danyluk. His brother Knights will provide the Honour Guard. The family wishes to express their thanks to Dr. Russell Albak, and Roseanne at the Assiniboine Clinic for their support; and their heartfelt gratitude to Drs. Abbott and Garcia and the staff of Riverview for making Dads last hours more comfortable. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Riverview Health Center, St. Basils Elevator Fund, or a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements Raes Funeral Home, Shoal Lake MB 759-2160. Vichnaya Pamyat!

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 24, 2003