Paul Shiplack

On Friday October 22, 2010, Paul Shiplack, Montmartre Sask., passed away at the Montmartre Integrated Health Care Facility, at the age of 90 years. Paul was born on February 28, 1920 on his parent’s homestead. He attended Netherby School and helped on the family farm. He rode the rails looking for work and in 1941, he enlisted in the army. Paul served in Canada, overseas, and in the Aleutian Islands. He was discharged in 1945, and upon his return, he worked in Regina driving cab. In 1949, he bought Maple Leaf Taxi with his uncle Andy, and also rented two quarters of land in the Montmartre area and began farming. He purchased this land in 1950 and his son is still farming it today. In 1955 Paul married Marcia Dusyk. They were married for 49 years and Paul’s devotion to Marcia was evident until her passing in 2005. Paul loved farming and going to auction sales to see what treasures he could bring home. He joined the Farmers Union and served as secretary and then president of the Montmartre Lodge. Paul also helped bring in rural electricity and was a board member on the Montmartre South Telephone Company. Education was very important to him as he was a school board trustee for many years and also chairman of the local school board. Paul was a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion Montmartre Branch #279 where he served as secretary for 35 years. He was very active at St. Michaels Ukrainian Orthodox Church Candiac, serving as president, vice-president, and treasurer over the years. Paul also enjoyed traveling, and treasured time spent with his two grandsons. Although Paul left the family farm in 2001, the farm and its daily operation were always in his heart, including the most recent harvest.

Paul is survived by his son Kevin (Lydia) and grandsons Gregory and Jeremy; sister Eva (Alfred) Jacob; sisters in law Eunice, Olga, and Margaret Shiplack, Katherine Czemeres, Ann Obarianyk, Anne and Marie Dusyk; brother in law Daniel (Georgina) Dusyk as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Paul was predeceased by his loving wife, Marcia, parents Theodore (Fred) and Mary (Robutka) Shiplack; sister Sophie in infancy; brothers, Michael( in infancy), Nikiata, Leo, John, Peter, Nestor, Trofin, Michael, and Victor; brothers and sisters in law John and Mary Dusyk, Peter and Lillian Dusyk, Michael Dusyk in WWll, Tony Dusyk, William Dusyk, Victoria Dusyk, Joseph Czemeres, and Alex Obarianyk.

The funeral service was held in St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Montmartre, on Wednesday October 27, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Slawomir Lomaszkiewicz officiating. Interment in St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Netherby District. Prayers were held in the chapel of Tubman Funeral Home, Wolseley, Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.

If friends so desire, contributions to St. Michaels Ukrainian Otrhodox Cemetery Fund, c/o Randy Shiplack, Box 836, Indian Head, Sk S0G2K0, the Montmartre Health Centre Trust Fund, P.O. Box 206, Montmartre, Sk S0G3M0, or to a charity of choice may be tokens of remembrance.

Vichnaya Pamyat.

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TRIBUTE - by Dave Dusyk

To all of us here today, Uncle Paul was a very special person. As individuals, we will all have our own special thoughts and fond memories. We thought that it might be fitting to share some of our special recollections, and perhaps a few of some of the highlights in Uncle Paul’s life, just a small sprinkling of the things that he will be remembered for:

Uncle Paul was first and foremost, a dedicated and devoted husband. He and Aunt Marcia worked together, travelled together, and spent much quality time together , whether that was on the farm, in the garden, or in the fields. She was the love of his life, and today, they are together once again.

Uncle Paul was a good father, who instilled his hard work ethic, his knowledge of farming, and his passion for doing things properly, to his son Kevin. These attributes are evident today on the Shiplack Family Farm, and these same qualities are working their way down to Uncle Paul’s pride and joy, his two grandsons, Gregory & Jeremy.

Paul Shiplack was a farmer to the core. He took tremendous pride in his farming operation, was a perfectionist and an innovator when it came to farming practices. He was a farmer, who, in a lot of ways, was ahead of the times, from varying and innovative farming methods, or his ability to select the right crops to seed in a given year, or the initiative that he took in trying new crop varieties. He was not afraid of change, and often led the way for others to follow. He was admired by, and respected by many of his farmer colleagues.

One of Uncle Paul’s favorite sports was curling, a sport that he excelled in, and a sport in which he could participate with his wife Marcia. Most of us here know that his passion for, and mastery of, the sport of curling was handed down to his son Kevin, who in turn has handed down his love for the game to Gregory and Jeremy, who are today, excelling in the sport of curling.

Uncle Paul was extremely proud to have served his country in World War II. One could just feel the pride and passion in his voice, whenever asked to talk about his days of serving in the military. His eyes would light up, and the stories just kept getting more and more interesting, as did some of the jokes, the songs, and the “little ditties” that grew from the many hours spent in the military.

Uncle Paul will forever be remembered for this participation in the November 11th , Remembrance Day Services, the majestic Grand March to the cenotaph, the recital of many war memorial poems, and in particular, his perennial recital of “ In Flanders Fields”. He was a proud soldier, proud to have served his country and his community.

Uncle Paul will long be remembered by his many nieces and nephews , by other family members, friends and neighbours, for his hospitality, his goodwill, his good nature, and his generosity. The Shiplack family farm was often the center of many family activities, a tradition that Kevin & Lydia have inherited as well. Many of the nieces and nephews have fond memories of the good times, the good food, and the warmth and hospitality extended to one and all.

I’m sure that each and every one of us can say that our lives were touched in some small way, or perhaps in some very large way, in being a part of the life of Paul Shiplack. It was his wish to express that “he loved all those, who were a part of his life”

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Uncle Paul - by Lucille Dusyk

To me, Uncle Paul was a very proud and gentle man. He was soft-spoken and you would think quite shy but there were many a time he would say this or that little diddy, maybe a poem, and sometimes a joke or two. He'd have this warm smile and tenderness in his eyes that were so special.

One time we were having lunch in the boardroom at the Health Centre with Uncle Paul and Aunty Marcia and they sang a song together. That will always be such a beautiful memory for us.

He would love to go back many years and reminisce about the war. He had many, many stories. He would mostly tell us about funny little things that happened.

He changed alot after Aunty Marcia passed away. He was so very lonely. I think his days became very long with not alot of purpose. His big, beautiful smile became less and less.

But now as we honor him and celebrate his life, I know he is with 'his love' again looking down on us all - happy once again!!!

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Thank-you, from Kevin and Lydia Shiplack

Reverend Father Slawomir, Family and Friends,

To Sonia, Ron, Dave and Lucille and Randy, we sincerely appreciate your kind words.

Thank-you so much to everyone for coming out on, as dad would say, “such a miserable day.” Although it’s hard to let go, he wanted to be with mom and we had to respect his wish. It is a blessing and a comfort to know that they have been reunited once again. Vichnaya Pamyat!

On my first day as Kevin’s wife on the farm, dad and Kevin were out working on the grain truck. I decided that I should walk over and show some interest in what they were doing. With a smirk on his face Dad looked at me and said, “Lydia, pass me the crescent wrench in the tool box.” When I handed him the right tool, he smiled and I knew that I had passed my first test!

He made sure that we were up early every morning, he loved to work on machinery during the hottest part of the day, and his favourite saying was “if you’re going to do a job, do it right or don’t do it at all!” The farm was always in his heart and even during this last harvest he wanted to know what the sample looked like and how it was running. He would always end the phone call by saying “I wish I could be there to help”

We’d like to thank Father Slawomir for officiating the prayers and funeral rite and thanks to Vera Feduschak for singing the responses so beautifully. Thank-you also to Father Ivan Derkach for allowing us to use the church.

Thank-you to Aunt Eunice for baking the beautiful kolachi for the service today.

Randy, Terry, Tim, Dave, Will, Brian, Barry, Ron and Dave, thank-you for honouring dad as elder, cross bearer, and casket bearers. Dad always enjoyed visiting with his nieces and nephews.

Many thanks to the St. Michael Ladies and St. Peter and Paul ladies for providing us with lunch today. Thanks also to everyone who brought extra squares.

Thank-you to Denton Keating and Wes Banbury from Tubman Funeral Home for helping us make sure that everything was done just right.

To our family, our friends and neighbours, and to our extended family including the residents and staff of the Montmartre Health Centre: We have experienced some victories along with some trials and tribulations together. From the bottom of our hearts, thank-you for taking care of Paul and for taking care of us during the past 10 years.

Finally, our most heartfelt thanks are extended to the Royal Canadian Legion, Montmartre Branch #279 for honouring Paul today. We are so glad that he was still able to attend Remembrance Day Services last year and it only seems fitting to close with the following words.

This is for you Dad!

Kevin recites...In Flanders Fields, by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.