Ilio Gushulak

With family beside him, Ilio Gushulak, aged 89 years of 1154 Walker Avenue, Fort Frances, Ontario, died peacefully on Friday, May 18, 2012 at Rainycrest Home in Fort Frances, where he had been a very content resident since December, 2010.

He was born to Anastasia and Theodore Gushulak on March 28, 1923 in Sirko, Manitoba and was the youngest of nine children.

As a strong young man, and having grown up during a difficult time in history, he developed a keen sense for the need to work very hard at everything he did, with true grit and dedication. Early on, he travelled the rails, looking for various farm jobs, arriving in northwestern Ontario where he found work in the bush.

Having found his sweetheart for life on the neighbouring farm in Sirko, he exchanged wedding vows on July 12, 1947 with Mary Melnychuk at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Sundown, Manitoba. In 1949, they moved to the north end of Fort Frances with their first son to build and settle in a home where five more sons were raised. As proud parents of six boys, they eventually welcomed daughters-in-law who became the girls in the family, loving them as their own.

Dad was employed with the pulp and paper mill in Fort Frances for 35 years, retiring in 1985. During retirement, he kept busy by always being available to help his family with a variety of home and business projects, each one performed with true dedication to make sure it was always a job well done.

His favorite activities were gardening, camping, fishing, hunting with his sons and grandsons, singing and playing music, either on the guitar, accordion, fiddle, harmonica or jewish harp. These passions have been passed onto those who follow and remember the joy with which he shared these talents. Other activities included bowling, curling and playing cards, especially Smear and Cribbage.

Traveling was another way to relax and he especially enjoyed taking road trips to visit his sons and their families.

Dad was a dedicated and longstanding member of St. George's Ukrainian Orthodox Church. During that time, he served in several executive capacities, including President. He worked alongside many of his friends and relatives as they created activities and cherished memories at the Ukrainian Hall.

He also enjoyed his membership at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #29, where he would gather with his chums to share a cold one, tell a few stories, find out who had won the daily “Pig Draw” and he would regularly support the monthly 50/50 raffle as both seller and purchaser.

His loving family includes his wife Mary, six sons and daughters-in-law: Richard (Pat) of North Bay, Ontario; Bill (Mary Jane), Gordon (Kim) and Robert (Marg) of Fort Frances; Ron (Susan) of Loveland, Ohio and Paul (Elise) of Minneapolis, Minnesota; twelve grandchildren: Richie (Laura) and Ryan (Adriana) of North Bay; Dr. Kate Gushulak (Dr. Brian Schick) of London, Ontario; Matthew of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Steven (Bev), Amy, Jeff (Krista) and Brad (Jamie) Gushulak, and Sarah (Chuck Arpin, Jr.) all of Fort Frances; Reagan (Jessica), Nathan and Michael of Loveland, Ohio, along with four great-grandchildren: James Theodore, Gianna Rose and Carson Robert Gushulak and Peyton Lilly Arpin, all of Fort Frances.

He is also survived by his brother Nick of Kamloops, BC; his sister-in-law Pauline Gushulak of International Falls, Minnesota; and by many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two sisters: Mary Shypit and Helen Bordun; five brothers: William, Ivan, Mike, George and Matt; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held on Thursday, May 24 from 7 until 9 pm at Green Funeral Home with a Ukrainian Orthodox Prayer Service at 7:30 pm. Funeral services were held on Friday, May 25 at 10 am at Green Funeral Home with Reverend Father Henry Lakusta officiating. Interment followed in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances.

His grandchildren served as active and honourary pallbearers.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Alzheimer Society or any other local charity.