John Meroniuk

John Meroniuk was born on the homestead on August 8th, 1931. He was the 7th of 11 children born to Andrew and Anna Meroniuk. He attended Beaver Bank and Brookview schools where he completed his Grade 8 education. He worked for John Prekaski and other farmers around the neighbourhood. In 1948, he left home to go work in the bush which he did off and on for many years in various places, most notably for The Pas Lumber Co. from 1952-1955 with Gordon Karcha. During the winter months, he was Gordon’s helper as a mechanic in Moose Lake and Carrot River. In 1955, he drove a D7 Cat, pushing gravel for the crusher at Lac La Ronge. When he was 19, his father quit thrashing for all the neighbours, so he and his brother Victor took over. In 1961 they bought their first combine together. They did this until 1974, when Johnny bought his own combine and continued the farming operation with his children.

      On July 7th, 1958, he married Eileen Rurak and they continued to farm. He also worked for Robert and Johnny Hamilton digging dugouts during the summers of 1959 and 1960. He then worked for The Pas Lumber Co. in Prince George and Giscome, BC for two years. In 1961, he worked for Diamond Drilling in Grand Rapids, MB and then again in the bush in the Hudson Bay area for Willie Omelchuk and Willie Pascay where he operated a skidder from 1962-1974. Throughout the years he continued to farm and raise cattle, pigs and chickens, only recently retiring from cattle farming in 2017. He lived on the farm until November 15th, 2023 and passed away peacefully in Kelvington Hospital on November 18th, 2023. Johnny will forever be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humour, as well as his dedication to his family and community. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend and was affectionately known as Papa John.

    Johnny is predeceased by his parents Andrew and Anna (Cerniuk), mother-in-law Anne Medloski, sisters Mary, Victoria, Medora, Angilina and Elaine, brothers, George, Alex, Metro, Victor, Nick and Peter, son-in-law Harold Fincaryk and great-granddaughter Layla Phillips.

    Johnny is lovingly remembered by his wife, Eileen of 65 years and their children: Jocelyn (Jim) of Portage la Prairie, Genevieve of Sturgis, Michael (Sheila) of Sturgis, Charmaine (Brian) of Birtle and Jason (Jenelle) of Sturgis; grandchildren: Tecia (Colton) of Sturgis, Jordan (Samantha) of Yorkton, Jarred of Portage la Prairie, Nathan (Memory) of Portage la Prairie, Andrew (Kylee) of Sturgis, Dawson of Lorette, Cody (Maxine) of Kelvington, Mitchell of Saskatoon, Sierra of Sturgis and Kacie of Sturgis and great-grandchildren Aleaha, Hudson, Nash, Olivia, Ava and Bow; his sisters Caroline of Surrey, BC and Stella of Watrous and sister-in-law Marge of Preeceville. Also remembering Johnny are Twyla Neilson, Darrell Phillips and Connor and Ayden Borus as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and all his family in Ukraine. See you on the other side Johnny, we all love you.