Obituary of John Skoworodko

March 16, 1925 – November 13, 2019

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that John Skoworodko, age 94, passed away peacefully in his sleep November 13, 2019 at Pleasant View Lodge in Spirit River, Alberta.

John will be fondly remembered by his sister Olga (Ted) Vansil, brother Rev. Steve (Martha) Skoworodko, his daughter Lorraine (Robert) Benson, daughter-in-law Anna (Ken) Skoworodko; his eight grandchildren Shannon (Noel) Hayden, Brittany Benson, Sarah Benson, Michael Benson, Greg (Cassandra) Skoworodko, Mark (Leah) Skoworodko, Carolyn (Andrew) Sherstone, Brent Skoworodko as well as his five great-grandchildren Lauren, Andrew, Nikolas, Evelyn, and Eleanor. John was a strong and loving influence in all of our lives and he will be deeply missed. John will also be remembered by his many friends and extended family, particularly his niece Terry Yanishewski who was a big support for John in the later years of his life and held a special place in John’s heart.

In addition to his loving wife Marion, John was predeceased by his infant son, his son Ken (Anna) Skoworodko, his brother Mike (Anita) Skoworodko and his sisters Anita (Charlie) Dolhan and Kate (Sam) Bilozer.

John was born March 16, 1925, in Poland to Fred and Vera Skoworodko. The Skoworodkos immigrated to Canada in 1929 where they settled near Blueberry, Alberta. There, John met and then married his wife Marion, who predeceased him April 24, 2018, after 69 and half years of marriage.

John and Marion spent their lives building the family farm near Rycroft, Alberta and raising their two children Ken and Lorraine. John worked the land for 67 years growing wheat, barley, canola, and grass seed with help from Marion and his growing extended family. John also kept himself busy finding work hauling gravel for the Municipality and Province.

John and Marion enjoyed traveling in their free time and took many road trips with family and friends in their RV and saw many parts of Canada and the United States through the course of their lives. They particularly enjoyed camping and fishing together, and taking trips to Edmonton and Calgary to dote on their grandchildren.

In his leisure time John enjoyed hunting, fishing, ice fishing, square dancing, curling, bingo, playing cards, and trying his luck at the casino. When he could no longer be an active participant, John was an avid spectator, particularly where it involved watching one of his grandchildren take part. He was always up to date on current events and rarely missed the nightly news. When his hearing began to fail him he would consume the daily newspaper or catch the read-out news on TV.

John will always be remembered by his friends and family for his hard work, steady manner, keen mind, and kind heart.

A Celebration of John’s life will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2019, at the Spirit of Peace United Church, Spirit River, at 11am, with interment to follow at the Spirit River Cemetery, presided over by Harold Imes.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, PO Box 460 Stn K, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 9Z9 in John’s memory.

Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780 830 7742 www.bearcreekfuneral.com