Marvin Marykuca

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Marvin Marykuca of Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 23, 2026.

Canadian by birth and Ukrainian by heritage, the son of parents who came to Canada from Ukraine as children early in the 20th century. Marvin was born in 1941 at the family farm, just west of Poplarfield in Manitoba’s Interlake Region. His early education began in High Plains, his high school years were spent in Poplarfield and Teulon, and his training as a school teacher and university courses took place in Winnipeg. His career, starting in 1959, included elementary school teaching in rural Manitoba as well as counselling and program administration with the federal government in Winnipeg, followed by a short stint in the manufacturing industry. In 1977, he moved to the Northwest Territories with his wife, Elsie, and children Katherine, Michael and DonnaMarie, where he was involved in education-related program administration in Yellowknife, and human resources work in Yellowknife and Inuvik. In 1996, he finished his career in a position with the Financial Management Board Secretariat of the Government of the Northwest Territories. 

While in Northwest Territories, the family enjoyed over twenty years of partnership with friends, fondly remembered, in Namushka Lodge, a fly-in fishing lodge just east of Yellowknife. Marvin was also one of the founding members of the Yellowknife Ukrainian Association which was instrumental in promoting Ukrainian culture in Yellowknife.

In 1997, Marvin and Elsie moved back to Manitoba to begin retirement at a cottage at Grindstone Point, effecting a return to their native Interlake. In 2004, they moved to Winnipeg to be closer to family and long time friends.

Marvin’s faith was important to him and he carried that in his daily life. He was very active in St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Yellowknife and St. Anne’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Winnipeg. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus where he was instrumental in the establishment of councils across the Northwest Territories.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elsie Marykuca (Torbiak); his children Katherine (Terrence), Michael (Jennifer) and DonnaMarie (Darrin); his grandchildren Denika (Shawn), Adam (Holly), Shannon, Deanna, Ira, Jonathan, Kristoff, Dara (Andy), Britta, Joseph (Tiana) and Emma; his great grandchildren Kaiyer, Eliana, Theoren, Quinn, Freddie, Paisley, Daxton, Hartley, Huxley and Lenyxx; his sister Helen Wallach and brother Bill Marykuca; his extended family and many cherished friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Stanley and Dora Marykuca, his daughter Patricia Anne, and his brothers Steve, Mike, Peter and John.

The family would like to thank Dr. Terry Babick and Dr. Andrea Babick for the excellent medical care that Marvin required in his later days. They would also like to thank the Holy Family Home for making him as comfortable as possible.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Siloam Mission www.siloam.ca

Welcome Home  www.thewelcomehome.ca

University of Manitoba (Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders) scrc.sites.umanitoba.ca/donations

Prairie Neuro Research Centre (UofM) www.prairieneuro.ca

Vichnaya Pam'yat!