William "Bill" Katerynuk

On Friday afternoon, April 12th, 2024, our beloved husband, father, brother, godfather, uncle, and friend Bill Katerynuk passed away peacefully at home in a place he cherished working on projects, his garage.

Bill was born in Transcona, Manitoba on August 28th, 1947, to parents Stephen Katerynuk of Czorthkow, Poland and Wasylyna Hawrysh of Ukraine. He was the second youngest of four siblings: older sisters Diane and Lena and younger brother Daniel. Dad worked hard as a youngster and persevered through struggles as the son of first-generation immigrants. He was baptized at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in 1948. He failed first grade for only knowing the Ukrainian language and became the unofficial “union representative” for a group of babas picking vegetables before reaching his teenage years. He got into weightlifting at the age of 13, working as a canner for the Habitant Pea Soup Factory away from school and his time at the gym. He graduated from Transcona Collegiate Institute and spent a few years working for Manitoba Telecommunication Services before joining Canadian Pacific Railway as a conductor from 1970 until his retirement in 2004.

Bill was a bachelor until he met his wife, Olga Marie Happychuk. They married on his 35th birthday on August 28th, 1982 when Olga was 24. Dad enjoyed muscle cars and the finer things in life, like a bottle of Mouton Cadet. He shared many stories about his 67 Impala, 72 and 84 Corvette as well as his Mazda RX-7. He lived a promiscuous lifestyle during his younger years until his marriage, later becoming active in the Ukrainian Catholic Community. Dad credited his wife for changing and saving his life.

Bill was blessed to become a father when his only son, Spencer was born in September 1998 at the age of 51. After retiring from CP in 2004, Dad kept himself extensively busy. He became the owner-operator of an independent Handi-Transit Company with Olga, later driving vehicles for Adesa Canada across the country and working for CEMR Rail until 2011 while enjoying time with his son and wife. He always enjoyed restoring antiques; especially Belmont Barber Chairs and National Cash Registers and was an avid wine and beer maker, passing off many of his bottles as gifts.

As a couple, Bill and Olga spent many years vacationing in Mexico and Hawaii. As a family, Bill organized annual summer vacations to Minneapolis, road trips during the summer to the West Coast of Canada in 2011, East Coast in 2012, and West Coast again to Tofino, British Columbia in 2013. He wanted to see Shoal Lake No. 40 firsthand and arranged a visit with his son in 2015. He completed his cross Canada travels with a surprise trip as a gift from his son to Newfoundland for his birthday and wedding anniversary in 2018 and continued to visit Grand Forks, Fargo and Minot for concerts and cross-border shopping. He also enjoyed visiting his brother Dan’s house in Chandler, Arizona and son Spencer’s cabin in MacNutt, Saskatchewan. Bill was looking forward to more time spent out at these spots in the future. He also enjoyed motorcycling during his younger years and owned two Suzuki Maxi-scooters in his retirement.

Bill was a wonderful volunteer, humble and kind with a sense of humour as a stereotypical friendly Manitoban. He donated whole blood and platelets for the Canadian Blood Services nearly 300 times. He obtained his third degree as a King of Columbus in 2005. He served as a board member for Kildonan Horizons Apartment Complex in East Kildonan and Ukrainian National Federation Hall. He also volunteered at Siloam Mission, the Folklorama Kyiv-Pavillion for several years and as an interim chef with his wife at Ukrainian Park Camp near Gimli in 2015 and 2017. He was an active member and knight at Sts. Peter and Paul Bishop Ladyka Council #9020 until his death. He was passionate about justice and expressing his own moral values to others. Bill was a devoted husband. He took care of everyone, with much time spent at the Happychuk family farm in Sundown, Manitoba.

Left to cherish many fond memories are his: wife Olga of 41 years and son Spencer. Bill is also survived by his sisters: Diane and Lena; brother Daniel as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He lived an incredible life to the fullest the way that he wanted. He never wanted anyone to cry for him, nevertheless he will be greatly missed.

A funeral liturgy will be celebrated for Bill on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 10:00 am from Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Parish. For those unable to attend, the service will be live-streamed through the Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Parish Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/StsPeterandPaulUGCC/) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@sts.peterpaulukr.greekcath5306) pages.