Obituary of Eugene Victor Petryshyn

PETRYSHYN, Eugene Victor April 07, 1942 – April 22, 2022 With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Eugene Petryshyn on Good Friday, April 22, 2022. Cherishing the memories are his treasured children: Mark, Kimberly, Sean, and his beautiful grandchildren: Alyssa, Cassidy, Ethan, Evan, Amy, Olivia, and Kristian. Sharing in their sorrow are his sister: Elsie (Ed) Oleksyn; and sisters-in-law: Betty (Norm) Zaseybida, Barbara (Barry) Gordichuk, and Carol (Donald) Kozoway; and nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors, and his faithful companion, Max (the “smartest” dog). He was predeceased by his loving wife of 49 years, Joyce, on Good Friday 2013, infant twin daughters, (Katherine and Kristine), his father (William), his mother (Helen), and his uncle (Fred). Paul Harvey’s classic talk (1978) ‘So God made a farmer’ might have written about Eugene. Eugene was indeed a farmer. His arms strong enough to farm the land, “tame cantankerous machinery”, work all day in the fields, then pull a calf in the middle of the night. A soul gentle enough to bottle feed the calf, the kid goat, the runt piglet, and to nurture every stray dog or cat left behind. Eugene farmed on the same property throughout his lifetime. He was willing to help his fellow neighbor at a moment’s notice, generous with his time, and although a man who thrived on having multiple irons in the fire, he cherished the times a friend or family member stopped by for a visit. A hard working man of integrity and honest moral values, he was resilient and proud of his Ukrainian heritage. Eugene was a devoted family man who maintained daily contact with all his children. He and Joyce instilled in their children the love of farming and rural life, and above all else, their love for their family. He was a tremendously proud grandfather, and a loving brother whose strength and presence was a constant. He loved the land with fierce conviction, and with this same determination, he lived his life on the farm and passed on the farm on Earth Day. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at the Vegreville United Church 5126 - 48 Ave, Vegreville, Alberta with Reverend Pamela Milton officiating. In remembrance of Eugene and Joyce, the family asks that charitable donations be made to: The Canadian Lung Association, 502-885 Meadowlands Drive Ottawa, Ontario, K2C 3N2, Canada https://www.lung.ca/get-involved/donate/make-general-donation/online-donate-form; or charity of one’s choice .