Royal Derhak

Royal Edwin Michael Derhak
Age 66, from Brandon Manitoba, passed away on Wednesday February 28th, 2018 at the Assiniboine Centre, from complications resulting from Bladder Cancer.  He was born on February 29th, 1952 in Dauphin, Manitoba.  He was the only son of Mike and Mary Derhak, nee Yarush and was raised on a farm near Sifton, Manitoba.  Royal was a single child and was named after the Doctor who delivered him.  Royal married Rose Marie Zazuliak, June 9, 1973 in Dauphin, Manitoba at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection by Father Oucharyk  and remained happily married until he passed away.  They met at a wedding social in Ethelbert, Manitoba in March of 1972.  He is survived by his wife Rose, two children, Jackie Derhak of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Quentin Derhak and wife Kelsey, of Brandon, Manitoba, a grandson Gauge and a granddaughter Beau. Royal & Rose lived in Dauphin until 1988, when the family moved to Brandon and continue to reside there.  For the past 14 years (excluding the past two due to treatment for cancer), they spent as much of the winters as possible in Texas, just out of McAllen, where they were able to spend more time outdoors, golfing, barbecuing, exploring and entertaining.  During the summers, they spent much time at their cottage at Manipogo, on Lake Manitoba, where he enjoyed fishing, boating, barbecuing, gardening and would travel back and forth to Brandon for golf league, one of his passions.  Royal officially retired in May, 2017 from a successful 32 year career with Sun Life and sold his Business, Advanced Financial Services as well.  Royal did many things before becoming a professional Life Insurance Agent that is worth mentioning.  His work was primarily in Dauphin and started in retail at Woolworths, he was also a private pilot in his twenties, earning his wings, then as a Funeral Director at  Sneath Strilchuk Funeral Home, he had his St Johns First Aid and drove Ambulance, was a radio announcer for CKDM Radio, Dad played the accordion and sang regularly on CKDM as a child and made at least one TV appearance, briefly moved to Snow Lake and worked in the mine, was a Councillor for the RM of Dauphin for 9 years, went to Auctioneer School and was an Auctioneer for several years while he farmed with his father, then after beginning with Sun Life (Mutual Life of Canada at the time) he continued to provide Auctioneer services as a volunteer for Ducks Unlimited charity events in the Sioux Lookout area for 25 years, and received the Silver Teal award for his time, he worked in car sales for Boyachuk Chev-Olds for exactly two years where he earned the Sales Marketing Guild award for high achievement.  Murray DeLaMare recruited Royal to Mutual Life of Canada in 1985, where he worked in sales for two years and was then promoted to Management, relocating to Brandon, Manitoba.  Royal always loved to help people succeed and that was his favorite part of management.  After 9 years of management in Brandon, rather than take a position in Winnipeg, decided to go back into personal sales where he completed his career.  During his career with the company, he qualified for every spring and fall campaign, received the Award of Excellence annually and qualified for most conventions.  He always strived to do his best.  Royal enjoyed fishing, boating, golfing, hunting, curling, down hill skiing, barbecuing, music, to listen or play as he enjoyed playing the guitar, accordion and singing.   He went to elementary school at West Bay School, then McNeil School and graduated from the Dauphin Collegiate & Technical Institute (now known as MacKenzie School).  Royal always loved life, enjoyed the simple things and the finer things too.  He lived life to the fullest and anyone who knew him would agree, he always had a smile on his face and was ready for a conversation.  He cared about people and genuinely liked people.  During his final two months, he was at the Assiniboine Centre, part of the Brandon General Hospital and received great care from the 3rd floor Palliative team, as such, anyone who would like to make a contribution or gift, please do so in his honor at BRHC Foundation, Palliative Care, 150 MacTavish Ave East, Brandon Manitoba, R7A 2B3 or call 204-578-4227 if you'd like to make a donation by phone.  www.brhcfoundation.ca <http://www.brhcfoundation.ca>

Prayers were offered on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 7:00 pm from Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin, MB with Fr. Oleg Bodnarski officiating..

Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 11:00 am from St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church in Brandon, MB  with  Fr, Michael Raj Savarimuthu officiating.  Interment followed in Riverside Cemetery in Dauphin, MB.  Pallbearers were Don Derhak, Bob Derhak, Wayne Daniels, Josiah Tuzyk, Jason Bornn, Dean Maginel.

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