Eugene "Ross" Sanchuk

Eugene “Ross” Sanchuk, age 89 years, answered our Lord’s call to come home on May 24, 2025.

Ross was born during the Great Depression and grew up on the family farm in the RM of Ethelbert. In his younger years especially, he was called Slavko. However, he used his middle name “Ross” throughout most of his life. Ross attended Bohdan School and worked on the family farm. He left home at the age of 20 to work briefly as a farm hand and on the oil rig in Virden. He then worked 37 years at CP Rail. He began as a Section Laborer in 1956 and worked in various places. He took evening courses at Red River Community College in Winnipeg and Assiniboine College in Brandon to become a Heavy-Duty Maintenance Mechanic in 1979. He worked in this occupation at CP Rail in Winnipeg until he retired in 1993.

Ross returned to his farm in 1995. He was active in the Mink Creek Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church. He served on the parish council and caroled with church groups for many years in his rural community. He loved living in the quiet countryside, feeding birds and pet squirrels, picking berries and gardening. He made delicious dill pickles! Ross maintained the pioneer Bohdan Cemetery for many years. Ross was kind, unpretentious, upbeat and hardworking. He enjoyed visiting and entertaining family and friends, traveling, spoiling his late cat Mitch and socializing on coffee row. His traveling adventures took him to Chicago, Texas, Mexico, Australia, Ukraine and Alaska. Ross maintained close ties with relatives. In 2000, he hosted a 2-day centennial celebration of our ancestors’ immigration to Canada. It was well attended by family and friends. He moved to Dauphin in 2013. In his latter years, advancing paralysis robbed Ross of his abilities, especially walking. His independent spirit and resilience helped him to live alone with this difficulty for several years. In March of 2025 he moved to the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home. Despite hardships, Ross lived his life with dignity and acceptance of his health challenges.

Ross was predeceased by his mother Pearl (John), Grandmother Mary, nephew Brent, all uncles and aunts and many cousins.

He is survived by his sisters Nadia (Harold), Janice (Rick), nieces Orysia (Ryan) and Lesya (Chris), his oldest cousin and lifelong friend, Walter, remaining cousins and friends.

Many thanks to everyone who phoned, visited and helped Ross during his difficult journey. Thank you to the Care Home’s staff who cared for Ross. Thanks, and kudos to the Care Home’s cooks; Ross enjoyed the meals very much. Thank you to Fr. Oleg Bodnarski and Fr. Ivan Hnativ for ministering spiritual care to Ross. Thank you to Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Services for the arrangements. A funeral service for Ross will be officiated by Fr. Hnativ at the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow in the Mink Creek Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery. If so wished, a donation in Ross’ memory may be sent to the Mink Creek Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church Box 179 Gilbert Plains, MB R0L 0X0

Vichnaya Pam’yat

Eternal Memory

A Funeral Service was held for Ross on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 1:00 pm from the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin, MB with Fr. Ivan Hnativ officiating.  

Interment followed in the Mink Creek Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery .

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Ross may be made to the Mink Creek Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church.

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