Jacob "Jack" Streyko

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jacob “Jack” Streyko after a courageous battle with cancer, on April 27th, 2023, at the age of 91. 

Jack was born in Meadowlands, Manitoba on the 15th of February, 1932, to John Streyko and Sophie Skakun (Streyko). He was the youngest of eleven children. 

He married the woman of his dreams, Evelyn Flett on April 24th, 1957, in Winnipegosis, Manitoba. This began their 66 years of married life. Jack and Evelyn stayed in Winnipegosis and began their lives. Blessed with their first son Ronald in December, and then their second son Randall in August, their family was complete. 

Jack was a man of many skills and talents, from working odd jobs as a child cutting wood and helping on the farm, to various construction jobs throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Jack helped build the railroad beds in Saskatchewan and spent the time working with the Ice Gang during the winter putting up ice on Lake Winnipegosis. He also enjoyed working in the sawmills in Ontario and various sawmills on Lake Winnipegosis, and that’s where his love of operating heavy equipment was born, his favourite being the CAT bulldozer. He was very proud of the work he did stripping the bush and helping build the Gilliam Airstrip, as well as the work he did for Transair, loading and unloading airplanes in Churchill. Jack was especially fond of his commercial fishing job, as he adored fishing, and he recounted his time working in the grain elevator in Churchill with great enthusiasm. Jack worked with the Department of Highways from 1967 until his retirement in 1993. 

One of Jack’s favourite stories to tell was the time when he cut his leg on a conveyor belt in the Churchill grain elevator. His friend took him to the army base hospital but mistakenly brought him to the maternity ward. When they finally made it around to the other side of the building to the emergency room, the doctors informed Jack that he needed stitches. Whilst the doctor was doing the stitches, Jack was very curious and tried to sit up to see what they were doing, which of course was interfering with the doctors’ work, so the one of the nurses, who happened to be a burly woman, said to him that if he didn’t stop moving around, she was going to lay across him to keep him still. Once the stitches were complete, he was instructed to keep them clean and dry and return in a week. Well, a week went by, and Jack returned to the hospital to get the stitches out, but the attending nurse told him that unless he put his leg up on the desk, she couldn’t take them out that day as she had been drinking on the grain boat all night and if she bent down she’d throw up! 

When he wasn’t working, Jack enjoyed hunting ducks, geese, moose, and deer or fishing with his sons Ronald and Randall. Nothing brought Jack more joy than the sound of children’s laughter and whether it was outside running around in the yard or playing Barbies with his granddaughters and nieces inside the house, he always had time to take a break from working to create heartwarming memories that will last a lifetime. 

Jack is survived by his wife Evelyn, sons Ronald of Winnipegosis, Manitoba and Randall of Brandon, Manitoba, grandchildren Aquariah and Graely, honourary granddaughter Faith, and many nieces and nephews. 

Jack was predeceased by his parents, sisters Mary, Anne, Pearl, Nellie; brother Metro; stepsister Tina; stepbrothers John, Mike, George, and Steve, sisters-in-law Virginia, Nelle, Olive, Flora, Nora, Ida, Agnes, and Maryann; and brothers-in-law William, and Donald. 

With Jacks life ending, and due to his love of children, we ask that in lieu of flowers, those who wish to donate can do so to Brayden & Shadaya Trumbla to help cover the medical expenses for their unborn child, who is to be born in the Health Science Centre in Winnipeg and then transported to Edmonton for heart surgery. Brayden is the son of Diane & Eric Trumbla of Waterhen, Manitoba. 
Donations can be dropped off at G&G Solo Store in Winnipegosis or etransfered to dtrumbla@gmail.com <mailto:dtrumbla@gmail.com> 

Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 11:00 am from  in Winnipegosis, MB with Rev. Michel Nault officiating.  Interment followed in Winnipegosis Roman Catholic Cemetery in Winnipegosis, MB.  Pallbearers were Aquariah Scholz, Brian  Martin, Rayne Michaluk, Faith  Michaluk, Jacob Gilroy, Stephen Michaluk.
 

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