Peacefully on February 23, 2021, John passed away with his daughters and grandchildren by his side at his daughter’s home in Winnipeg under the care of the Palliative Care Program.
John was born on July 4, 1928 in Winnipegosis to Metro and Lena Beyak. He was the oldest of 4 children.
When John was young, he would walk 3 miles each way to go to Don school in the Volga area. The family then moved just ¼ mile north of his present house.
John was a hard worker at a young age. He worked various jobs, he worked in the bush camp for Steve Marchenski, on the lake cutting ice for the fisheries in Winnipegosis, he worked for the town and he helped Pete on the farm.
He met his wife Betty in Winnipegosis and were married in 1954. They then moved to Churchill where he loaded and unloaded cargo planes.
Eileen was born in 1958. In 1964 they moved back to the farm by Winnipegosis where the family home was built and John still resided. They raised their family and raised cattle and grain farmed. Marlene was born in 1964.
Dad and his brother Pete farmed together and in the early years, his younger brother Mike, would come home from Winnipeg on weekends to help.
Growing up on the farm the girls would help out where they could, either helping feed the cows or taking meals to the field. The girls remember going to town when they were young and there wasn’t enough room for them all so Marlene would have to sit on the floor.
One Christmas Eileen wanted a Christmas tree so she decided to take the axe and go cut one down her self, but it was close to the drive way and John was not happy because he wanted those trees for a wind break.
John was trying to teach Marlene to drive a stick shift but she was too small to reach the pedals so she kept stalling the truck, but they kept going till they finally got across the meadow.
When the girls would do something bad, he would just have to give them “that look.” He was always there for them, even when they did something wrong. If the girls wanted to go somewhere themselves, he made sure they knew how to look after their vehicles and how to change the tires.
John never wanted to bother anyone and never wanted to ask for help.
John and Betty enjoyed many trips to Winnipeg to visit their daughters, son in-laws, granddaughter Ashley and foster grand children. And in later years he really enjoyed his train rides to Winnipeg. He would visit all the way there and back!
He loved visiting with people. He could strike up a conservation with anyone, all he would start with was “you look a little bit familiar” or “so where are you from”.
At age 65 he retired from farming, selling his cows and land to his nephews so he could enjoy retirement. But he was always counted on to lend a hand as long as he was able to. John spent many hours driving around the area, if someone broke down you didn’t have to wait long for his little blue truck to come by!! Now if you see his truck it will be Tyson and Bec or one of the other guys coming to the rescue. John was very proud of his truck and he was really excited to see it pulling a grain auger this winter, still helping on the farm!
He would go to the shop every day for coffee, and bring his own cup and stories from the day before coffee at the hardware store. He really enjoyed visiting with his buddies and you could set your watch to when he would go to town for coffee, 1 pm every weekday! Some days he would spend hours there, he even has his own reserved spot there! He enjoyed this very much.
He lived at home and drove himself up until a couple of years ago. Due to deteriorating health he moved to Winnipeg with his daughters, but every chance he got he would return to the farm.
When in Winnipeg he enjoyed watching the Ste. Rose Auction sale on-line and explaining to Ashley how the auction was run and all about the cattle. On Saturdays he enjoyed listening to the Polka Party on the radio.
John is survived by his daughters Eileen Klann and granddaughter Ashley Klann (Winnipeg), Marlene Boss and foster grandsons Justin and Napoleon (Winnipeg). He is also survived by his brother Mike Beyak and family, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
John was predeceased by his parents Metro and Lena, his wife Betty Beyak, his sister Anne Bratko, his brother Peter Beyak, son in-laws Skip Klann and Rick Boss and sister in-law Audrey Beyak.
He was a family man and lived for his family and friends.
Private services took place on Tuesday March, 2nd at 2:00 pm from the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre with Very Rev. Fr. Oleg Bodnarski officiating
Interment followed in the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Cemetery in Winnipegosis.
The service was live streamed from this page. You may access it by going to Sneath Strilchuk Funeral Home's website homepage and clicking on the Facebook icon which will redirect you to the Sneath-Strilchuk Facebook page.
You do not require a Facebook account to participate.
Should friends so desire, donations in memory of John may be made to Palliative Care in Winnipegosis or Palliative Care at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg.
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