John Peter Nykiforuk

John Peter Nykiforuk passed peacefully August 4, 2022.  He died as he was born, at home surrounded by those that loved him. He will be missed dearly by his wife of 53 years Shirley (nee Yaroslowski), son Greg (Janine Guinn), daughters Carolyn (Brian Braun) and Christine (Reece Tibbitt) and his five grandchildren Maya, Sadie, Ivey, Eden and River. He is survived by his oldest sister Sophie (Sitter) of BC and many cherished nephews and nieces.

John was born May 31, 1937 in Saskatchewan. He was the youngest of eight children for Paul and Michaleana (Yaremovich) Nykiforuk. By all accounts, he fully embraced his baby status while growing up and got himself into trouble on more than one occasion. He was predeceased by siblings Marie (Robillard), Natalie (Starcock), Irene (Apostle), Nestor, George, Mitch and nephews Rob Sitter and Robbie Nykiforuk.

John did his schooling in Saskatoon and then sought adventure working on the TransCanada pipeline and other jobs in BC and Northern Manitoba. In 1964, John came home to take over the family farm along the Drifting River. Five years later, Shirley joined him and there they happily stayed for 52 years. They raised three children instilling the values of hard work, self-sufficiency, love for the land and respect for animals. He loved sharing the farm with his nieces and nephews and many made trips to spend some of the summer with Uncle John and Auntie Shirley. As a grandpa, John loved to skunk his grandchildren in a game of crib, teach them how to plant potatoes and chase them down to kick a soccer ball.

John farmed and worked for the RM of Dauphin but was happiest out on his land foraging for mushrooms, picking Saskatoons and harvesting the first sweet onions from the garden. When John retired, he discovered the joys of skiing, snow shoeing, canoeing, bike riding and finally had time to play softball, to bowl and to volunteer with the Agriculture Heritage club and Cross of Freedom with his many good friends. Those friends helped John and Shirley through their transition off the farm last year and helped them discover the benefits of living in Dauphin.

Thank you to Dr. Sara Scott and the staff of the Dauphin Medical clinic and to Dr. Trina Mathison and the staff at the Community Cancer Program for their kind care.  A celebration of life will be held on Friday August 12 at 2:00pm with Sneath Strilchuk Funeral Services. In lieu of flowers, if friends and family desire, donations gratefully welcome to CancerCare Manitoba.

A Celebration of Life will be held for John  on Friday, August 12, 2022 at 2:00 pm from the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin with Pastor Howard Burnie officiating.  

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of John  may be made to Cancer Care Manitoba .

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