USYPCHUK, John

John Usypchuk
1934 – 2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, John Usypchuk on December 16th, just 4 months shy of his 91st birthday. We joyfully remember him as a man whose knack for mischief, curiosity, and resilience left an unforgettable mark on all who knew him.

John was a loving husband to Lillian, who sadly passed in 2023, and he was an amazing and loving father to Stephanie (Rick), Cindy and Laurie (Alan), a loving grandfather to Matthew (Catherine) and Caitlin and great-grandfather to Harrison and Owen.

He was born in Montreal to parents Oleksa Usypchuk and Genia (Kostiuk) Usypchuk. His early years were spent living on the farm in Manitoba until the family relocated to Montreal for his father’s career at CP Rail.

His life was spent with curiosity and zeal leading him to keep his mother praying for patience and resilience during his young life, while her son pursued his curiosity with everything in life that crossed his path. Stories of his childhood left us all mesmerized by all his adventures and his tenacity.

Some of Dad’s fondest memories growing up were his years on the farm, with his dog Skipper, who he never stopped talking about throughout his life. He always said that life was so very different on the farm, than in the city. He grew into a hardworking and resourceful young man with an absolute zest for life and adventure, starting his career at CP Rail at the young age of 15.

During his over 40 year career at CP Rail, he was recognized for his incredible work ethic, aptitude for learning and adapting to change of responsibilities.  He surpassed many milestones and was given a special award for having driven over 2 million miles for the company without an accident. This special distinction led to a number of his cherished positions; one as a defensive driving instructor, and another as the chauffeur for the CEO of the company.  He ended his longstanding career at CP Rail as an Expeditor which he often described as the most enjoyable and rewarding position that he ever fulfilled for the company.

John was a loving and devoted husband and father; to him; family was everything..it’s what he lived for! He met the love of his life Lillian when she was 19 and he was 21. They married two years later in 1957 and he was a devoted and loving husband for 66 years until her passing in 2023. They had three girls, Stephanie, Cindy and Laurie and he was a loving, enthusiastic and very involved father.  He was the kind of husband and father who felt no sacrifice was too great for his wife and children.

John had an incredible work ethic all his life and he instilled this work ethic in his girls, making sure they exceeded their expectations of themselves, while he supported their individualities.

He loved driving and some of his fondest memories of family time were car trips with the family, on long Sunday drives, trips to see family in Manitoba on summer vacations, and even enjoying special moments watching the airplanes land at Dorval airport. He taught us to dream and to believe we could do anything we set our minds to.

John was self-taught in everything from car repairs to building structures and furniture and had an incredible ability to invent things and find solutions. He was an unbelievable artist and writer and often spent days tinkering at his workbench.

John was a type of « MacGyver » decades before the TV show gave us a definition of it. We often said that our Dad could fix anything or create a solution. He was always inventing gadgets, drawing diagrams and designs for gadgets, and actually holds two patents for two of his inventions because his enjoyment of life was unwavering.

John had a love for adventure and new things and he always had a genuine interest in meeting new people, remembering everyone and their names throughout his travels and his neighborhood. He often told quick jokes to break the ice and loved making people laugh.

In his later years, he had an opportunity to go on a number of cruises in the Caribbean, the Baltic and the Black Sea. He has fond memories of days exploring London and cherished the moment stepping onto Ukrainian Soil landing in Odessa for one day, on the Black Sea Cruise. His mother was born in Canada but his father was born in Ukraine so he felt fortunate that he was able to do this simple act.

One time, on a river boat cruise through France, a fellow passenger commented that he must have made some good investments in order to have the opportunity to travel in his retirement. John’s answer to the passenger was  » I only made three investments in my lifetime. Stephanie, Cindy & Laurie. » That’s who he was.

He often said that his wife and family were his pride and joy and he cherished every moment with them.

He loved his grandchildren dearly and took great pleasure in spending time with them. He enjoyed being the family chauffeur and driving his grandchildren to and from school. Each trip was filled with words of wisdom and funny stories that usually ended with « don’t ever do what I did ! » He loved to joke and would often pop out his false teeth to make them laugh. He delighted in teaching his grandchildren whatever life skills he could share with them.

He loved animals and felt his calling in life was to protect every animal on the planet. He particularly loved dogs and had a special rapport with dogs; possessing a special kind of communication with them. John had numerous doggy grandchildren and spent a great deal of time enjoying every moment he could with them.

John was as creative as he was mischievous. In every way, he left his mark with his quick and fun humor with everyone he met.

He leaves behind a legacy of resilience, humor, and the ability to find joy in even the most unlikely situations.

His life reminds us to embrace adventure, laugh at our mistakes, and, above all, to live boldly – with one leg up and one leg down.

He will be deeply missed, but his stories will live on..making us smile for
generations to come.
R.I.P.  You will be forever in our Hearts Dad !