Peter Mykytyn, 79

At the Rainy River Hospital on Saturday June 19, 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer with his loving family by his side, Peter Mykytyn of Rainy River, Ont, passed away at the age of 79.
Peter was born on June 11, 1931 in the municipality of Stuartburn (Vita), Manitoba to Dymtro and Josepha Mykytyn. As a young child the family moved to Rainy River, where he has lived for the rest of his life. He married the love of his life Hilda Elvira Kaus on May 29, 1953. They had two children Robin Roger and Marilyn Melita.
Together Peter and Hilda farmed beef cattle until the age of 62 when he retired. Besides farming Peter logged in the bush as a young man. Later he was a janitor at the curling rink; he also bought and sold grain for McCabe Grain.
Peter and Hilda operated a restaurant for a few years and later bought a grocery store with his brother in law and sister in law Ron and Elma Miller. During all these years Peter worked at his second favorite job, which was driving school bus. He loved the kids and enjoyed travelling throughout Canada and the US with them. He was honoured and very proud the day he received a gold watch and gold school jacket from the students in recognition of his service to the school.
Peter’s hobby was working, so it was a very sad time when he realized he could no longer work at farming or bus driving. Soon after, Peter and Hilda built a new home and moved into town. After a few years in town, Hilda was taken from him by Alzheimer’s disease. He looked after her until she no longer knew him or anyone else. She went into a nursing home, which left him terribly sad, lonely and depressed. That is when his good friends Ike and Walter came to his rescue, and the guys started to travel around. They drove to car races, snow machine races, Bemidji, Mn, for lunch and Winnipeg, Fort Frances and especially Menards. They knew every waitress within a hundred mile radius, and when they went to KFC the waitress had their order ready for them before they got inside the door. Later they changed restaurants to Chinese food because the girls gave Ike better hugs than the KFC waitresses did. Peter looked forward to his daily coffee breaks and visiting with friends. He kept going until he entered the hospital for the last time.
Pete is survived by his wife Hilda, daughter Marilyn (Allan) Olson, grandchildren Kevin and Stacey Lyn Olson, great granddaughter Megan Olson, also brother John (Gisela) Mykytyn, sisters Elsie Thompson, Liz Weston, Sonja (Lawrence) Lenchyshen, sister in law Betty (George) Coulson, brother in laws Ron Miller and Bill (Beulah) Olson and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents Dymtro and Josepha (Josie), son Robin Roger, sister in laws, Ella Olson, Elma Miller, brother in laws Emmett Thompson and Tom Weston, nieces Laurie Coulson, Carol Barclay, great niece Evelyn Miller and great nephew Travis Mykytyn. Pete was a wonderful and loving husband, dad, father in law, grandpa, great grandpa and son. He was a rock who could always could be counted on for love and advice. He will be sadly missed and always remembered.
Funeral service was held at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church, Rainy River, Ont, on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 2p.m. with Vicar Marcus Breitbarth officiating. Interment took place in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Rainy River.
Honourary Pall Bearers were William Olson, Ron Miller, Wallace Armstrong, Ike Dyck, and Walter Swerbus.
If desired memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, Rainy River Hospital, or the Canadian Cancer Society, c/o Northridge Funeral Home, Box 89, Emo, Ont, P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com