Mike Swidnicki

Mike Swidnicki

            After a courageous battle with cancer, and with family by his side, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father Mike Swidnicki on November 23, 2015 at the age of 82.

            Prayers will be held on Friday November 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Omega Funeral Home.

            Funeral service will be held at the Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church on Saturday November 28, 2015 at 1pm.  Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.

            Mike leaves behind his children, Dianne McAdam, Terry (Lisa), Michael (Linda), John (Shelley), Kathy (Chuck) Verwey, Andy (Shelley), Donna (James) Merke; grandchildren Jason, Jaime, Andy, Megan, Ryan, Kevin, Jordan, Tara, Elissa, Alanah, Andrew, Ashley, Lucas, Jasmine, Haley and Cody along with his great-grandchildren, Bryce, Jenna, Ethan, Kate, Lyle, Lucy, Chaz, Ariahna, Blakely, Barrick, Conor, Lief and Anastasia; numerous nieces and nephews and brothers & sisters-in-law. Mike was predeceased by his wife Anne in 2010, parents Lucas and Katherine Swidnicki, father and mother-in-law Michael and Katie Kalupar along with his three brothers, John, Walter and Roman.

            Mike was born November 3, 1933 in Zurawci, Ukraine.  Growing up in both the Ukraine and Germany, the family immigrated to Canada in 1949, settling in the St. Eustache district.  In 1953 the family moved to Portage la Prairie where Mike was employed by the C.N.R. as a bulldozer operator.  In 1956 he married Anne Kalupar and they made Portage their permanent home to raise their 7 children.  Mike began his mechanics career in 1957 employed with Christiansons John Deere Ltd. for 20 years.  In 1977 he established Mike’s Diesel Service Ltd. which became a family run business with his wife and three sons. Mike stayed involved with the business well after his retirement, until his health began to deteriorate. 

            Apart from running his business, Mike enjoyed family gatherings, visiting with friends and relatives and traveling with his wife to England, Ukraine, and various parts of Canada and the United States.  He took great pleasure in tending to his garden and simply enjoying the view of his yard from a lawn chair.   Mike was a long time member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption and served as the president of the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood, as well on the church committee as the secretary treasurer for approximately 40 years.

            The family would like to express their thanks to the staff on the ETU ward at the Portage and District General Hospital for the care given to Mike these past several months.

            As an expression of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Mike’s memory to a charity of your choice.

            A tribute DVD in memory of Mike will be produced by the Omega Funeral Home, condolences may be sent to the family c/o Omega Funeral Home, 83 Royal Road South, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, R1N 1T8, 1-800-303-4621 or friends may leave a message of sympathy on our web site www.omegafuneralhome.com “Dedicated to those we serve”. 

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