Obituary of Peter Yurkiw

Born near St Michael, AB October 30, 1919 – died at 102 years in Halifax, NS on July 27, 2022, and between these two dates, what a life was lived! Born on a homestead in Alberta, Peter spoke only Ukrainian until he started school. In 1941 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery, while training in New Brunswick, he met future wife, Margaret. He served in Europe and was part of the liberation forces for France, Belgium, Germany and Holland. He returned to Alberta, where he studied civil engineering (BSc, Msc), specializing in “dirt”. As one of the first employees of R. M. Hardy & Associates, projects included the Trans-Canada through Banff and the AlCan through the Yukon. In April 1967 he opened Maritime Testing Ltd., an eastern branch of Hardy, in Halifax. He was a member APENS, the Engineering Institute, Specification Writers, Board of Trade and the Rotary Club. For his work, he received awards from various engineering societies and the Rotary Club. PY’s ongoing interests included travel (especially the 20+ trips to Cuba), cutthroat cribbage (including a hand of 28!), reading, gardening, music (from crooners to classical) and tinkering. Inheritance is more than genetics: his quirky sense of humour has passed down along with the engineering gene. And all three children say, “thanks for the cataracts, Dad!” Peter is survived by children Mary Anne Yurkiw (Stan), Joan Lovell and Peter Donald Yurkiw (Susan), grandchildren Nicholas Mikhail (Donika), Peter David Yurkiw and Jennifer Yurkiw and great-grandchildren Dia and Teo Mikhail. He is also survived by innumerable nieces, nephews and cousins. Peter was predeceased by his wife of 74 years Margaret Clarkson Yurkiw (nee Jenkins) in March, as well as siblings Anne Sloboda, Josephine Maksymic, Frances (Sister Zoya) Yurkiw, John and Stephen Yurkiw and Gladys Onysyk. Thank you to Eleanor Molnar, who joined Peter and Margaret as a caregiver in the last decades of their lives, and to Amanda, a recent addition to the care team. And to 2nd floor staff at Shannex/ Parkland at the Gardens who cared so well for our father and grandfather. As per Peter’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Funeral mass will be held at St Benedict’s on August 2, 2022. Burial will be near the family farm at St Michael Alberta. Contributions in memory of Peter may be made to the Canadian Red Cross. Thanks Dad/ PY. We’ll miss you and you live on through all of us.