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Steve Yurkemik
September 11, 1934 - July 7, 2016
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<div itemprop="description">Yurkemik, Steve <br>1934-2016 <br> <br>Our Dad, Mr. Steve Yurkemik passed away peacefully by the side of his daughter on July 7, 2016 at the Red Deer Hospice. Steve will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered. Dad was predeceased by biological father, Frank Yurkemik; mother, Anne Hudak; step-father, Andy Hudak; grandmother, (Bubka) Magdalene; grandfather, Paul Svoren; step grandfather, Frank Kisazondi; aunt Mary, (all of whom immigrated to Canada from Czechoslovakia in the late 1920's early 30's); uncle, Sid; cousin, Shirley; step sister, Ann Dubois and her husband, Bill Dubois; daughters, Anna-Maria and Norah; brother-in-law, Alvin Saskowski and numerous childhood friends. Our Dad leaves behind his daughter, Erin; granddaughter, Courtney-Blaire (Mark); his son, Brian (Colleen) and grandsons, Bryson, Evan, and Eric; grandchildren from Anna-Maria and Les Frederick, Shawna, Christina (Roy) Catherine, and Samantha; grandchildren from Norah and Albert Braun, Maureen (John), Ryan (Candace), and Kevin (Marlee). Dad also leaves behind his beautiful great grandchildren: Anika, Lisa, Kayla, Chase, Mia, Leah, Lexi, Breelyn, Kayden, Emily and another whose arrival is expected on July 26, 2016. Dad also leaves behind his admired sister, Fran; her cooking and her family. <br>Dad worked for over 50 years as an Electrician's Apprentice, a licensed Journeyman Electrician and even as a Proprietor of the only General Store in the small Northern Town of Wabowden, Manitoba. Dad loved working in the field of electrical maintenance and construction, where his work and work ethic was always greatly admired. Dad's work experience was long and wonderful! Dad's strong work ethic lead him to various places across Canada, mostly being Northern Canada, as he strongly believed and expressed "you go where the work is". Some of these various places were the birth places of his 4 children: Elliot Lake, Ont. (first born Anna-Maria); Listowel, Ont. (second born, Norah); Flin Flon, MB. (third born, Brian) and Thompson, MB (fourth born, Erin). Dad worked for various companies such as: Sheritt Gordon Mines in Lynn Lake, MB.; Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Ltd; Falconbridge Mine; (where the townsite, Manibridge, was specifically set up for a Mining project; North West Electric Co. Ltd. in Thompson, MB; Flin Flon, MB; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Westmine Res; Pioneer Metal for the Puffy Lake Project. Dad also worked for Northwest Electric in the 60’s and off and on in the 80’s (whenever they requested him to do a project). Dad came out of retirement to go to work for a couple of years for New Brittania (TVX) Mine before retiring for good. He held various positions on certain projects and in certain communities; Foreman, town Fire Chief and School Board Chairman. Dad never missed a day of work and was always early to arrive at any job site. Dad was a proud member of the IBFW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union). If anything needed to be fixed, Dad could rig anything up to have it working again, even if it was an eye sore to others. <br>Dad was a smart, honest and logical man. His logic and brutal honesty was one of his many wonderful traits, which his family has enjoyed sharing the many stories and the laughs it has created over the years. These such stories will remain as part of his legacy he leaves for his family. <br>Dad loved: his life, his family, proving for his family, building 2 homes from the ground up (Flin Flon and Berry Bay); cooking, gardening, was a great dancer, loved his life at the cabin, dogs, wild foxes, coyotes, wolves and squirrels; all of which he would eventually tame enough to become regular friendly visitors at the cabin. As a young teenager, he even had a tame timber wolf as a pet, whom he named Tippy…until the city found out. <br>Dad finally fully retired to his favorite place, the cabin, which he built for himself and his family to enjoy: the beautiful Berry Bay, on Wekusko Lake in Manitoba. It was there that Dad was able to create life long memories for his children and their families, along with his sister Fran and her family. Eventually, Fran and Al decided to purchase a cabin out at Berry Bay just down the road, which Dad assisted in the additional design and construction. <br>After many wonderful years of the cabin life, Dad decided that due to mobility issues, it was time to sell the cabin and move into the Snow Lake townsite. After a few years, it was with his daughter's gentle persuasion to move out to Red Deer in April of 2014, so he could be closer to his children. <br>Dad was able to then spend his remaining years sharing quality time with his son Brian and his boys; daughter, Erin and her daughter, Courtney-Blaire (Mark); great granddaughter, Breelyn; and granddaughter Christina (Roy). <br>Dad enjoyed attending Breelyn's dance recitals, Sunday suppers at Erin's, celebrating his birthday with Erin, Brian and their families, attending church on Christmas Eve with Erin and her family, Christmas Day with Brian's family, going out to various restaurants, (especially to his favourite Chinese restaurant), coffee time at the Bower Mall and Tim Horton's, hamburgers at A&W, and enjoying his regular soft ice cream from Dairy Queen. <br>Our Dad will not be forgotten for all the life lessons he had demonstrated for us: how to acknowledge our mistakes and carry on, get to work and be on time, never sit around and do nothing, provide for your family, love your family unconditionally, never argue or fight with your family, and if you get in trouble, be sure you were going to get the infamous wagging of his crooked finger. <br>We love you Dad and we will forever be grateful for you. It is now your time to rest peacefully in eternity with GOD. <br>At his request, there will be no formal service for Steve. <br>The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in his memory to the Red Deer Hospice Society, 99 Arnot Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 3S6. <br></div>