Dorothy Nikolychuk

Marge Nikolychuk passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully with her family at her side, to be with her Heavenly Father on Saturday, October 29th, 2016, at 8:15 AM at St Anthony’s General Hospital, The Pas, Manitoba, at age 79 years. Marge was born Friday, June 25th, 1937 to Carl and Dorothy Munson at the Shoal Lake Municipal Hospital in Shoal Lake, Manitoba. After her mother’s passing at child birth, Marge went to live with relatives, until her father remarried Monica Cleaver in 1941 at which time she moved back to Strathclair, Manitoba. Her brothers John, Wilfred and Sandy were born in 1942, 1944 and 1946 respectively. Marge attended school in Strathclair, Manitoba and graduated from Strathclair Collegiate in 1955. After graduation, she attended Teacher’s College Training in the summer of 1955. From 1955 to 1959, she taught in various schools in Manitoba, including the Moffat School in The Pas, Manitoba (located on the farm property of Steve Nikolychuk), where she taught grades 1 to 9, as well as working at Brandon College as a laboratory instructor and assistant to the English Professor. She was also a certified swimming instructor and lifeguard and worked during the summers at several Manitoba communities, including the old Winton Pool in The Pas as a pool manager in 1959. It was during the time in The Pas that she met her future husband Steve Nikolychuk while she was teaching at Moffat School, but she was not ready to settle down. Instead in 1959, she joined the Royal Canadian Navy and moved to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, where she completed her basic training on the HMCS Cornwallis. She was then transferred to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she worked as a senior watchkeeper of operations on the HMCS Stadacona until 1961 when she was granted an honourable release and returned back to The Pas. On May 22, 1961, she married Steve Nikolychuk in Strathclair, Manitoba and together they had 2 children - Joy born on April 10, 1962 and Perry born on July 21, 1963. Shortly after their marriage, they moved from the farm, and along with Steve’s brother Alex, they bought Fairway Service Station, 3 miles north of The Pas, which they ran until 1972. When they sold the business, they bought property at Clearwater Lake where they lived until 1976, when they once again purchased property in the Carrot Valley. During this time, Marge continued with her education and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in 1968. She used these skills and worked as a teachers aide at the Kelsey School Division, at Keewatin Community College as an instructor for adult basic education, and as a program developer, coordinator, and instructor for Basic Job Readiness Training during 1973 to 1975. In 1976, she obtained her certificate as an Adult Education Instructor and her Bachelor of Education. From 1975 to 1980 she was the coordinator for Adult Basic Education in northern Manitoba. In 1979, she also obtained her private pilots licence. She left Keewatin Community College in 1980 so she could “retire” to the farm full time. In 2002, when Steve passed away, Marge sold the property to their son, Perry, who still resides there with his family and Marge purchased property at Mile 25 at Clearwater Lake. Unable to let the grass grow under her feet, Marge worked and volunteered in many other positions in her lifetime including CASARA, The Pas Pro Life, the Salvation Army both as the thrift store manager and treasurer, the Royal Canadian Legion as president and poppy fund chair, and Women’s Aglow. She was a member of the Canadian Order of Foresters since 1953. She wrote articles for the Opasquia Times and did radio shows for CJ1240. She travelled to the USSR, Mid East, Israel and took a Mediterranean Cruise. In 2002, after moving to Clearwater Lake, her desire for education did not cease. She took short story writing courses and finally began correspondence courses through Providence College and Seminary in Otterburne, MB. She also began pastoring at the Wanless Community Church. Between 2009 to 2011, she moved to Otterburne where she obtained an apartment so she could attend College full time. In April 2011, she graduated from Providence Theological Seminary with her Masters of Divinity and was at that time 73, the oldest person to graduate from the seminary. She was given the honour of being elected by her student body to present the students reflections at the graduation dinner. Upon returning to The Pas, she continued to pastor at the church in Wanless until her passing in 2016. When she wasn’t doing courses, she loved to knit, crochet, write and was an avid reader. She loved researching, reading her bible, doing her devotions and preparing her sermons as she worked at her table or in her easy chair - always looking out over the lake. Even when she was not well, she always found peace in being at her house at Clearwater Lake. As her mobility and her health decreased over the last year, she was looking forward to spending the winter writing a book - a desire that had burned in her soul for years. Marge loved her family and friends very much and prayed for them daily. Her faith carried her through many hard times during her life and continued to give her strength right until the end. Marge leaves to mourn her daughter, Joy (Craig) Matechuk, and granddaughters Michelle and Tara; son, Perry (Angie) Nikolychuk and twin grandchildren Roger and Stephanie, who called her “Grandma-at-the-Lake”; brother John Munson; brothers in law Bill, Ted, Walter, Jim (Trudy) Nikolychuk; god-daughter Janet (Gene) Luce and numerous nieces and nephews. Marge was predeceased by her husband, Steve; mother, Dorothy; father, Carl; stepmother, Monica; brothers Wilfred and Sandy; brothers and sisters in laws Matt, Alex (Rose), John (Olga), Nick (Olga), George (Kay), Pete (Doris), Sam Nikolychuk and Mary (Harry) Solotwinski. Her memory will be cherished by all whose lives she touched. In keeping with family wishes cremation took place and a service of remembrance to celebrate Marge’s life was held Friday, November 4, 2016, 10:30 am, at the Living Water Apostolic Church, The Pas, Manitoba, with Pastor Betty Olson presiding. Memories of the heart were shared by Kathy Dickens and scripture readings were proclaimed by Holly Thrones. Honour Guard was the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #19. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Immediately following the service, a reception was held at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Pas Health Complex Foundation, Inc., Memorial Fund, Palliative Care Division, Box 541, The Pas, Manitoba, R9A 1K6, or to a charity of choice, would be appreciated by Marge’s family.