Fred Starchuk passed away peacefully at Boundary Hospital on June 6, 2011, at the age of 94. He was born on February 28, 1917, at Smoky Lake, Alberta. The son of Mike and Rose Starchuk, he received his schooling at Smoky Lake and also Grand Forks.
In 1936, he attended a wedding at Smoky Lake where he met his future wife, Kaye Basaraba. They were united in marriage on April 27, 1943, at Grand Forks, B.C. They moved to Alamby, and then Princeton where he was employed with the Copper Mountain mine. While there, they had three daughters: Joyce, Lee and Bonnie. Shortly after Bonnie’s arrival, they moved back to Grand Forks where Fred worked in the logging industry. Over the course of his working career, he was the manager of Kingston’s Ranch with 1,500 chickens, as well as foxes and mink. He delivered eggs to Trail and Rossland in his car. He lost his leg in an accident riding his motorcycle at the age of 21 and couldn’t serve overseas in the war because he had a wooden leg. He also went to Prince Rupert to join up, but ended up working as an orderly in the hospital there for a short time, and then to work in the shipyards. He went to Port Hardy to work as a truck driver while they were building the airport. He worked as a logger in Powell River and Lang Bay. Among his other jobs, Fred worked in construction, was a Cat operator, a camp cook, a heavy-duty mechanic and welder and was even self-employed, running a gas station and garage for a few years. He worked for Horvatin Brothers, the Granby Mining Company at Phoenix and Bradford Enercon, finally retiring in his late 60s.
He was a member of the Anglican Church were he spent 30 years on different church committees, mostly as Peoples’ and Rectors’ Warden. He was also involved with the Senior Citizens Branch #68 where he was the treasurer for many years, Boundary Lodge where he drove a bus of seniors to various places in B.C., and ran the new Horizons Bingo Association for a number of years. His hobbies consisted of fishing, hunting, berry picking, building wood stoves and trailers, and playing cards trying to skunk anyone he could at cribbage. He loved anything to do with the outdoors, and Fred and Kaye would go camping to his favourite lakes around the province. He was devoted to his entire family and loved to get the family together at Christmas, Easter and many other special occasions where they always had a good time. Fred’s two biggest accomplishments were riding his bicycle to Smoky Lake, Alberta in 1936, with only 10 miles of paved road, and in his 80s he rebuilt a low bed and also rebuilt a curtain trailer from 40 to 53 feet for Danco Transport. He was an amazing man and a good teacher and inspiration to many.
He leaves behind to celebrate his life, his daughters: Joyce Noble, Lee (Fred) Derhousoff and Bonnie Starchuk; his five grandchildren: Kevin Derhousoff, Anthony (Sandy) Podmoroff, Kelsey (Larry) Davidoff, Artessa (Trevor) Wiker and Anthia (Fred) Noble; and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters: Lou Clapper of Grand Forks, Alice Rozander and Ollie (Herb) Johnson of Vernon; and a brother, John from Salmon Arm; sister-in-law, Mable Starchuk; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife, Kaye (1991); his parents, Mike and Rose; two brothers, Alex and Peter; sisters: Elsie, Mary, Kay, Doris and Vera. He will be missed by many relatives and friends, especially Pat, Irene and Sandy from the dialysis department where he spent three times a week for almost eight years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to the Dialysis Department of Boundary Hospital at Grand Forks. A celebration of life was held on Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the Royal Canadian Legion. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Grand Forks Funeral Home was in care of arrangements.