It is with sadness that we announce the passing of John Starchuk. He was born July 21, 1925 and passed away peacefully on June 26, 2013, with his two daughters at his side.
He attended all his schooling in Grand Forks and graduated in 1943. The day he turned 18 years, he went to Vancouver and joined the Army. After basic training he was shipped to England and then to Holland. He joined up for the Pacific and by the time he got back to Canada the war was over. With his gratuity money he took flying lessons. He got a job as a pilot for Mr. Sewers, who had a business in Saskachewan and got to do a lot of flying.He met his wife then and they were married in 1952. He went into logging as a faller and ended up on the Island. After a few moves he came back to Grand Forks for a few years. Wanting to be close to his daughters he moved to Salmon Arm. Last year he spent a month at the cancer clinic in Kelowna.
He was predeceased by his mom and dad; sisters Elsie, Mary, Kaye, Doris and Vera; brothers Alex, Fred and Peter. He is survived by daughters Heather and Val; 7 grandkids; sisters Alice Rozander and Ollie Johnson (Herb) of Vernon and Lucille Plain (Jim) of Grand Forks.
The highlight of his life recently was when his daughters took him to Vernon to the Airshow. They got a ticket for him to go for a flight. The pilot let him fly the plane and he was in his glory. Then he told the pilot he better land the plane.
Plans for his celebration of his life will be announced later.