January 8, 1930 to January 8, 2012
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our husband, father and grandfather. With his family by his side, Mike passed away on his 82nd birthday. It was Sunday, January 8, 2012.
Mike worked in the Boundary area in the logging business, owned a service station and car dealership and truck transportation company.
He was an investor in Parta Industries and subsequently in Parta Holdings. When he was not working in the logging industry or trucking he worked in the particleboard industry. After Mike sold his shares in the particleboard plant, he went back to trucking as this allowed him to gradually ease himself into retirement.
Mike made sure he contributed to his community. He was a member of the USCC, a member of the Friendship Choir, he served as a trustee, was on the Russian School board, a director as well as Board Chair of the Sunshine Valley Co-op, he served as director of Parta Industries and a director of Parta Holdings which owned half of Canpar Industries and he sat as a member of the West Kootenay Power Advisory Committee.
Mike doted on their grandchildren and was always a willing babysitter with his wife Viola. RVing was something they tried on a whim and found truly enjoyable once retired. They invested in a 5th wheel and spent the cold months traveling several years in a row throughout the US southwest where the weather was warm and the travel relaxing.
Mike was predeceased by his parents, Alex and Vera Strukoff, and his brothers-in-law, Fred Popoff and Lewis Zwick. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Viola; and his three sons: Michael and wife Marilyn of Grand Forks, Brian and wife Sherry of Abbotsford and Paul and wife Natalie of Grand Forks; a daughter-in-law, Bonnie of Delta and six grandchildren: brothers Nicolai and Tolek, Evan and Oliver and twins Anton and Marissa. Mike is also survived by two sisters, Eileen Popoff and Liz Zwick, and many other relatives and friends.
Mike was always on the go. He enjoyed being busy. Family always came first and everybody knew we could count on him. We love him and will miss him dearly. Rest in Peace.
Funeral services were at the USCC Centre on January 12, 2012. In lieu of flowers, donations to the USCC or Boundary Palliative Care (at the hospital reception desk) would be appreciated. Grand Forks Funeral Home had care of arrangements.