John Palmeruk

John Theodore Palmeruk passed away on Friday, May 12, 2023 at the age of 92.  John was born on January 25, 1931 to Toder and Leontina Palmeruk of Inglis, MB.  He attended Rochedale School completing grade 8.  He then left school to help work on the family farm and at the age of 16 John began his first job at Skinner’s Nursery.  On October 29, 1955, John married Nancy Choropita.  A year later they were blessed with their first child Larry (1956) then Carl (1957), Pat (1959), and Gloria (1961).  In 1964 they lost their fifth child late in Nancy’s pregnancy.  Besides farming John continued to work at Skinner’s Nursery.  In 1964 he moved his family to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, where he managed a nursery for three years.  It was then back to Manitoba in 1967 where he continued to work at Skinner’s Nursery and during the winter months John worked away from home with Comstock assembling electricity towers.  In 1972 John and Nancy made the decision to move to Winnipeg where John was employed by Boeing assembling fiberglass airplane parts.  Although they enjoyed life in Winnipeg John missed the farm and so in 1977 they returned to their homeplace on the farm.  John continued with Skinner’s Nursery till 1984.  After that he worked in carpentry and lastly taking a job as caretaker of Banner County Court in Russell from 1991 till his retirement in 1995.  One of John’s greatest passions was his love for horses.  The family enjoyed many sleighrides in the winter.  Fishing, hunting, woodworking, gardening, puzzles, and reading were other favorite past times John enjoyed.  Many hours were spent gardening and landscaping in John and Nancy’s retirement years.  Sadly, Nancy passed away May 31, 2012.  He missed her dearly.  John’s family brought great joy to him and it’s what he lived for.  He leaves his family with many fond memories.  John was a great inspiration to the many people who’s lives he touched. 

John was predeceased by his wife, Nancy; infant daughter; grandson, Jonathon McIvor; and great grandson, Carson Smith; his parents Toder and Leontina; sister Dora Fostey and brother-in-law Bill, sister Mary Bezan and brother-in-law Mike; brothers George, Eli, and Billy; sister Annie Griswold and brother-in-law Alvin; and nephews Michael Bezan and Jeff Palmeruk.  He was also predeceased by his parents-in-law George and Mary Choropita; brothers-in-law Ken Singleton, Elmer Pasternak, and Harry Choropita.

John is survived by his children Larry (Kim) Palmeruk, Carl (Susan) Palmeruk, Pat (Rick) McIvor, and Gloria (Daryl) Nernberg; his grandchildren Derek (JayDeanne) Palmeruk, Tanya (Curtis) Palmeruk, Tara (Joey) Chescu, Sean (Laura) Palmeruk, Cole (Heather) Palmeruk, Taya (Matt) Isaac, Glen (Brooklyn) McIvor, Adria (Jordan) Holovach, Stephanie (Dylan) Snitynsky, and Ryland (Nicole) Nernberg; his in-laws Elsie Palmeruk, Betty Palmeruk, Helen Singleton, Florence Pasternak, Albina (Norman) Jackson, Peter (Vivian) Choropita, and Jan (Doug) Bauer.

John is also survived by fifteen great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.