Nov 30, 1925 - Mar 23, 2018
Alex was born on November 30, 1925 in Ploska, Ukraine (Poland). He passed away on March 23, 2018, at the age of 92, in Abbotsford, British Columbia. With his parents and three brothers, he arrived in Canada in 1928. The family resided in the Swan River Valley. In 1973, Alex moved his family to Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Alex is survived by his wife, Sonia, (nee Kadun) of 67 years, his daughters, Elaine McVie, Patti Onsorge (Ulli), Grace Dyck (Bob) and Debbie Aarts (John), his 11 grandchildren, their spouses and 18 great-grandchildren. Dad had a special relationship with his eleven grandchildren, Andrew (Courtney) McVie, Alison (Brad) Hummel, Dustin (Jean) Hicks, Charlie (Nick) James, Jordan (Angela) Dyck, Josh (Nikki) Dyck, Amanda (Travis) Dyck, Jacqueline (Richard) Boer, Jonathan (Mandy) Aarts , Jesse Aarts , Jacob (Nina) Aarts, and they each valued his love, concern, generosity and advice.
He was fortunate to have enjoyed getting to know his eighteen great- grandchildren Jackson McVie, Sloan, Slater, Smith Dyck, Gianna, Madison, Zakk Dyck, Penelope, Miles, Cameron Dyck, Kaelen, Cohen, Kesler, Theanna Boer, Hunton, Averi, Axton, Kensington Aarts.
Alex is survived by his brothers, Walter (Priscilla) Filuk (Calgary), Tim (Sharon) Filuk (Seattle), Harvey (Alice) Filuk, (San Diego). He is survived by his sisters, Anne Lietz (Victoria), Olga Elenko, (Invermere), Jennie Oleksy (Lethbridge), Ruth Narusis (William) (Parksville), Frankie Yanick (Courtney) and his sister-in-law, Marie Filuk (White Rock).
He was predeceased by his parents, Lazar and Jean (nee Kozak) Filuk, brothers, Peter Filuk, Bruce Filuk, Demeter Filuk, Fred Filuk, and Jack Filuk. He was predeceased by his sister Leda Kowalko.
He was a beloved uncle and is survived by many nieces and nephews.
Alex was always an entrepreneur and had many business interests. He was involved in logging with his brother Peter, in the Swan River Valley. He worked as a caterpillar operator on the building of the Winnipeg Flood spillway. He owned Filuk Construction in Swan River, providing gravel for the construction of roads across northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan and providing land clearing in the Swan River Valley. He ran for MLA during the 1969 Manitoba election and went on to a position in the Department of Transportation in the Manitoba government. He served on the board of the Swan Valley Credit Union and the Swan River Chamber of Commerce.
After moving to Abbotsford, he was involved in land and warehouse development. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Abbotsford Airport Authority.
Alex's quiet and thoughtful generosity funded many churches, missions and community organizations. His family had experienced poverty and hardship as immigrants to Canada and during the Depression and he willingly helped many people who benefitted from his support. When the opportunity opened up, Alex and Sonia sent shipping containers of much needed supplies to Ukraine.
Providing and caring for his immediate and extended family was always his priority. Alex and Sonia enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Ukraine and visited extended family across Canada and the USA. Time with grandchildren and great -grandchildren was always a highlight. He sang in the Ukrainian Baptist church choir in Swan River, MB and in the "Men of Song" in Abbotsford. He loved music and had a song for every occasion.
The family would like to thank the many staff at Menno Hospital for their care of Alex during the last three years of his life as he experienced the impact of Parkinson's disease.
Celebration of Life Service for Alexander Filuk
Friday, April 6th 1:00 PM
Seven Oaks Alliance Church
2575 Gladwin Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3N8
In lieu of flowers, donations to the following mission to Ukraine would be appreciated.
HART Ministries, Humanitarian Aid Response Team, 106 - 90 Freeport Blvd. NE, Calgary, AB T3J 5J9
Online condolences to the family may be made at www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com.
Woodlawn Funeral Home Abbotsford