Prokopowich

John Prokopowich was born in Skala, Borscziw, Ukraine in 1865. He married Maria Beyko in 1893. Maria was the daughter of Nick and Katherine Beyko, she was born in 1872 in Skala.

John and Maria heard that Canada was accepting and promising a good future for immigrants.

In 1899, John, Maria, their two children and Maria’s parents packed up a few belongings and tools and left Ukraine for Canada. They settled in Sifton, Manitoba. They later homesteaded in Dry River, District of Ukraina, Manitoba. The school district there was named Skala.

With much joy, hard work, and sorrow, they cleared the land and built a home for their large family.

They raised nine children: Walter, Natalia, Minnie, Stella, Eugene, Anna, Olga, Nick and Andrew.

John and Maria farmed until 1947. In retirement, their son Nick took care of them until their passing.

John passed away in 1957 at the age of 92, and Maria in 1955 at age 83. Both are buried in the Garland Catholic Cemetery in Garland, Manitoba.

Walter arrived in Canada with his parents, John and Maria, and baby sister Natalia in 1899 at the age of two. In 1910 the Skala school was built, where he attended until the age of twelve.

In 1919 he married Anna Schurko, born in 1901 to Stefan and Maria Schurko in Yaroslaviv, Ukraine. Walter and Anna had a large family. Two sons and one daughter passed away at a very young age. They raised twelve children: Mary, Mike, Stella, Tony, Denzel, Olga, Cassie, Sophie, Margaret, Minnie, Borden and Metro.

Walter celebrated his 100^th birthday on October 20, 1997 and passed away on November 23, 1997. Anna passed on June 13, 1979. Both are buried at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery in Ethelbert, Manitoba.

We, their descendants, thank them for their courage that brought them here, which granted each of us the good life and freedom we so often take for granted.

In memory of John & Maria, and Walter & Anne Prokopowich

Lovey Bosiuk (Warelis/Prokopowich)
November 2020