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Steve Onyshko

Image by Nick Andréka

STEVE ONYSHKO

August 17, 1937 – December 27, 2024

Steve grew up on the farm of his parents (Steve and Tekla Onyshko) near the village of Glendon, Alberta. As a boy, he enjoyed farm chores, fishing, and other outdoor activities.


As a grandfather, Steve told his grandchildren of his many childhood adventures, including one incident where he tied his sled to the tail of a young bull (unsurprisingly, that tale did not end well).


As a teenager, in a move that foreshadowed his future career, Steve wired his family’s farmyard and house for electricity.


After graduating from high school in Glendon, Steve obtained both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Alberta in Edmonton.


Also in Edmonton, Steve met Alice, whom he married in 1961.


In 1962, Steve and Alice moved to Seattle, Washington so that Steve could obtain a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington.


After graduating, Steve worked in Seattle for several years for the Boeing aerospace company. During the Seattle years, the couple had their three sons, Tom, Dan, and Mike.


In 1970, the family moved back to Canada and settled in Winnipeg, so that Steve could take a position as a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Manitoba.


Steve served there (including a period as Electrical Engineering department head) until he retired in 2003, after which he was a professor emeritus.


In the early 1980s, Steve designed and built a cottage near West Hawk Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park. The cottage was one of his happiest places, and he enjoyed many visits there with his sons and their families, which included campfires and watching the 1970s detective show Columbo.


Steve enjoyed crafting toys for his children, furniture, and other household items in his shed behind the family home, where his grandchildren believed he could “build anything”. He also enjoyed many trips to Edmonton to see both his and Alice’s relatives.


Steve was a kind, warm and generous man, who was humble about his accomplishments, was proud of his family, and loved visiting with relatives.


Steve passed away at home due to cancer. A celebration of his life will be held in Edmonton this summer.


Steve is survived by his wife of 63 years Alice; his sibling Mary (spouse Brian), his sibling Sophie, his brother-in-law Wilfred (spouse Margaret), his sister-in-law Joyce (spouse Phillip); his sons, Tom (spouse Brenda), Dan (spouse Paula), and Mike (former spouse Karen); and his grandchildren, James, Laura, Isabela, Catarina, Steve, Ben, and Emily.


Steve’s family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.


ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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David Kinnear

January 4, 2025 at 8:42 PM

Condolences to the Onyshko family from David & Brandwyn Kinnear

Russell Davidson

January 3, 2025 at 11:40 PM

As a friend of both Dan and Tom I had the pleasure of many visits to the Onyshko home. Mr. Onyshko was always kind and welcoming and I always felt quite comfortable. I was very lucky to have know this man. He was gentle and intelligent with a ready smile. A true role model.

Rod Martens

January 3, 2025 at 8:02 PM

I will always remember Steve Onyshko as friendly and smart. A reassuring presence when I was growing up in Winnipeg as a friend of his son Tom. I will also remember him as the person who convinced me that swimming was not scary. My heartfelt condolences to the entire Onyshko clan, I will be thinking of you all.

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Ethical Death Care (Death Care Services Inc.) is privately, independently, and locally owned. Shane Neufeld and the original team of Integrity Death Care own and manage this organisation.

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