William John Shewchuk

William “Bill” John Shewchuk was born on January 18, 1939, on the family farm in Beckenham, Saskatchewan, the fifth of ten children of Michael and Mary Shewchuk. Family was always at the center of Bill’s life, and he cherished the lifelong closeness he shared with his wife, daughters, brothers and sisters, and their families. Bill passed away in Calgary on August 12, 2025 with his loving daughter Laura and her partner James by his side.

Bill met the love of his life, Stella Sylvia Hryniuk, in Saskatoon, and they were married there on September 3, 1966. Together they built a life filled with love and devotion. They welcomed their first daughter, Laura Kim, on May 22, 1969, followed by their second daughter, Sherry Lynn, on December 13, 1970. Bill’s devotion to Stella and his daughters was unwavering; they were always at the very heart of his life. He is survived by his daughter, Laura (her partner, James Angrove). He was predeceased by his darling young daughter, Sherry, who passed on October 11, 1974, and his beloved wife, Stella, who passed on September 19, 2020.

Along with his deep love for family, Bill valued the many friendships he nurtured throughout his life. Some of his closest friendships began when he moved to Saskatoon at the age of 18 and endured for the rest of his life. Family and friends meant everything to Bill, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand—whether to relatives, friends, coworkers, or neighbors. In doing so, he often transformed these relationships into lifelong bonds.  He also loved to exhibit his caring nature through creating personalized curated music playlists.  Bill, and his wife, also loved to share their appreciating for their friendships with others by bringing people together hosting dinner parties, and lively gatherings to celebrate both significant milestones and everyday moments

Bill spent his career providing drafting services and took great pride in being regarded as one of the best in his profession.

He also held a lifelong passion for the outdoors, instilled during his childhood on the farm where he trapped, rode horses, picked mushrooms, hunted deer, and walked the land. In his later years, following a life-altering stroke in May 2016, he often reminisced about those days—memories that brought him both joy and comfort. His love for the outdoors grew during the years he and Stella spent in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, where they enjoyed fishing, boating, and hiking with close friends. Later, in Edmonton and St. Albert, Alberta, Bill found happiness in tending to his immaculate yard. His vegetable gardens, flower beds, and countless flowerpots became a source of pride and a way of staying connected to the earth, evoking cherished memories of his childhood on the farm.

After his stroke and the loss of Stella, Bill moved to Calgary, where he spent his final years at the Clifton House retirement residence, enabling his daughter Laura (who lives in Calgary) to spend many quality hours and days with him and caring for him.

Bill will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered as a devoted husband and father, a cherished brother, a loyal friend, a gentle man with a generous heart, a playful sense of humor, a lover of music, an exceptional host, and a man forever connected to the beauty of the outdoors.

A funeral service will be held at St. Stephen’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 4903 – 45 Street SW, Calgary, AB Friday September 26th, 2025 at 11:00 am with a reception to follow.

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