Eugene Kostuchuk

Eugene Kostuchuk of the Flin Flon, Manitoba, passed away peacefully with his family be his side Tuesday February 27, 2024 at the age of 89 years.

A Traditional Ukrainian Service for Gene Kostuchuk will be held Monday March 4, 2024  at 11:00am from St. George Ukrainian Orthodox Church 81 Church Street Flin Flon, Manitoba with interment at East Hillside Cemetery to follow.

Following the service and burial a Celebration of Life reception will be held in the St. George Ukrainian Orthodox Church hall.

If friends so desire memorial tributes may be made to St. George Ukrainian Orthodox Church  P.O Box 733 Flin Flon, Manitoba R8A 1N5, or to your favorite charity.

Access the livestreamed services and tribute video for Eugene Kostuchuk here:  

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=5ab5d31d-c469-40fd-82d7-7e4753291cb7

With his loving wife of 63 years by his side, Mr. Eugene Kostuchuk passed away peacefully on February 27, 2024. We wish to celebrate and honour you, Gene, for your dedication to a life of meaning for our family, friends, and the Flin Flon, Manitoba, community.

Gene was born to Ukrainian parents Sophie and Michael Kostuchuk in Dauphin, Manitoba, on February 17, 1935. He told us, however, that he was born on a sleigh in the middle of a snowstorm (of course!). He was raised on the family farm with his younger brother Joseph.

He married Geri in 1960, and they started their life and family together in Island Falls. Gene built and maintained power lines in and around Island Falls and was the pipe fitter for the dam. In 1967, he moved the family to Flin Flon, where he took ownership of and developed Arctic Beverages with his partner, Steve Novak.

Committed to community service and promoting tourism as a secondary economic source for Flin Flon, Gene was instrumental in numerous community improvements and was an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce. His accomplishments include installing the first four-sided scoreboard in the Whitney Forum, participating in the building of the city's campgrounds, designing and building the Rotary Wheel and helping to establish Flin Flon's tourist bureau and move Flinty's statue and the welcoming arch to the bureau. Realizing the importance of preserving the original CN station, Gene, with the Chamber of Commerce, undertook the ambitious project of dismantling and moving this building to its current location, which is the home of the Flin Flon Station Museum. Gene was also instrumental in installing some of the infrastructure required for the exterior museum artifacts.

Gene was also a member of the Flin Flon chapter of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), which recently "hung up its wings" after serving the Flin Flon region for decades. The motto for CASARA nationally is "that others may live" - the volunteers who take part travel great distances at high personal risk to help make the save when needed. In addition to his service, Gene loved nature and fishing, was a pilot of many float planes, and was found happiest floating in the sky!

Gene served 20 years as President of the St. George Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

As a dedicated volunteer and builder of Flin Flon's local community, Gene was added to the Wall of Honour at the Flin Flon Station Museum.

Eugene is survived and loved dearly by his family and friends. Wife Geraldine (Geri) Kostuchuk, children and in-laws Kerri (Late Roy) Akins, Billy Kostuchuk and Josephine McKay, David and Tammy Kostuchuk, Patti and Howie Baral, grandchildren Freya, Zoe, Brianna and husband Benji, Brett, Niko, great-grandchildren Luna and little peanut on the way. Sister and brothers in-law Lesia and Lou Sawkey, Roger and Emily Johnson, nieces and nephews James and wife Kristin, and Bobby Kostuchuk, Gordie, Kathy, Chris, Mickey Johnson, Daren, Greg and Jeff Sawkey, great-grand nieces and nephews, Willie, Lesia, Veronica, Jozefin, Jen, Jake, Alex, Charlotte, Olivia.

Predeceased by Father, Michal and Mother, Sophie Kosciuczuk (Nee Czyzyk), Brother Joseph Kostuchuk and wife Cathy, son-in-law Roy Akins.

We love you, dear friend, dear husband, dad, uncle and Dido. Thank you for your endearing desire to bring such life and inspiration to our hearts and community.