John Tanchak Obituary in Grande Prairie at Oliver's Funeral Home & Crematorium

Obituaries

John Tanchak

February 13, 1939 - June 01, 2016

Obituary For John Tanchak

In Grande Prairie, on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, John Tanchak, 77, passed away suddenly, leaving his wife, Liz and his two beloved Bearded Collies.

John loved cold beer and hard work. He liked mystery novels, working in his garden and playing with his dogs. He was great at stained glass art. He was a master carpenter and for a while he had 17 aquariums. Back in the day, his CB radio handle was Sir Lancelot, and that seemed to fit.

John was a Ukrainian prairie boy. He was born in Poplarfield, Manitoba to John and Doris Tanchak. They lived in Ridgeville where they had the General Store and a turkey farm. John Sr. was an M.P.. When he was 19, John left all that and his sister, Iris, to join the Royal Canadian Air Force.

He started his RCAF career as a radio operator on the Argus, spotting spy submarines off the Nova Scotia coast. Then one summer day he went to Air Force Day in Prince Edward Island and met his future bride, Elizabeth Clark.

Swept off her feet, and off the Island, Liz lived with John from coast to coast and in the middle of Canada too. John became a pilot. After his family, the loves of his life were planes: the DC3 and the Hercules. Together, John and Liz had two children: Shenda, who now lives in Toronto with her husband Don Hanna and their children: Sam, Dominic and Rosy; and John, whose children are Jonathon and Emma, and who lives near Devon with his sweetheart, Holly.

John and Liz moved to Grande Prairie when John retired from the Air Force. He took up a position as the Disaster Services Officer for Northern Alberta. In Grande Prairie, they built a house and John taught flying and volunteered for civilian Search & Rescue.

After retiring from Alberta Public Safety Services, John did consulting work for the oil industry in communities considering permitting drilling. Throughout this time, he was feeding deer out the back gate, collecting and selling antique cars and taking long motorhome trips with Liz and their dogs and cats.

In the last few years, after permanently retiring, John became a member of the Grande Prairie Elks Lodge and a member of the Board for Camp Tamarack.

John loved to fly, garden, build things and make things. He was the busiest, most industrious man his family and friends knew. What he did not like was funerals, so he told his family not to have one for him.

In lieu of flowers, he would have welcomed memorial donations to Camp Tamarack (Box 1333, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4Z1).

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Condolences

June 24, 2021

Rackstraw Angela

Dear Liz I am so very sorry to have read of your husband's unexpected passing on the 1st. He sounds like a wonderful man, and I am sure it is going to be quite some time before you find your feet. An unexpected passing is so much harder for those left behind. Please know that I am sending you my love and prayers across the seas; I'm sorry that I do not have your home address. Am so pleased you have your two beardie Boys at your side to help comfort you. Big hug to you, Angela (with Willow and Pip the poodle).
June 24, 2021

Lloyd David

Hello, Please accept our deepest sympathies on the passing of Uncle Johnny; we were saddened to hear about your loss. I have many great memories of time spent with him ( and all of you) at various stages of our lives in PEI, St Albert, Grande Prairie and other places as well. Our thoughts are with you, David and Sandy
June 24, 2021

Cooke Moira

I am so sad to hear of John's death. I'll always remember his kindness in sharing his many, many enthusiasms (flying, dogs, gardens, cars, â?¦) with me and my family. Such energy and such commitment. I always think of that great purple martin house you two made for us. Wow. Its hard to imagine you two apart. Please accept my condolences. Moira
June 24, 2021

Bisang "Butch"

My sincere condolences to Liz and the family as you go through this difficult period. John always had a ready smile, a helping hand and the ability to get the job done. He will be greatly missed.
June 24, 2021

Spirou John

Hi Shenda, I'm so sorry to hear about your father. He sounds like an amazing man and role model. He certainly made a difference in this world from all his contributions. May he rest in peace. I think you can take solace that you have been blessed with many of those same characteristics and will continue his legacy through your own life's work. Deep condolences from Whitney and myself. John Spirou.
June 24, 2021

Goski Anna

Liz My condolences to you and the family on John's passing. Been many years since we last saw you folks but still remember the laughs in Greenwood and Winnipeg with the Biasons. My thoughts are with you at this sad time. Anna
June 24, 2021

Fedeyko Dennis

John will be missed as a member of the Board of Camp Tamarack. He had thoughtful and insightful comments and suggestions about various issues that were discussed at Board meetings and always had the best interests of the camp in mind. John and Liz contributed to our various fund raising activities as much as possible and that was very much appreciated. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and hope you find peace and comfort in the knowledge that John left the world a much better place than that in which he found it.

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