HNATIUK, Richard

HNATIUK Richard David Hnatiuk of Lethbridge, formerly of Coaldale, passed away on October 25, 2024 at the Foothills Medical Center in Calgary surrounded by his family. He was 73 years old.
Richard was born on July 18, 1951 in Cudworth, Saskatchewan to Peter and Mary Hnatiuk. He was raised on a farm near Wakaw, Saskatchewan, where he learned the values of hard work, and making a dollar stretch. He was proud of his Ukrainian heritage and delighted every year in the many traditional Ukrainian festivals and ceremonies held in the area. At 14, Richard lost his mother, an incident that effected him deeply, and you could always here Richard telling people to “hug their loved ones tight, when they got home”.
After childhood, Richard found himself in Yellowknife NWT, driving taxi cab on the ice roads and generally causing mayhem!! While there he met Kathleen Forrest, and they were married. The happy couple then moved even farther North to Cambridge Bay, but when Richard found out he was going to be a father, he decided it was time to head south to be more stable and secure, and so they settled in Coaldale, Alberta.
Once in Coaldale Richard spent most of his career working for Well’s Construction and McNally in the construction and equipment trades. A self admitted work-a-holic, Richard made sure his wife and boys were left for naught. It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows but Richard always found time to spend with his boys whether it was camping, garage saling or simply enjoying one another’s company. Good food, good drinks, good friends, good conversation, and good laughs were the cornerstones of Richard’s life, but they meant nothing without his most important commodity, his family.
Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life are his wife of 48 years Kathy of Lethbridge, AB. His son David (Crystal Arseneault) of Lethbridge, AB his adopted Grandson Alex Newman of Lethbridge, AB, his sisters Iris Johnson of Prince Albert, Sask and Marg Miller of Calgary, AB, as well as a large extended family.
He was predeceased by his parents Peter and Mary Hnatiuk, his brother Peter Hnatiuk and his son Alan Hnatiuk.
As per Richard’s wishes there will be no funeral services.
Richard’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff at the Foothills Medical Centre ICU for all their care and compassion.
In lieu of flowers please give a donation in Richard’s memory to:
Parkinson Canada – 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 316, Toronto, ON M2P 2A9. Email: Donate@parkinsons.ca