Ivan Szyjka was born to Aleksander and Jozefina in Mosty Wielkiki, Eastern Poland (now Ukraine) on 25 September 1912.

 

In 1935 he did his compulsory 2-year service in the army. In 1939 the Polish Army issued mobilization orders and Jan was mobilized and fought in the September Campaign when the German Forces invaded Poland.

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Taken a prisoner of war, he was deported to Germany, interned in POW camp and then transferred to obligatory labor, first on a farm, then to a factory in Hamburg.

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After the war ended, he, along with many others, was among the many displaced persons who were aided by relatives to emigrate to Canada. Sponsored by his uncle, Piotr Kruk, he arrived in Winnipeg on 18 December 1947, having left his wife Alexandra and newborn daughter Irene (both suffering from tuberculosis) in Germany Several months later Alexandra died, and Irene was placed in an orphanage. It took four long years for father and daughter to be reunited, in Winnipeg.

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In 1952 he had married Jozefina Ignatz, a widow with two daughters, Carole and Irene. Together they worked, brought up their family. Jozefina died in 1996 which made the last ten years difficult for Ivan, as he slowly succumbed to Alzheimer’s.

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Ivan worked as a machinist at the Dominion Bridge Inc. until his retirement in 1997.

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Ivan was an active member and supporter of many Ukrainian organizations and the St. Vladimir Olga Cathedral.

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Ivan passed away in Winnipeg on 8 March 2006, at the age of 94 years. He was buried at the All Saints Cemetery.

 

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Copyright: Szyjka family