Obituary of Steve Labchuk

Steve Labchuk passed away peacefully in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on March 27, 2026, at the age of 95.

Steve lived a long and remarkable life that stretched nearly a century, over continents, and across generations. He was born on January 8, 1931, in Fisher Branch, Manitoba, the first Canadian-born child of Ivan (John) Labchuk and Kateryna (Kernyakevich) Labchuk, who arrived just months earlier from Semykivtsi, Galicia, (now Ukraine) with his three older siblings: Metro, Bill and Mary.

In the midst of the Great Depression, his birth was a joy for the growing family. Soon came the younger siblings - Ann, Michael, Walter, Julia, Pauline, and Elizabeth. Well accustomed to hardship, their parents persevered through those lean years and passed on that fortitude to their children. 

At just 17, with his mother’s signed permission in hand, Steve set out by train to Winnipeg, enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force. After training, he was posted to RCAF Station Summerside where he met Gloria Woodside, a Summerside girl who would become the love of his life. They married in 1951 then soon built a life and a family together for nearly 40 years, including 32 years of active military service, raising their five children - Sharon, Colleen Woodside, Blake, Kevin, and Derek - while living in Canada, France and the Netherlands.

Steve served his country with distinction, including as a United Nations peacekeeper overseeing a ceasefire between Egypt and Israel. From humble beginnings he worked his way up the ranks, ultimately retiring in Winnipeg as a Captain - an achievement that reflected both his dedication and his competence - and continuing his service as an officer in the Reserves.

Always active and a natural athlete, if there was a team to join, Steve was on it. In 1968, while stationed in the Netherlands, he and fellow Canadian servicemen helped found the Smoke Eaters Geleen hockey team. Steve was the team’s first captain and trainer; under that early leadership they found success, finishing third in the Dutch national league by its second season. Now known as Eaters Limburg, they still compete at the highest level in the country. 

After his retirement from the Air Force, Steve continued to serve the public, working with Veterans Affairs Canada in Winnipeg. Gloria lobbied him to transfer to her beloved Prince Edward Island in 1983 where sadly some years later she was taken far too young by cancer - a deeply felt loss that challenged his entire family. 

Still living on Prince Edward Island, Steve later found companionship with Sadie Hughes and they married. 

Steve took great pride in his growing family, and delighted in hearing how his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, spread out across Canada and beyond, were finding their paths in life. 

He will be remembered by his grandchildren - Camille and Bryan (Sharon’s children); Jenn, Tasha, Carli, Mariah and Jo ( Blake’s children); Alexia and William (Derek’s children); and his great-grandchildren, Charlee and Venice (Jenn’s children), and JJ (Carli’s son).

Steve’s life came full circle when in 2002, after the collapse of the USSR and Ukraine gaining independence, he travelled to his family’s village with some of his children and grandchildren. Unable to make contact with family in Ukraine after WWII and fearing such contact would endanger their safety under a brutal Russian-dominated dictatorship, hope of ever meeting any relatives was lost. But it did happen and Steve was welcomed ‘home’ by a multitude of wonderful, generous, kind cousins, some seventy years after historical events compelled his parents to leave.

Steve was an avid political junkie, faithfully reading the newspaper and watching The National, ever ready to discuss the issues of the day. In the last year of his life, Steve returned to his athletic roots and, with the help of expert trainers at T3 Fitness and Kinesiology, was soon lifting heavy weights and thoroughly enjoying the welcoming community he found at the gym. Training three times a week, he relished some friendly competition with his gym buddy, Helen Pretulak. Just three days before his passing, Steve was doing sets of incline push-ups in the squat rack, a testament to the value of active living.

Steve will be deeply missed and fondly remembered for his devotion to shortening phone conversations, preferring in-person chats with his many friends and close family. We will think of him during the evening news, missing the quick wit and hilarious, biting commentary he always had at the ready.

Those who knew Steve remember him as a true gentleman who was deeply proud to serve his country. He remained steadfast in times of hardship, was unfailingly honest, and loved his family above all. 

Cremation has taken place and Steve will be laid to rest with Gloria, as he wished, at the People’s Cemetery in Summerside.

Вічна памʼять
Eternal Memory