Obituary of Bernard "Bernie" Arnold Danylyshen

Bernard Arnold Danylyshen (Bernie) was born in Winnipeg Manitoba on January 16, 1954 to Joan and Mike Danylyshen. Bernie passed away peacefully in Coronation, AB on July 26, 2019 at the age of 65 years after a valiant battle with cancer. His passing in the early morning was a call home to his dear Mother Joan and just hours later she closed her eyes and joined him in heaven. He is also reunited with his son Brett after many years of suffering his loss. Bernie grew up on the family farm at Rama, Sask. He took his early schooling in Rama and attended high school in Yorkton, Sask. graduating from St. Joseph’s College in 1972. Bernie went on to University in Saskatoon and eventually settled on the College of Education. He proudly convocated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1977. While at University Bernie met Bonnie Glass from Dysart, Sask. and they were married December 1, 1973. Bernie started his 32 year teaching career in Pennant, Saskatchewan in January 1977. While there he and Bonnie welcomed their first- born Nicholas on December 8, 1978. He accepted a teaching position in Vanguard, Sask. moving there in the summer of 1979. After a year in Vanguard Bernie, Bonnie and Nicholas moved to Milden, Sask. where he taught at Milden Central School. Their second son Brett was born on June 15, 1981. While in Milden Bernie took on a variety of teaching responsibilities. Over the course of 13 years he taught Jr. and Senior High English, Industrial Arts, Social Studies, Phys. Ed. and Computers. Together Bernie and Bonnie raised the boys and were very involved in the community. Life in Milden was busy and good but changes happen. Bernie applied for a posting for a Principal in Veteran, Alberta in 1993 and he was successful. The family moved to Veteran that summer. Bernie jumped into his new role at the school and the years flew by. After a very successful and satisfying teaching career he retired in January 2009, holding the distinction of being the longest serving principal in the history of Veteran School. Bernie always believed if you took on a job you did it right and to the best of your abilities. He was interested in everything. While in Milden he served a term as Village Counsellor, was involved in Minor Sports, Curling Club, Recreation Board, Rink Board and Hospital Board. He coached volleyball and curling and devoted many hours to the boys’ ball teams and Scouting. He built wooden toys and crafts, studied photography and computers, collected sports cards coins and stamps, cheered for the Riders and the Blue Jays and always worked on his physical fitness. He took up cycling and in 2002 he and Bonnie went on the trip of a lifetime cycling across Canada with the Tour du Canada. After the cycling trip he twice inspired the students at Veteran School to take a cycling/camping journey to Gooseberry Lake. He was always interested in running and had completed several 5 and 10 K runs but then he got serious and decided to start training for marathons in 2004. His efforts took him to Rome, Orlando and San Francisco and closer to home to Kelowna, Regina, Lethbridge, Edmonton and Calgary. Bernie and Bonnie moved to Coronation in 2004 and he proceeded to renovate their house and build things in the yard. He had a keen interest in model trains and he built part of the yard to accommodate a Garden Railway. Sadly, he never quite completed this long term project. He volunteered his time to community efforts in Coronation and really enjoyed his life to the fullest. He continued with all of his hobbies and he read everything. After his retirement Bernie and Bonnie purchased a holiday trailer and spent time travelling to various points in the States and Canada. Last summer they decided to try motorhome life and sold the trailer. He was just thrilled to sit behind the wheel of that old bus and they did take a few trips before winter set in. This past winter Bernie was not well and was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer at the end of January. He did the best he could and remained at home for the most part. He endured a lot of pain but he remained stoic and optimistic throughout this part of his life. He never lost faith and he tried so hard to stay with us. In the end he was so very tired and his heart stopped beating on July 26. Bernie is now reunited with his son Brett, father and mother Mike and Joan Danylyshen, father-in-law and mother-in-law Joe and Helen Glass and his good old dogs Captain and Sondra. Bernie is lovingly remembered and missed by his wife of 45 years Bonnie; his son Nicholas (Pam) and granddaughters Gwendolyn and Alice; his two little dogs Duke and Sarge and his grand dog Charlie. He leaves to mourn his passing his sisters Judi (Ed) Richard, Hope Aldred, Doris Danylyshen and his brother Michael (Anita) Danylyshen, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Carol and Gord Gray; his nieces and nephews Jordon (Adelle) Danylyshen (Oliver); Royce (Elaine) Aldred (Isabella and Jace); Evan (Carly) Aldred (Madison, Lexi, and Hayden); Ashley (Phil) Dao (Savannah and Gabriel); Noah, Emma and Leah Danylyshen; Susan Shipley (William and Sarah); Tracy Updike (Jessica Updike) (Becky Gray (Jeremy) - Alexis and Maci); and Greg Updike (Manuela) - Amelia) and many other relatives and friends. Funeral Service Friday, August 2, 2019 1:00 P.M. Coronation Community Hall Coronation, Alberta Memorial donations may be made to Coronation Hospital Foundation - Home Away From Home Room, Canadian Diabetes Association or to a charity of one’s choice.