HARRY GEORGE SMUTYLO

Harry George Smutylo, 93, a long-time resident of Nipigon, Ont., passed away Monday, June 16, 2014 at Rainycrest Long-Term Care in Fort Frances, Ont.
Dad came from Holland to Canada in 1948. He was born in the town of Towste, province of Halychyna, district of Ternopil, Western Ukraine in 1920.
As a young man, Harry was taken by the German Army from home and made to work in western Germany (Hanover) from 1942-45 as forced labour during WWII.
Three times he escaped and was recaptured, finally making his way to Holland—enduring great hardship in fleeing from both German and Russian soldiers.
He spent two-and-a-half years in Holland before making his way to Canada.
He met our Mom (Zina Cymbaluk) there while he was learning English and other studies (I.C.S.) Mother came to Canada and they were married May 21, 1949 in Toronto, Ont.
Dad worked the mines in Beardmore (Leitch), Clarke Motors, St. Lawrence, Brompton, and Domtar (Red Rock, stores department), retiring in 1985.
Dad was a very experienced and lucky fisherman. Speckled trout, lake and rainbow Trout were his specialty, mainly from the Nipigon River.
The very first pink salmon in this region was caught by Dad in the Nipigon River and no one knew what it was.
He also loved to garden and do carpentry.
Dad and Mom moved to Rainycrest in Fort Frances in 2012 after living in Nipigon since 1949.
He is now back home in Nipigon.
Harry was predeceased by his siblings, Stefan, Dmytro, Ivan, Hania, Vasyl, Semko, Kornelia Smutylo (Ukraine), and Marisha Clarke; and brothers-in-law, Leslie James Clarke (Nipigon, Ont.), Len Clarke (Beardmore, Ont.), Harold Clarke (Thunder Bay, Ont.), and Peter and Dora Rudy and Steve and Mary Smutylo (southern Ontario).
He is survived by his wife, Zina of Fort Frances, Ont.; children, Kornelia (John) Zygmont, Iris (Orest) Mihichuk, Lisa Cameron, and Daniel Smutylo; grandson, Justin Zygmont; step-grandchildren, Michael (Terri) Mihichuk and Angela Mihichuk (fiancée Kelly Siemens); and step-great-grandson, Dawson Mihichuk.
Nieces, nephews, and other relatives also survive in Canada, the U.S., Australia, South America, and Ukraine.
A funeral mass was held Friday, June 20, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Annunciation in Nipigon, with Fr. D. Adaza officiating.
The pallbearers were Conrad Borg, Tom Borg, Howard Chaboyer, Frank Fox, Steve Gregorchuk, Ed Paley, and Cal Seabrook.
Interment was in Cliffside Cemetery in Nipigon.
Friends so wishing may make in memoriam donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Kidney Foundation, or the Rainycrest Auxiliary.