The greatest mushroom and blueberry patch in heaven now has someone special walking there with a huge smile on his face. Joseph (Joe) entered into heaven on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at the age of 83, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Joe was born on August 26, 1930 in Sundown, Manitoba to Fedor & Sophie Olynyk. He was the second youngest of 11 children. While growing up, Joe’s time was divided between Winnipeg and Sundown and later made his home in Fort Frances. On a trip to Fort Frances in 1952, he met Jean Plichta and proposed to her on their first date. They married five months later on October 25. Joe and Jean were together for 59 years when sadly Jean passed away just 29 days short of their 60th anniversary in 2012. Joe and Jean had four children and tragically lost their first son Dean in infancy. Joe is survived by his children: Denise (Russ) Joss, Terry (Rhonda) Olynyk and Maria (Bill) Dobransky. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Danny (Mindy) Joss, Adarian (Mike) Ballegeer, Joanna (Jeremy) Sokal, Dustin (Katie) Olynyk, Cody and Nikki Olynyk and Holley and Kailey Dobransky and five great-grandchildren: Taylor and Karlee Sokal, Mattea and Aven Joss and Cameron Olynyk. Joe is also survived by two sisters, Mary Drumlovitch and Vivian Banks, and many other family members and friends. For 42 ½ years Joe was employed at Boise Cascade. He started as a paper inspector and then focused on customer and technical service. He used his excellent communication skills to help the company establish strong relationships with some of the largest printing companies in North America. After his retirement in 1995, Joe and Jean moved to Steinbach. Joe was a giving person who volunteered many hours as President of the Children’s Aid Society and with the town’s planning board. Joe was a very happy person who loved to make others smile and laugh. Music brought Joe great joy. He would pick up his guitar, and with his brother-in-law Bill on the accordion, would start an impromptu family “jam session”. He was the first one on the dance floor and the last one off, especially if there was good Ukrainian music playing. Joe loved spending time walking in the woods looking for mushrooms, picking berries and just enjoying the wonderful sights and sounds of nature. This is where Joe said he felt the closest with God. Joe was a member of the St. George’s Ukrainian Orthodox church and was very proud of his Ukrainian heritage. Joe loved his children and grandchildren very much and was very proud of them all. When he and Jean would go visit them he enjoyed watching their various sports and activities. All of the grandchildren loved to cuddle up with their Gido and get lots of hugs and usually a special little “tweak” on the nose. Funeral services will be held at Birchwood Funeral Chapel in Steinbach, Manitoba on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a luncheon. Interment will follow at the St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery in Sundown, Manitoba. In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations preferred to the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7, or Parkinson Society Manitoba, 171 Donald St., Suite 302, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1M4. Dad we love you so very much and know that you are now with Mom and at peace watching over us all. Vichnaya Pamyat.