Elijah Bodnariuk, son of Alex and Maria (Onofreichuk) Bodnariuk was born and baptized into the Christian Faith on August 2, 1926 in the R.M. of Boulton, Manitoba. He had one step-sister and nine brothers & sisters.

Eli attended Shell River School for four years completing up to grade six. When Eli started school he could only speak Romanian. Eli left school and worked at home on the farm and for surrounding farmers. As a teenager Eli went to work in the bush camps during the winters for the next 5 years. After that he started working in the Snow Lake Mine.

He met his wife, Margaret Moses at his sister's wedding. They were married October 11, 1952 at Roblin and had 4 children. Over the next 56 years he worked several different jobs - bush camps, mines, Burns Meat Packers, oil rigs, pipelines, auction mart and school bus driver - to subsidize his passion for farming. In his retirement years Eli also thoroughly enjoyed hunting and fishing with his grandchildren and friends.

Music was Eli’s specialty. "Eli the Good Guy” loved to entertain, whether it was with his mouth organ, violin or his wit & humour. Eli loved singing in the church choir which was very gratifying for him. Even in his many hospital visits he had a positive attitude and professed his Christian Faith. Eli & Margaret were faithful members of St. John's Lutheran Church of Shevlin, Manitoba until it's closure in 1978. They then attended St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Roblin.

In the past three years he loved to tell his story of his miraculous recovery on his ambulance trip to Brandon Hospital. This was a trip that enhanced his Christian Faith. He loved to spend his free time reading and sharing scripture. Eli was prepared to spend eternity with his Lord and Saviour and his loved ones.

Eli was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Bodnariuk February 10, 2009, parents, Alex & Maria, son Brian in 1994, brothers Bill, Gregor, Ted, Jacob and John, sisters Mary Antosh, Elsie Tokar, Doris Guraluik, father-in-law Glen Moses, mother-in-law Mary (Zilensky) Smith and brothers-in-law James Todorovich, Nick Guraluik, George Antosh and Robert Moses.

Surviving to mourn are his children, Glenda & Barry Chescu, Glen & Shelly Bodnariuk and Alex Bodnariuk, all of Roblin, and daughter-in-law Debbie (Dave Soenen) of Kimberley B.C. He also leaves 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, sisters Lena Guraluik of Regina, Saskatchewan and Florence (Oliver) Ellis of Roblin, sisters-in-law Sharon Bodnariuk (Jerry Cherewyk) of Good Spirit, Saskatchewan, and Dorothy (Edwin Thomas) Moses of London, Ontario, Rene Moses of B.C. as well as numerous nieces and nephews, also his church family at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.

Prayer Services were led by Pastor Robert Hasselstrom at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Roblin on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:00 PM.

Eli’s Funeral Service was held Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 11:00 AM also at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, with Pastor Robert Hasselstrom officiating. The organist, Mrs, Debbie Funk, led the congregation in singing the hymns “Be Still My Soul”, “Lord of Glory Who Hast Bought Us”, and “Behold! A Host Arrayed In White. The Lutheran Octet sang “Thy Will Be Done”.

Following the Funeral Service, a reception for family and friends was hosted by the Lutheran Ladies at the Roblin 50 & Over Club.

The Interment Service followed at the Shevlin District Cemetery. Casket Bearers were Allan Bodnariuk, Christopher Bodnariuk, Dylan Bodnariuk, Jordan Bodnariuk, Noah Bodnariuk, Wayne Bodnariuk, Joey Chescu, Raymond Kochalyk, and Dean Yakielashek.

NAIRN-CHYZ FUNERAL HOME

Entrusted with Arrangements

Roblin’s Only Locally Owned

and Family Operated Funeral Home

(204) 937-2111

nairn-chyzfuneralhome.com

A year of daily grief support

Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services. Enter your email below to receive a grief support message from us each day for a year. You can unsubscribe at any time.