Thread: In Memory of My Father

My Father passed away this week.

Born William M. Yaschuk in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1925, of Parents who immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine in Russia.

At age 17, my father enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and saw duty in WW2 as a tail gunner/ radio operator in the Halifax Bomber Aircraft.

My father met my mother in Toronto, Canada, and they both worked for Canadian Pacific Railway, as teletype operators. My brother and I were born in Toronto, Canada. Somewhere along the line my father decided he wanted a better life for our family so he applied and was accepted to legally immigrate to the United States. I must admit he probably wanted to escape the cold winters as my Grandfather lost both of his legs due to amputation due to severe frostbite. (-40* F was not uncommon in the winter). Which reminds me of the stories of my father walking to school for 5 miles without any shoes in the wintertime.

When my father came to this country the first thing he did was legally change his name because he wanted an American name. He chose the name of the 6th president of the United States, and thus became Bill Adams.

My father worked for 25 years in the airline industry and it may or may not be a coincidence that he worked for American Airlines.

My father was a proud American, and of course he became an United States Citizen at first opportunity.

My father finished high school after me, but to his credit he earned a college degree before me. Never once in my lifetime have I ever known my father to take any state or federal handouts, unemployment or any other special programs. My father was a good man and he worked hard and took care of his family.

My father retired twice in California but after my mother passed away he moved out of state, because he always joked that he could afford to live twice as long, in any other state.

My father was in relatively good health and died peacefully in his sleep. I am very lucky to have had a man as good as he was, to be my Dad.

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Your dad was a hero, In my mind the hero's of the world are ordinary men who love their families, go to work each day, love there country, simply living an honest life.

So sorry to hear of your loss Skip. May your father rest in peace and may more fathers live to be 85 like him.

Thank you for sharing this with our folks here at ALIPAC.

William

You have my deepest sympathies, Skip. I lost my Dad a year ago, and I know how hard this is for you. I too was extremely proud of my Father.

He became a US citizen after serving during WWII in the US Navy, he and his brothers looked as serving as a way off the rez in Quebec. Funny how PROUDLY past Immigrants became Americanized isn't it? My Dad never looked back once becoming an American!