Wesley William Michael Rusnak
In loving memory ~
Wes passed away May 25th, 2023 after a long battle with cancer.
Survived by his daughter, Sheila Marie Doane, granddaughter Joy-Anna Lynn, brothers John (Johanna) and Orest (Pat), sisters Yvonne MacNeil and Zoria Crilly (Paul), sister-in-laws Alvina (brother Elary) and Carol (brother Taras) and many nieces and nephews.
Wes was predeceased by parents Steve and Mary Rusnak of Boyle, Alberta, brothers Elary (2013) of Sherwood Park and Taras (2010) of Edmonton.
Born March 28, 1956, Wes was the youngest of seven children consisting of four brothers and two sisters. His life began on a farm located at Weasel Creek, Alberta. In 1961, the farm was sold and the family moved to Boyle, Alberta where the first of two Shell gas stations were built and operated by the family - Midnite Shell Service located three miles from Boyle, Alberta and later, Starlite Shell Service located within Athabasca County three miles from the Perryvale Corner on Highway 2.
Wes started school in Boyle and later completed his education while living in Perryvale, graduating from Edwin Parr Composite High School in Athabasca. During those formative years, he developed an aptitude for electronics. The family recalls how Wes was able to improve the television reception by sticking a butter knife in the back of the TV. In pursuit of his love of electronics, Wes went to N.A.I.T. (Edmonton, Alberta) and to B.C.I.T. (Burnaby, BC) where he obtained a degree in Electronics Engineering. After graduation, he worked for CBC, Shaw Cable, Northwestern Utilities, and ATCO Pipelines until his retirement in 2018.
Wes had many acreages, but his heart was always in Perryvale. He found his dream parcel of land next to the site where the Starlite gas station was once located which included a beloved dugout where tobogganing and many hockey games took place in his youth with family and friends. He built his dream home, planted an acre of spruce trees and set up a building for restoring old vehicles.
Wes was an active volunteer in his community. As a life-long fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he once helped set up a hockey rink in Perryvale and organized a home-grown hockey team dubbed the ‘Perryvale Penguins’ complete with jerseys and logo.
Coming from a Ukrainian family who were all musically inclined, Wes learned how to play the dulcimer when he was young, and picked up the sticks again in his later years to play at jam sessions in the community. He also loved listening to one hit wonders of the 60’s and 70’s and amassed an amazing collection of music over the years. He was a big fan of the Looney Toons cartoons and often greeted you with Bugs Bunny’s famous “What’s up doc?” quote. Although he was a man of few words, he only had to speak one line to have everyone crying with laughter.
Wes touched the hearts of everyone who knew him with his giving nature, his humor, his gusto for life. He will especially be missed by a family that loved him dearly.
A limb has fallen from the family tree
I hear a voice that whispers ‘Grieve not for me.
Remember the best times, the laughter, the song,
The good life I lived while I was strong.’
And we will. Rest in Peace, our beloved Wes.
