Obit: Olishkewych, George (1919 - 2002)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: OLISHKEWYCH PANASEWYCH HOLOYDA KOWAL BOUCHATSKY HARNICK

----Source: MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD (Marshfield, Wis.) 06/13/2002

Olishkewych, George (2 May 1919 - 11 Jun 2002)

NEILLSVILLE - George Olishkewych, age 83, of Neillsville, Clark County, Wis. died Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

George was born on May 2, 1919, in Horohiw. He attended Grade School and High School in Ukraine and then went on to Technical College where he obtained a degree in Economics. During World War II, George fought with the Independent Ukraine Underground against both Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. During the war, George was married to Luba Panasewych on August 31, 1944. They were eventually captured by the Germans, and forced to work in the Nazi prison labor camps. Eventually, they escaped to the American controlled Germany. With the help of the United Ukrainian American Relief Fund, George earned his degree in Agricultural Engineering. In 1950, George and Luba moved to the United States and settled in Chicago. For ten years, George worked in Chicago until he was able to purchase a farm near Neillsville, WI. Ten years later, they purchased the Arbutus Caf in Downtown Neillsville. They operated the business for thirty years eventually adding a nightclub. George briefly opened a roller rink in the old Neillsville Armory but decided quickly to found GO Sportswear, a jacket manufacturing business. As time progressed the business grew and became too large for the Armory. George found a larger facility in Thorp, where the business continues to operate today.

Both George and Luba have always been thankful to be in the United States for the freedom that they enjoyed. Always trying to give back to the community, George felt strongly about contributing to the Neillsville hospital, library and Vietnam Memorial fund.

Along with his business endeavors, George also ran for 7th United States Congressional District seat in the 1970's.

He was a member of St. Katherine's Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis, MN and St. Andrews Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Bloomingdale, IL.

Survivors include his wife, Luba of Neillsville one son, Peter Holoyda of San Francisco, CA one daughter, Olha Holoyda of Washington D.C. three sisters, Nadia Kowal and her three boys of Montreal, Canada, Olenka Bouchatsky and her daughter also of Montreal, Canada, and Helen Harnick and her three daughters of Toronto, Canada.

George was preceded in death by his father, who died in the Nazi purge of the Ukraine and his mother who died after immigrating to Canada.

The Funeral Mass for George will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday at St. Andrew's Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Bloomingdale, IL. Fr. Mikola Bodnardchuk will officiate. The Church Choir will provide music. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum in River Grove, IL. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, with a 6:00 p.m., Funeral Mass at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Fr. Petro Siwko and Fr. Michaelo Kudanowich will co-officiate.