It is with broken hearts and much sadness that we announce the passing away of our beloved husband and father IVAN VICTOR DOWHANIUK, of Picture Butte, from a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 63 years.

Ivan is survived by his devoted wife and soulmate of 39 years Barbara and by his loving daughters Tracy Anne and Karen Michelle. He is also survived by his sister Mary (Peter) Gramniak and family, his brother Zennie (Chris) Dowhaniuk and family, brother Don (Diane) Dowhaniuk and family; his special niece and nephew Andrea and Lee Satveit; his father-in-law Joe Juris; brother-in-law Jim (Marlene) Juris and family; sisters-in-law Patricia (Joe) Macdonald and family; Joanne (Craig) Harding and family; aunts, cousins and many friends.

He was predeceased by his parents Michael and Clara Dowhaniuk; his sister Audrey Satveit and his mother-in-law Betty Juris.

Ivan was born, raised and educated in the Thorhild area north of Edmonton. He worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia in Edmonton and Innisfail and was transferred to Picture Butte where he met and married Barbara and raised their two beautiful daughters. For the past 38 years he worked for the family business of Juris Livestock in the cattle industry.

Ivan's legacy in life is that he strongly believed in the importance of family. He cherished every niece, nephew and godchild who always had a special place in his heart. He also believed in honesty, integrity, hard work and a compassion for others who were less fortunate. He had a warm heart and a great sense of humor that made it easy for him to make friends which he truly treasured.

Ivan had a great love of sports. Not only did he like to watch his favorite teams on TV, but he played for the Picture Butte Old Timers Hockey Club for 27 years. He was also a member of the Picture Butte Golf Club's Men's and Seniors league as well as a golf league in Mesa, Arizona. He loved to garden, do woodworking, doing hockey pools, listening to country music and reading his Louis L'amour western books.

The best times of his life were spent in Arizona; golfing, playing cards, dancing, basking in the sun and enjoying ""happy hours"" with Barb, his girls and their many great friends.

He was a wonderful man whose memory will always be treasured. We will miss you.

Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at ST. CATHERINE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 762 Crescent Avenue North, Picture Butte, AB.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at ST. CATHERINE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, with Reverend Tomy Manjaly, celebrant.
Interment at Sandhill Cemetery, Thorhild, Alberta on Friday, November 6, 2009.

Those who wish, donations may be made to STARS Air Ambulance, PO Box 570, 1441 Aviation Park NE, Calgary, AB T2H 2L2, or to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation, Radiation Therapy Centre, 960 - 19 Street South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 1W5.