Obituary for Terrance "Terry" Gryschuk
Terry Gryschuk of Brandon, MB passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2020, surrounded by his family after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer. Terry is survived by Patty Gerrard, his wife and best friend of 38 years, and their two children, Dustin and Lauren. He is also survived by his brothers, Peter of Capreol, and Skip and his wife, Judi, of Steinbach; his sister-in-law Suzanne and her husband, Marny, of Courtenay; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Terry was born in Sudbury, Ontario on April 3, 1951 to Alexandra “Elsie” and Peter Gryschuk and was the youngest sibling to Peter and Skip.
Terry spent his growing up years in the railroad town of Capreol, ON running through the small community and exploring the surrounding Northern Ontario forests. Summers were often spent on the family farms near Saskatoon. He completed high school at Scollard Hall Boys School in North Bay. He credited the caring fathers of the school with getting him through high school and instilling in him a lifelong long love of learning.
Family was important to Terry. He treasured the memories he had of spending his summers on the Saskatchewan family farms – playing and watching his family members work and watching his old grandmother chase the chickens from the summer kitchen with her broom. Terry took such joy in watching his children grow up. He loved watching his kids participate in sports. He transported them all over the country and encouraged them to do their best and practice good sportsmanship. Terry was their biggest cheerleader. Even better was when he participated with them – biking, golfing and, especially, downhill skiing. In recent years he loved meeting Dustin and Lauren for an impromptu lunch or dinner in Calgary or dropping off some surprise treats. He was overjoyed at the adults his children were growing into.
Terry met his wife Patty, a first-year teacher, in 1982, when he was working as a School Psychologist at Winnipegosis Elementary School. Never one to miss an opportunity, Terry invited her out for lunches whenever he was working in the school… and the rest is history. His love and commitment to Patty were unparalleled.
Terry loved travelling. Before having children, Terry and Patty travelled to many North American destinations and Spain. One of his favourite stops was New Orleans: “The Big Easy”. During his business studies he travelled to Japan, China, and Mexico. He was looking forward to discovering more of Asia. In Canada he had travelled from “coast to coast”. Terry‘s passion for downhill skiing (a sport he picked up after meeting Patty) took him to many great ski areas. Terry and Patty, though, kept returning to “Big Mountain” aka Whitefish, Montana. It was here where they planned to spend their retirement years. No lazy beaches for Terry!
Terry had a competitive streak. He felt if something was worth doing, then it was worth doing well. He had a lifetime interest in sports. In high school he played a number of sports, including basketball and football and was part of teams that went to regional championships. As an adult he enjoyed playing in recreational leagues. While living in Kenora, he thought it would be great to start running, but Terry did not stop there. He decided to challenge triathlon. Over several years he trained and competed in shorter distance triathlons, always trying to improve his performance. Until a few years ago he was an avid golfer. Here too, he threw himself fully into the game, always striving to do better. Even as an armchair athlete, one would hear him giving instructions to the players on the television. Terry loved trivia and had an amazing brain for it. Many friends, especially in Dauphin, will remember the late nights playing games like Trivial Pursuit.
Terry was a lifelong learner. After high school he headed to the West Coast and enrolled in Vancouver City College and Simon Fraser University. He returned to Sudbury to complete his honours undergraduate degree in Psychology at Laurentian University. He then moved to The University of Saskatchewan where he completed his Master of Arts degree in Psychology. He started on a PHD, but very quickly decided that he needed a break. He returned to formal education when, as the oldest student in the class, he completed an MBA at the University of Manitoba in 2000. Terry always had in the back of his mind that he would complete that PHD. In the last couple of years, while working in Alberta, he also started attending classes at the University of Calgary to bring his knowledge, skills, and facility with technology up to date. Right until his last weeks of life, he was reading and working on developing a research idea. In addition to formal education, he often took courses ranging from woodworking to hypnotherapy to Tea Mastery. Indeed, Terry was a man with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, ideas, and thinking.
Terry’s forte was taking an idea and making it reality. This was shown in both his personal and professional life. In the 1980’s, while working for Area #2 of Frontier School Division he helped establish the first two childcare/parenting centres in the school division. In Kenora, in the 1990’s, he led the establishment of Integrated Services for Northern Children which allows children living in rural and remote areas of Ontario access to health, mental health, and education services. He took his passion for basset hound showing and breeding and started a business: Flashfire Pet Supply. After completing his MBA, he accepted a position with the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba in Brandon where he was proud to be part of bringing a methadone program as well as a residential gambling addiction program to Westman. He also started a business, It’s About Tea, which specialized in high quality loose leaf teas. He loved this business and so many of his customers also became his friends. For the past several years he was helping a friend establish and grow a wholesale pet supply business in Alberta. Although it took him away from Patty for weeks at a time, he loved the challenge of growing the business and helping others in their endeavours.
Terry truly wanted to leave the world a bit better and we believe that he has left it a lot better. Terry loved life and was not ready to leave. We are so grateful that we had the time with him that we were allowed and will carry his love with us. Terry’s impact on his family will not be lost; Dustin and Lauren hope to become a reflection of the good values that their father held.
In the final weeks of Terry’s life, he inspired us with his faith, positivity, courage, grace and dignity. He believed that he was completing his life circle. We know that his chats with Joe Ball helped Terry in reaching peace. Our family truly appreciates the care, support, and compassion that Joe has shared with us.
Our family wishes to express sincere thanks to the many medical professionals who tried to help Terry retain some quality of life in those final weeks. Thank you, Matt, for not giving up on Terry’s desire to be ambulatory again. Thank you to the many nurses and aides in the palliative ward who worked to maintain Terry’s dignity and comfort. Thank you, Dr. Hunter of Cancer Care, for your courage and honesty. Thank you, Dr. Bookatz, for your honesty and skill. Thank you, Dr. Visser, for your support and wisdom in those final days. Thank you, Dr. Gupta, for your honesty, support, and never-ending hope; undoubtedly, you are one of the “good souls” that Terry wanted to surround him and his family.
Terry was predeceased by his parents Peter (1998) and Elsie (Sept. 2020) Gryschuk; his sister-in-law, Charlotte Gryschuk (Dec. 2020); his niece April Ann; and his parents-in-law, Gordon and Yvonne Gerrard
Due to Covid-19, family and friends will gather at a later date to remember and celebrate Terry’s life. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Terry may be made to a charity of one’s choice or to the Kids Help Phone (kidshelpphone.ca or 300-439 University Ave, Toronto On M5G 1Y8)
Terry was born in Sudbury, Ontario on April 3, 1951 to Alexandra “Elsie” and Peter Gryschuk and was the youngest sibling to Peter and Skip.
Terry spent his growing up years in the railroad town of Capreol, ON running through the small community and exploring the surrounding Northern Ontario forests. Summers were often spent on the family farms near Saskatoon. He completed high school at Scollard Hall Boys School in North Bay. He credited the caring fathers of the school with getting him through high school and instilling in him a lifelong long love of learning.
Family was important to Terry. He treasured the memories he had of spending his summers on the Saskatchewan family farms – playing and watching his family members work and watching his old grandmother chase the chickens from the summer kitchen with her broom. Terry took such joy in watching his children grow up. He loved watching his kids participate in sports. He transported them all over the country and encouraged them to do their best and practice good sportsmanship. Terry was their biggest cheerleader. Even better was when he participated with them – biking, golfing and, especially, downhill skiing. In recent years he loved meeting Dustin and Lauren for an impromptu lunch or dinner in Calgary or dropping off some surprise treats. He was overjoyed at the adults his children were growing into.
Terry met his wife Patty, a first-year teacher, in 1982, when he was working as a School Psychologist at Winnipegosis Elementary School. Never one to miss an opportunity, Terry invited her out for lunches whenever he was working in the school… and the rest is history. His love and commitment to Patty were unparalleled.
Terry loved travelling. Before having children, Terry and Patty travelled to many North American destinations and Spain. One of his favourite stops was New Orleans: “The Big Easy”. During his business studies he travelled to Japan, China, and Mexico. He was looking forward to discovering more of Asia. In Canada he had travelled from “coast to coast”. Terry‘s passion for downhill skiing (a sport he picked up after meeting Patty) took him to many great ski areas. Terry and Patty, though, kept returning to “Big Mountain” aka Whitefish, Montana. It was here where they planned to spend their retirement years. No lazy beaches for Terry!
Terry had a competitive streak. He felt if something was worth doing, then it was worth doing well. He had a lifetime interest in sports. In high school he played a number of sports, including basketball and football and was part of teams that went to regional championships. As an adult he enjoyed playing in recreational leagues. While living in Kenora, he thought it would be great to start running, but Terry did not stop there. He decided to challenge triathlon. Over several years he trained and competed in shorter distance triathlons, always trying to improve his performance. Until a few years ago he was an avid golfer. Here too, he threw himself fully into the game, always striving to do better. Even as an armchair athlete, one would hear him giving instructions to the players on the television. Terry loved trivia and had an amazing brain for it. Many friends, especially in Dauphin, will remember the late nights playing games like Trivial Pursuit.
Terry was a lifelong learner. After high school he headed to the West Coast and enrolled in Vancouver City College and Simon Fraser University. He returned to Sudbury to complete his honours undergraduate degree in Psychology at Laurentian University. He then moved to The University of Saskatchewan where he completed his Master of Arts degree in Psychology. He started on a PHD, but very quickly decided that he needed a break. He returned to formal education when, as the oldest student in the class, he completed an MBA at the University of Manitoba in 2000. Terry always had in the back of his mind that he would complete that PHD. In the last couple of years, while working in Alberta, he also started attending classes at the University of Calgary to bring his knowledge, skills, and facility with technology up to date. Right until his last weeks of life, he was reading and working on developing a research idea. In addition to formal education, he often took courses ranging from woodworking to hypnotherapy to Tea Mastery. Indeed, Terry was a man with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, ideas, and thinking.
Terry’s forte was taking an idea and making it reality. This was shown in both his personal and professional life. In the 1980’s, while working for Area #2 of Frontier School Division he helped establish the first two childcare/parenting centres in the school division. In Kenora, in the 1990’s, he led the establishment of Integrated Services for Northern Children which allows children living in rural and remote areas of Ontario access to health, mental health, and education services. He took his passion for basset hound showing and breeding and started a business: Flashfire Pet Supply. After completing his MBA, he accepted a position with the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba in Brandon where he was proud to be part of bringing a methadone program as well as a residential gambling addiction program to Westman. He also started a business, It’s About Tea, which specialized in high quality loose leaf teas. He loved this business and so many of his customers also became his friends. For the past several years he was helping a friend establish and grow a wholesale pet supply business in Alberta. Although it took him away from Patty for weeks at a time, he loved the challenge of growing the business and helping others in their endeavours.
Terry truly wanted to leave the world a bit better and we believe that he has left it a lot better. Terry loved life and was not ready to leave. We are so grateful that we had the time with him that we were allowed and will carry his love with us. Terry’s impact on his family will not be lost; Dustin and Lauren hope to become a reflection of the good values that their father held.
In the final weeks of Terry’s life, he inspired us with his faith, positivity, courage, grace and dignity. He believed that he was completing his life circle. We know that his chats with Joe Ball helped Terry in reaching peace. Our family truly appreciates the care, support, and compassion that Joe has shared with us.
Our family wishes to express sincere thanks to the many medical professionals who tried to help Terry retain some quality of life in those final weeks. Thank you, Matt, for not giving up on Terry’s desire to be ambulatory again. Thank you to the many nurses and aides in the palliative ward who worked to maintain Terry’s dignity and comfort. Thank you, Dr. Hunter of Cancer Care, for your courage and honesty. Thank you, Dr. Bookatz, for your honesty and skill. Thank you, Dr. Visser, for your support and wisdom in those final days. Thank you, Dr. Gupta, for your honesty, support, and never-ending hope; undoubtedly, you are one of the “good souls” that Terry wanted to surround him and his family.
Terry was predeceased by his parents Peter (1998) and Elsie (Sept. 2020) Gryschuk; his sister-in-law, Charlotte Gryschuk (Dec. 2020); his niece April Ann; and his parents-in-law, Gordon and Yvonne Gerrard
Due to Covid-19, family and friends will gather at a later date to remember and celebrate Terry’s life. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Terry may be made to a charity of one’s choice or to the Kids Help Phone (kidshelpphone.ca or 300-439 University Ave, Toronto On M5G 1Y8)