Jerry Standryk

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Jerry (Jeru), a best friend and partner, a stepfather, Gido, brother and uncle and friend on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, after a three week endeavour by the Neuro Team at HSC and many prayers by family and friends for a positive outcome. 

Jerry was born on October 1, 1956, in Dauphin, Manitoba to Peter and Elsie (Kuchma) Standryk and was the youngest of four children raised on a farm seven miles northeast of Dauphin. He attended Melton School for his elementary years and later school in Dauphin. At an early age he started working with his brothers in the flooring business (J&J Flooring) and continued with the business after his brother John’s passing in 2009.  After nearly five decades of doing flooring installations, he never once complained about any aches or pains, and was still going strong, only recently considering slowing down. Jerry was very proud to pass on his knowledge in the trade, helping out whenever he could with his stepson’s business who decided to follow in his footsteps. 48 years on your knees is a long time but he loved the work and loved meeting all the many customers even more.

To capture Jerry's life in a few paragraphs and do it justice is not possible.  

Although his life was cut short it was a “Life Well Lived”. He was a very personable man, able to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. It usually started with talking about the weather.   His boisterous voice made people turn around in stores, remembering him and saying, “you’re the flooring guy who did our carpet 15 years ago!” with the conversation continuing half an hour or more later. Jerry remembered who they were, where they lived, and what work he did for them. It was hard to get in and out of the store quickly because he almost always knew someone in there to chat with.

 Gardening, cooking, baking, ice fishing, and visiting with friends were Jerry’s pastimes. He already had his garden seeds and potatoes ordered for this year’s plant, while saying every time that he would plant less.  But his less was like one row less.  He still always ended up with an abundance of veggies for family and friends and his freezers would once again be overflowing. For several years he entered Dauphin’s Best Garden Contest and won a couple of times. 

He also loved to cook and barbeque. One of his favourites was cooking steak, potatoes, and carrots at the campsite for family and friends or Sunday suppers with Dianne. A Lemon pie, peanut butter squares, fruit platter, or cinnamon buns were often made just right for his boys, Coen, and Kienan. But he was especially revered for his great Christmas Cakes usually made with extra liquid. It made him so happy to hear how excellent his cakes were, with some people eating them well before Christmas and then needing more. Many friends were lucky enough to have had his cakes.  

Jerry made friends easily, loved deeply, and found comfort in his home with his fur babies, last count eight in all.  Dianne did manage to get the boy who went to Melton School to see some of the world.  The latest trip was out east to PEI visiting the Shellfish Festival, eating alot of oysters and lobster for two weeks. Sometimes you would have to twist his arm, but he always enjoyed their trips together, then coming home with lots of great stories to tell all his friends. He had been to China, Oahu, Australia, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Montreal, Okanagan, Knoxville, and Nashville where he got to stand on the Grand Old Opry stage where many of his favourite country singers played. There were many dear friends made during these trips.

Oh, how could we not mention Jerry's John Deere Tractor, that he'd make any excuse to use i.e., work the garden, work the back 40, work at the neighbors or drive to the farm and then doing it all over again.  His latest project was restoring an old Ford tractor.  Jerry was a handyman, who was not afraid to tackle any job and if absolutely necessary would call someone for help.  At the same time if anyone needed help, he was there.

Jerry was a kind, caring, hard working, and loving man who spent nearly three decades of his life with his best friend Dianne, who is now left with wonderful memories of all the good times they spent together.

He was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Elsie, brother John, aunts, uncles, and cousins namely Shirley and Judy where he loved spending time at their restaurant in Selkirk.

Jerry is survived by his loving partner of nearly 30 years, Dianne Medwid, his stepson Anthony (Amanda) Medwid, his beloved grandsons, Coen and Kienan Medwid, his sister Sophie (Iain) Gray, brother Jack (Brenda) Standrick and their children Kristie (Jason) Bryan, Shane (Charity) Standrick and families.  He is also mourned by other relatives and many friends.

He will be dearly missed by all that loved him, a void that cannot be filled, who will move forward as better people just from knowing him.

A Funeral Service was held for Jerry on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. from the Ukrainain Orthodox Auditorium in Dauphin, MB.  Reverend Father Brent Kuzyk officiated.  Interment took place in the Dauphin Riverside Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerry Standryk, please visit our floral store.