Henry Alexander Skrypnek Obituary
Henry (Hank) Alexander Skrypnek--husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, friend, driller, foreman, slot player, new car consumer--was born on May 24, 1928 in Rochester, AB and died July 24, 2022 in Chilliwack, BC at 94. Henry was the son of Nellie and Eugene and a younger brother to George.
It was at a local dance where he first glimpsed Elsie Lewis. They were married on May 1, 1950. His beloved Elsie predeceased him in 2007 after 57 years of marriage.
He will be fondly remembered and his absence felt profoundly by his children Sandra (Russell), Bruce (Myrna), Terry (Leslie) and Sherri (Dave) as well as his nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Eleanor was a constant companion to Henry over the last 10 years.
Henry was raised near Athabasca on the farm, leaving school before he graduated to help out as did many young men of his generation. Yet it never hampered his gumption or future success. A crop failure in his late teens was a lesson on what he didn't want to do.
Many years of Henry's career were spent in the oilfields of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, where he rose from roughneck to driller to foreman. This made for many moves when the kids were young. But Henry and Elsie were able to settle down for extended periods of his working life in Edmonton, Edson, and Valley View. Later, they moved to Abbotsford where Henry worked as a pipeline inspector. He didn't find it nearly as exciting as the oil patch.
After years of hard work Henry and Elsie retired, moving to Kelowna for a decade before returning to the lower mainland to be close to Sherri and Dave who were steadfast in supporting them in their senior years.
Henry would probably say his greatest achievement was his four children. Elsie once told a story of her showing up at a bar, first born in tow, ordering him home. Granted he was only in his early 20s and maybe just needed a little time to grow into parenthood which he most certainly did. He often spoke of how proud he was of his family; how lucky he was to have them.
Henry had a shockingly great memory or at least we were convinced of that, telling stories of his younger years like they happened yesterday. His body gave out but certainly not his intellect. He was always informed of current events, the latest on the political scene and on occasion he liked to stir the pot.
Not at all materialistic in other ways, Henry had a weakness for cars—acquiring a new one every year.
He also indulged in annual trips to Las Vegas with Elsie. After her passing he hit the Strip with his son, son-in-law, and grandsons until he found it too difficult to travel. He also took trips to Mexico, California and Nova Scotia with family. This brought us all closer in his later years.
Henry had a strong will to live. When his mobility was declining and he had to gave up his daily, long walks he still tried to get out to the grocery store, for coffee, and regular Friday visits to the Jolly Miller for the steak special with Eleanor and friends. He did whatever he was capable of; he wasn't going to give in to old age easily.
Farewell Henry, Dad, Granddad, GG. You lived fully and well.
