Obituary

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GONE HOME


John Newransky was born December 20, 1942 at Gronlid, Saskatchewan, and moved to Reston, MB, in 1945.

At age nine John found faith in Jesus, and from age 14 his life goal was to invest his time in children’s ministry. He taught children in camps, VBS, Sunday School, Junior Church, Good News Clubs, Brigades, Awana, and Child Evangelism classes.

When John was a child his father became very ill. John began milking cows when he was 5-6 years old, and did much of the farming from when he was nine. He had to drop out of grade 10 to farm full time. 

At 18 John went to work at a mine in Thompson, MB where he earned a steam engineering ticket.

In 1963 the family moved to a farm at Brooksby, SK. John began studies at Nipawin Bible Institute, and graduated in 1966. He joined the Canadian Sunday School Mission (CSSM) to do children’s ministries, and after marrying Doris Sydor in 1968, they began working as full-time missionaries with the CSSM at Beaver Lake Bible Camp, near Flin Flon. Two years later their first child, Steven, was born. During that time, John completed his grade twelve studies at the local high school.

In 1973, when their second child, Debra Jean, was two weeks old, the family left Denare Beach, SK, to move to 100 Mile House, B.C. For the next seven years John was Director and Developer of the Lake of the Trees Bible Camp.

In 1982 the family moved to Dauphin, MB, where John built a career as a contractor. He built and installed kitchen cabinets and windows, and built nine houses, four in and near Dauphin. He also developed a rental business in Dauphin. He worked at many jobs, the last one being the renovation of the Kal Tire building in Dauphin. John was suddenly forced to retire in 2005 when he developed a severe heart condition and received a pacemaker. Later that year he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Outside of ministry and work, John loved many hobbies. He organized a hockey team, fished and hunted. He loved birds and had many feeders in the yard. The last few years he gave up hunting and enjoyed the deer taking refuge in the yard. He was devoted to family, travelling many miles to be with his parents and siblings, and loved being a parent and grandpa. John enjoyed games and pranks, always getting a good chuckle when he could catch someone out. He loved music, playing the guitar and singing. In his early years he had enjoyed square dancing and playing fiddle. John explored his artistic side crafting wood and glass, as well as story-telling and documenting with photography and film. John loved people, and dearly loved his coffee time, considering anyone in talking distance a friend with whom he could pass the time. His caregivers at Rosewood Lodge Personal Care home experienced his smile and joy in their presence even when he could no longer communicate as he once did. 

John leaves behind his wife Doris, son Steve and daughter Debra Jean, son-in-law Bruce, and grandchildren Emelia, Corrin, Jacob, and Jessica. 

Donations in lieu of flowers can be given to Rosewood Lodge, Stonewall, where he was lovingly cared for by Dr. Graham and the staff, or to CSSM, now called “One Hope Canada”. 

2 thoughts on “Obituary”

  1. I am so sorry to hear of Johns passing. He was a great friend and mentor. He was a great encourager helped me through a difficult time after I became a believer he was just an awesome man with one of the biggest hearts I knew. My heart goes out to you, his family, and I pray God’s blessing and comfort, knowing that you will be with him again. God bless you. Owen Nicholson

  2. We are sorry to hear of John’s passing and the immediate void it leaves for Doris and his family. We have many fond memories of numerous interactions with him during our time in Dauphin (1980-85). We remember his serving at Grace Bible Church, times of hospitality in his home, his great heart to see people know and grow in Christ. We remember his generosity of heart, including on the day he delivered half a cow (named Petunia) — in two quarters — one quarter to our kitchen table, the other to the kitchen counter. Then he drew a line on the flesh with his finger, handed me a saw and said, “Cut along here.”

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