Victor John Humeniuk, 92,
Victor John Humeniuk, 92, Monterey, Tennessee, died Monday, April 30, 2012 at Standing Stone Care and Rehabilitation Center in Monterey. He had suffered a stroke on April 25.
He was born August 6, 1919 at his parents’ homestead at Carp, Minnesota.
He was the first of three sons of George and Helena Rzasa Humeniuk. George was born in Tereblecea, Bukowina, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Ukraine). He emigrated in 1909 and homesteaded in Carp in 1912. In 1917 George went to New York City, married Helena, and brought her back to his homestead. She was born in Dynow, Galacia, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Poland) and emigrated in 1912. Their birth places were only about 200 miles apart. He attended several grade schools near his home before coming to Baudette to attend high school, graduating in 1937. In 1939 he took the postal examination and on January 1, 1940 began working in the Baudette post office. He was appointed assistant postmaster in 1950, and postmaster in 1963. After retiring from the postal service in 1974, he opened the Strout Realty office in Baudette.
He was united in marriage with Lillian Bannon of Williams in February of 1941. They raised seven children. Vic served in the Army from March 1944 to November 1945. He was assigned to the 503 Army Postal Unit in New Guinea.
Vic’s American Legion activities began in 1946. He was active in Baudette Post 217 for 18 years during which time he founded and edited the “Outpost”, the post’s monthly newspaper. He was adjutant of the post for five years and commander in 1956. He also worked on the district level as membership chairman and as district vice commander.
He was active in scouting for many years. He took scouts to National Scout Jamborees in 1960, 1969, and 1973. He continued his scout work in Monterey with the reorganization of a scout troop that had not existed for 20 years.
Vic served as the general chairman and head of publicity and manpower for the building of the ice arena in Baudette in 1964.
He and Lil divorced in 1973. In 1975 he was married to Nancy Scofield. They left the Baudette area in 1985, trying out various communities for retirement, until settling in Monterey, Tennessee in 1991.
He recently received recognition from the State of Tennessee upon his retirement from the Veterans Honor Guard where he had rendered service at more than 1700 funerals and coordinated some 2,100 services since it’s organization in Monterey in 1996. A valued member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6277 of Monterey, he maintained the Post’s essential records and composed a monthly newsletter.
He was a member of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Lions Club.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Humeniuk of Monterey; sons, Jim (Jean) Humeniuk and Steve (Peggy) Humeniuk, both of Bemidji, and John (Judy) Humeniuk of Baudette; daughters, Mary Lynne (Zar) Omar of Henderson, Tennessee, Kaye McDonald of Moore, Oklahoma, and Holly (Larry Overbeek) Humeniuk of Bemidji, and their descendants. Lillian Humeniuk, his former wife, also survives. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Chet and Frank; and son, Edward Humeniuk.
A Celebration of Life was held at the Full Gospel Assembly in Monterey, Tennessee on Friday, May 4th.
A public graveside memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, May 19th at the Veterans Memorial Section of the Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette. A luncheon will follow at the American Legion.
