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Vol. 21, No. 44, Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Respected Mundare area farmer/engineer John Chomiak passes away at 87 BY JOHN MATHER Just about two years ago, about 70 relatives of John and Cathie Chomiak gathered at the family farm south of Mundare to honour the pioneer family which first arrived in the area in 1901. Last week, John Chomiak, the patriarch of the family, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 87. A small notice was posted on his Facebook page announcing his death and noting details of his celebration of life which will be forthcoming. Chomiak and his wife Cathie raised three daughters while he spent a large part of his life as the founder and Chief Executive Officer for Hemisphere Engineering, retiring in 2020. In addition he served as director for the Glenrose Hospital, ending his 12 years with the hospital as Chair. Just a few years ago a 120 year old log cabin on his farm had to be torn down. It had been the Chomiak ancestral home since his grandparents, Motivi and Salomea, showed grit and determination in travelling to the area in 1901 from the western Ukrainian village of Klakotiv with two small children to start a new life. “We used to sleep in there as kids in the summertime. It was nice and cool behind the logs,” he once recalled. “Later on, it became a granary, and now it’s kind of a recipient of junk. I’ll have to take a lot of that to the dump before I start tearing down the walls,” John said at the time. Although the building was slated to be torn down, Chomiak said at the time he will preserve what he can as relics from the past for future generations to enjoy. John was very proud of his ances-
cessful.” try. “I plan to Besides his take it down serious sides, in a cautious Stelmach remanner. I’m calls Chomiak going to rewas a fun lovbuild the Choing individual miak Pioneer as well. Garden, with “I remema lot of those ber we took a logs,” he said, heifer on the adding the LRT to downChomiak Piotown Edmonneer Garden The late John Chomiak and wife Cathie. ton as part of sits at the Farm Fair. front of his “I am sure I was just a cabinet property filled with Saskatoon trees and wild roses planted by his late minister at that time. “I know, thank God, it was ungrandparents. Chomiak was very involved with eventful. The heifer was quiet and Conservative politics from the early led very well. She obeyed all the or1980s during the Mulroney years fed- ders. “John held the halter and his busierally and the Lougheed years provincially, recalled former Premier ness partner and his daughter were Ed Stelmach, who knew Chomiak for all involved. The people in the background just riding the LRT were tomore than 40 years. “I was caught by surprise by the tally taken by surprise.” (Photo on notification of John’s passing,” he Page 15). He added, during his run for Presaid. “John played a big role in the Mulroney days doing substantial mier, Chomiak helped out with office fundraising around when Don space and collecting necessary data. Stelmach also added he was instruMazankowski held office.” He said through his engineering mental in promoting the Charolais firm, Chomiak was instrumental in breed of cattle. “He supplied a lot of breeding raising funds for the Federal and Provincial parties and he brought stock and he was heavily involved with the 4-H program because it inmany people to the parties. “His engineering firm was very volved youth and John firmly besuccessful with major contracts in Al- lieved in that program.” He remembered when he was a berta, across the country, (overseas) councillor in the County, Chomiak and in the United States.” “As far as my campaigns went, he was instrumental in rebuilding and definitely was involved,” stated Stel- enhancing the Moscow Hall and the mach, Aug. 3. “He helped our team adjacent recreation area. “He saw to it that there were when we ran for Premier in 2006. He raised some money but provided a major improvements to the hall and lot of advice and got a lot of people the ball diamonds and the picnic interested in the campaign. He was area.” Former Lamont Division One one of the reasons we were so suc-
councillor and former Lamont County Deputy Reeve Daniel Warawa remembered Chomiak as the perfect gentleman. “We were friends for many years and he helped in several elections,” Warawa recalled. “I talked to the family shortly after he passed,” said Warawa. “I knew him for more than 25 years.” He recalled how Chomiak, through their friendship, introduced him to many people he wouldn’t have otherwise met. “We’d go to a dinner and he’d introduce myself and my wife to the Lieutenant Governor,” he said. “We did many things and went many places that I would never have gone on my own.” He added that he had bought several cattle from Chomiak over the years. “He was so involved with the community. He often held fundraisers on his farm for various causes. “He was instrumental in the rebuilding of Moscow Hall and he had a model of his childhood school placed inside the hall.” He often brought people from the city to his fundraisers and they would donate large amounts of money. “He was a very good promoter and good for the community.” Chomiak received the Outstanding Albertan honour in 2005 and in 2023 was chosen by the Canada West Foundation to receive a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. “John W. Chomiak has had a hand in nearly every high-profile Alberta engineering project since the 1960s, and his expertise is sought nationally and internationally,” said Canada West CEO, the honourable Gary Mar, at the 2023 ceremony.