Ilya Kostaszczuk

b. 17 July 1901, d. May 1995
Ilya Kostaszczuk, a.k.a. Elias Kostash, son of Fedor Kostaszczuk and Anna Zwarych, was born on 17 July 1901 at Vegreville, Alberta.

Elias likely started his education at Kolomea school around seven or eight years old. He would have then moved on to higher grades in Vegreville, likely staying at the two-room shack, or bursa, built by his father.1

Elias attended the University of Alberta for two years, but completed his education in Milwaukee, Wisconsin graduating with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He spent several years working at a radio parts factory in Wisconsin until ill health forced him to retire in 1930.

After three years of illness, Elias decided that farming would be better for his health, so he returned to the homestead in Alberta.2

Elias married Anne Oreschak circa 1930.

Elias and Anne eventually retired from farming. By 1962 they were living in Vegreville.3

Elias died in May 1995 at Vegreville, Alberta, at age 93.

Children of Ilya Kostaszczuk and Anne Oreschak

  • Elizabeth Rose Kostash
  • Frederick Kostash b. c 1935

Citations

  1. Ukrainian Pioneers' Association of Alberta, Ukrainians In Alberta (Edmonton: Ukrainian News Publishers Ltd., 1975).
  2. Six Sons Holders of Degrees, The Ukrainian Weekly, (Jersey City, New Jersey), 25 July 1942, p. 4; digital image, The Ukrainian Weekly (http://ukrweekly.com/ : accessed 7 February 2015).
  3. Elias Kostash, 1962 voters list, electoral district of Vegreville, polling division 121, Vegreville South, digital image, Ancestry.ca, Canada Voters Lists 1935 - 1980 (http://www.ancestry.ca/ : accessed 8 February 2015),.