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STEVE ONYSHKO
Born: Aug 17, 1937
Date of Passing: Dec 27, 2024
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemorySTEVE ONYSHKO
Steve grew up on the farm of his parents, (Steve and Tekla Onyshko) near the village of Glendon, Alberta. As a boy, he enjoyed farm chores, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
As a grandfather, Steve told his grandchildren of his many childhood adventures, including one incident where he tied his sled to the tail of a young bull (unsurprisingly, that tale did not end well).
As a teenager, in a move that foreshadowed his future career, Steve wired his family’s farmyard and house for electricity.
After graduating from high school in Glendon, Steve obtained both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Also in Edmonton, Steve met Alice, whom he married in 1961.
In 1962, Steve and Alice moved to Seattle, Washington so that Steve could obtain a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington. After graduating, Steve worked in Seattle for several years for the Boeing aerospace company. During the Seattle years, the couple had their three sons, Tom, Dan, and Mike.
In 1970, the family moved back to Canada and settled in Winnipeg, so that Steve could take a position as a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Manitoba. Steve served there (including a period as Electrical Engineering department head) until he retired in 2003, after which he was a professor emeritus.
In the early 1980s, Steve designed and built a cottage near West Hawk Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park. The cottage was one of his happiest places, and he enjoyed many visits there with his sons and their families, which included campfires and watching the 1970s detective show Columbo.
Steve enjoyed crafting toys for his children, furniture, and other household items in his shed behind the family home, where his grandchildren believed he could “build anything”. He also enjoyed many trips to Edmonton to see both his and Alice’s relatives.
Steve was a kind, warm and generous man, who was humble about his accomplishments, was proud of his family, and loved visiting with relatives.
Steve passed away at home due to cancer. A celebration of his life will be held in Edmonton this summer.
Steve is survived by his wife of 63 years Alice; his sibling Mary (spouse Brian), his sibling Sophie, his brother-in-law Wilfred (spouse Margaret), his sister-in-law Joyce (spouse Phillip); his sons, Tom (spouse Brenda), Dan (spouse Paula), and Mike (former spouse Karen); and his grandchildren, James, Laura, Isabela, Catarina, Steve, Ben, and Emily.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 04, 2025
Condolences & Memories (5 entries)
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Prof. Onyshko taught control systems in 1983 and made it fun. He also was my undergrad thesis advisor. Thank you Dr. Onyshko. - Posted by: Lawrence Arendt (under-grad student) on: Jun 10, 2025
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I will miss Professor Steve Onyshko very much. He has been an excellent teacher and colleague. He cared about his students and their learning environment, and interacted with many colleagues to make the environment better for the new engineers and for our University of Manitoba. He also contributed to the IEEE Winnipeg Section, a part of the largest technical organization with over 450 thousand members worldwide. Thank you, Steve. - Posted by: Witold Kinsner (Colleague) on: Jan 06, 2025
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Dr. Onyshko taught me courses in both Digital Control Systems theory, and Digital Communicatios theory in the early 1970's. His personal warmth and wonderful sense of humour made those difficult subjects a pleasure to study. He was one of a few teachers that taught me the joy of work in Electrical Engineering. I will be eternally grateful for this gift and the wonderful memories of our time together. - Posted by: Danny Card (Student) on: Jan 05, 2025
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I knew Steve in the 1990s when I was friends with his three sons, and especially Dan. I remember “Dr. O” as a very kind, practical, and stabilizing force in his family. He loved spending time at the work bench in his garage, where he had a collection of reclaimed hardware immaculately stored in little baby food jars, and would build or repair things while listening to the radio. He very kindly allowed me to transition from writing my undergrad essays on a typewriter to using a floppy disk and his cube-shaped Mac computer in his EE office at the U of Manitoba. Everything that he crafted—from the “rec room” fireplace with rocks that he hand picked and meticulously laid out on the floor like a giant puzzle, or the cabin that he designed. built and surrounded with evergreens planted by hand—were evidence of his intelligence, care, and love for his family. I’ve thought of him often over the years, and hope he enjoyed his retirement in the company of family, colleagues, and friends. - Posted by: Brigitt Norlander Martin (Friend) on: Jan 04, 2025
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My condolences to the family. I worked for Dr. Prenavoult and got to know both Steve and Alice. - Posted by: Dianna Williamson (Brian's ex wife) on: Jan 04, 2025
