Mike Yaremko, age 97, of Correctionville, passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Correctionville.  Burial will be at the Correctionville Cemetery of Correctionville with Canadian military rites conducted by the VFW  and the American Legion.  A visitation will be held on Friday, October 21, 2016 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the funeral home. 

Mike Yaremko, the eldest of three children to Samuel and Anna (Bryksa) Yaremko, was born September 27, 1919 on the family farm near Model Farm, Saskatchewan, Canada.  He was raised in the Ukrainian Catholic faith in his early years and attended country school.

Mike served in the Canadian Army from 1939 to 1945 as a logistics support specialist delivering food and supplies to troops throughout the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta.  His regiment was preparing to deploy to Europe just as the war ended.  

Following his discharge from active service, Mike enrolled in a vocational training program to become a barber.  During this time period, Mike learned to play the violin and was the band leader for a small group of men who entertained locally.  His love of music continued even into his later years.

Mike managed a small café resulting in the hiring of Ida Jane Wood to serve as a waitress.  They were later married on December 1, 1951.  Mike and Ida became involved in several business endeavors, one of them being operators of the Monarch Grocery Store in Regina, Saskatchewan. 

After visiting with an aunt and uncle, Leonard and Nellie Collins, from LeMars, Iowa Mike and Ida decided to expand their business opportunities by moving to Iowa in 1963.  This move eventually led to the purchase of the Hillside Motel and Café located 1.5 miles west of Correctionville.  At the time of purchase, the Hillside Motel was newly constructed and the café was in the process of being built.  Through hard work and determination, Mike and Ida built their dream into a reality that served the public for nearly 50 years.  

The idea of Highway 20 being expanded into a four-lane highway across the state of Iowa was tossed back and forth for decades.  In 2012 state funds for the four lane expansion were secured resulting in Mike and Ida selling their long time business with retirement in mind.  Unfortunately, Ida, his partner in life and business, was not to move forward with him in this new journey as she passed away on January 4, 2014.

Numerous soil samples and surveys were taken of the surrounding land where Mike and Ida had their business.  Mike always knew that this area was special but had no idea that an earlier civilization of native Americans also shared his views.  State archeologists later discovered two primitive sites which one of them would later be referred to as the “Yaremko site” throughout the world.

Mike enjoyed spending time with his family especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He loved the outdoors and frequently would take hikes into the wooded area around his home and business.  Mike had an interest in current events and a passion for learning new things.  Radios and eight track players would hum with music from the big band era—Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, country western, and in his later years polka and even music with a latin beat were added to the list.  

Those left to honor his memory include:  a daughter, Karen (Chris) Weinreich and a son, Gerald (Penny) Yaremko, all of Correctionville; four grandchildren, David (Traci) Weinreich, Virginia Weinreich, Whitney (Adam) Buettner, and Bradley (Kessiah) Yaremko; eleven great-grandchildren, Kaylyn, Morgan, Jacob and Briggs Buettner, Faith and Ashton Malcom and Kessleigh Weinreich, Michael and Daniel Weinreich, and Easton and Parker Yaremko; a sister Olga (Nestor) Klewchuk of Regina, Sask. Canada; two nephews, Greg Klewchuk with son, Jackson and Rob (Michel) Klewchuk and daughters, Kelsey and Kaylie; a niece, Marlis Slater with her children, Erika, Brett, and Bond; two brothers-in law, Harry (Kay) Wood of Kipling Sask, and Allan (Sharon) Wood of Moosomin, Sask; and the beloved staff at the Good Samaritan Society.

 He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ida; his mother and father-in-law Allan and Grace Wood; a sister and her husband Mary (Bill) Kuprowsky; nephew Eugene Kuprowsky; two sisters-in-law Georgina Doucette and Florence Owen; three brothers-in-law, Arnold Doucette, Harold Doucette and Tom Owen; and two nieces, Brenda Wood and Michelle Wood.

Mike will always be remembered for being independent, for his positive outlook on life and his willingness to serve others. 

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