Michael Hrechka
Berlin

Michael Hrechka, age 95, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Salisbury. Born in Vita, Manitoba, Canada, he was the son of the late Wasyl and Mary Bugucka Hrechka.

Mike was a dedicated laborer most of his life. As a teen, one summer, he worked as a lumberjack.  Before marriage and later when starting a family, he worked at an iron foundry producing iron train wheels. While working at the foundry in 1956, right after Debbie was born, he started farming mink. About 1960 steel replaced iron and the iron foundry shut down. Mike expanded his mink farm several times. At the Canadian National Mink Show in 1967 Mike won first place with dark and medium brown mink and second place with light brown. The same year he moved his family and mink to a larger farm in Minnedosa, Manitoba. By the end of the same year unfortunate events brought Mike’s mink farm to an end.

In early 1968 he was sponsored to manage a mink farm in Millville, New Jersey. His family had to remain in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On September 28, 1968 his family was permitted to travel to the United States and join him. Summer 1969 he moved his family to Berlin, Maryland. He worked at Eastern Animal Foods for almost twenty years. While working at the animal food factory he purchased a farm this time raising chickens and pigs. After about a year he specialized in raising pigs. On one occasion Mike received a letter from the University Of Maryland Department Of Agriculture that a hog they purchased from him was found to have 12% less body fat than a typical hog.  This garnered Mike preferential treatment and a premium price for his pigs from that day forward.  Mike raised pigs for over twenty years. Old enough to retire he got a job driving a tractor at a local golf course cutting the grass on the fairways. Hard work was never a guarantee for success.

In his own way Mike loved animals and over the years he adored all his pets.

For many years, Mike and Joyce attended Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, outside Whaleyville. Mike was the president of the church. He assisted the priest for many years like an altar boy. Both Mike and Joyce relished in the company of church friends and parishioners.

In his late 70’s Mike sustained a stroke with miraculous recovery. In the last few years health issues started to accumulate. On February 18, 2025 at 12:32 pm Michael Hrechka’s soul left his body, free of pain he could join God in Heaven.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Hrechka; two sons, Dr. Kenneth Hrechka (Katherine), and Brian Hrechka (Sue); two daughters, Deborah Parker (Michael), and Cheryl Hrechka; four grandchildren, Sean Parker (Keemia), Ashley Gibbs (Jeff), Julia Hrechka, Michael Hrechka, Breann Green (Dylan), and Will Hrechka; four great grandchildren, Addison Gibbs, Ava Gibbs, Kameron Parker, and Nova Green; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Hrechka, and two sisters, Effie Kowaluik, and Nellie Susik.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s name can be to Holy Trinity Unrainian Orthodox Church, 7927 Circle Rd., Whaleyville, MD 21872, or The Worcester County Humane Society, 12330 Eagle’s Nest Rd., Berlin, MD 21811.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 4, ay The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. A viewing will be held one hour prior. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Berlin. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.