Panchuk, John, 1904-1981

Battle Creek, Michigan, attorney.

A lawyer, Panchuk was born in Gardenton, Manitoba. His pioneer parents were natives of Bukovina. Panchuk was educated in Canada and the United States; he received his L.L.B. from the University of Michigan. After graduating, he was general counsel and secretary of Federal Life and Casualty Company (Battle Creek, Mich.). Panchuk was active in the Ukrainian American community. He was president of the Ukrainian War Relief, Inc., and of the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee. He also served as a representative of the United States State Department at the International Refugee Office Resettlement Conference (1948, Geneva, Switzerland) and was chairman of the Michigan Commission on Displaced Persons. Panchuk had an active interest in Ukrainian folklore and traditions.

John Panchuk was born April 4, 1904 in Gardenton, Manitoba to a pioneer Ukrainian family. He graduated from public schools in Detroit where his family had moved in 1916. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1926 and his law degree also from the U-M in 1928. He became a U.S. citizen in 1929.

Panchuk established a private law practice in Detroit in 1929. In 1937, he was named assistant state attorney general, and in 1941, he joined Federal Life and Casualty Co. as head of the legal department. In 1950, he was named secretary of the board of directors. He moved to Battle Creek in 1953 after the company moved its offices. At the time of his retirement in 1969, he had held the position of secretary and general counsel.

After World War II, Panchuk was appointed by Governor G. Mennen Williams to head the state commission for displaced persons and refugees. In this position, he was instrumental in finding homes for thousand of war refugees. Panchuk was an active member of the Democratic party, serving with the party's state central committee and heading up Calhoun County's Citizens for Kennedy Committee. Panchuk was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention that nominated John F. Kennedy for the presidency.

One of Panchuk's great interest was Eastern Europe studies, especially relating to the Ukraine. Both as an author and as a participant in various organization, Panchuk demonstrated an interest in the homeland of his parents. He wrote articles and gave speeches on the subject. His principal book was Schevchenko's Testament concerning the life and accomplishments of the 19th century Ukrainian poet-hero. Among the many organizations to which he belonged and served as president was the Ukrainian Youth League of North America, the Ukrainian Federation of Michigan, the Ukrainian American War Relief Committee, and the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee.

He died November 5, 1981.