Friends remember murdered man as good worker, nice guy in crumbling neighborhood

YOUNGSTOWN

Pierogi Fridays will never be the same at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church without Mike Iwaniuk.

Iwanuik, 84, was found slain in his West Side home on Oakwood Avenue early Wednesday. He was a member of the church and helped out the crew that makes pierogis for the church.

They were there in the church hall Thursday getting ready for today’s rush and spoke fondly of Iwaniuk, saying as they rolled flour into balls or kneaded it into pierogi form that he was an important part of the preparations.

“He was a hard worker. A good worker,” said John Turco. “He was always here when you needed him.”

Several of those in the hall of the church on West Rayen Avenue said they were wary of giving their name to a reporter, but all spoke of Iwaniuk’s good nature and sense of humor. Turco said he was indispensable because of his attitude and also the fact that he was a jack-of-all-trades.

Iwaniuk was found dead by police after a Vindy carrier became suspicious because all his house lights were on and his front door was open. He sustained several blunt force injuries to the back of his head and was lying by the front door.

Authorities at the home said they believe Iwaniuk had been dead for more than a day.

One church member said he was a small man, at just 5 feet 5 inches, and had breathing problems, but "was the nicest guy you would want to meet... . Everybody at the church is really broken up about this.”

Bill Horn, a Mahoning County sheriff’s deputy, grew up two houses from Iwaniuk at the end of Oakwood right next to the on-ramp for Interstate 680 south. Horn said Iwaniuk had his mother living in the home with his six children and family was very important to him. He doted on his children and would attend all of their sporting events and practices, Horn said.

“He was just a nice guy in the neighborhood,” Horn said.

Horn said often the children would play in one yard and end up in Iwaniuk’s yard but that he liked having the kids around.

Woak said one of the things that bothers him is Iwaniuk was a like a lot of elderly people in the city who live alone in neighborhoods that have crumbled around them in recent years.

Read more of the story in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.