John S. Boyk, 59, of 7878 Cathro Road, Alpena passed away Friday November 9, 2007 at home of an apparent heart attack.
Born in Alpena on May 1, 1948 to Joseph and Gertrude (Wikaryasz) Boyk, he married the former Jacinta Krawczak on June 15, 1974. He was best known as Col. John, of Boyk's Auction Service and broker/owner of Country Lands USA Real-Estate. Col. John was voted the Sunrise Side's Best Auctioneer three years in a row for years 2005, 2006 and 2007.
He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. He served proudly in the US Army and fought in the Vietnam War. John was devoted to the organization Hunters Harvest for Charity (HHC), which he founded and currently served as it's president. He was responsible for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through his efforts with HHC. In 1991 as President of the Alpena, Alcona and Presque Isle Board of Realtors, he spearheaded the raising of a huge American flag, which now flies over Alpena's small boat harbor. In 2006, he along with members of the HHC, organized a telethon to raise funds for the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program. He was instrumental in starting a fund through Northeast Michigan Community Foundation to insure suicide prevention monies would be available in Alpena forever. John was involved in helping many other fundraisers such as St. Mary's Cabin Fever Cookout and the Evening of Elegance Dinner Dance for All Saints Catholic School. He provided the auctioneering services, quite often free of charge, for many organizations such as the Alpena County Fair 4-H livestock auction, Special Olympics, Cancer Relay, The National Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited just to name a few.
He had a great passion for fundraising for any charitable cause. If you wanted to know how to raise money, Col. John was the man you wanted on your team. Some organizations would call John asking for tips and ideas on how to make their fundraising efforts more successful. John was a born salesman.
John was an avid deer and turkey hunter. He especially loved sharing hunting experiences and teaching his nephews and nieces about hunting. It was always more important to John to have his nephew shoot a buck rather than himself. His second home was "the camp" where he loved to plant food plots and then watch the deer graze on what he planted.
John will not only be missed by his family and friends but by the community of Alpena as well. His volunteer efforts made a huge difference for many in need in the Alpena and surrounding communities. John Boyk will never be replaced!
Surviving are his beloved wife, Jacinta and beautiful daughter Kristen; five brothers, Dennis and Ivy Boyk of Delray Beach, Florida, Eugene and Pam Boyk, Arnie and Betsy Boyk, Alan and Dorothy Boyk, Mark and Ann Boyk, one sister Marlene and Richard Julian all of Alpena, In-laws Louis and Cecilia Dembny, Ronald and Sandi Krawczak, Kathy Krawczak, Rocky and Andrea Robinson, JoLynn and Dave Zalewski, Cella and Ken Bade and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Boyk is at the Bannan Funeral Home where friends may call on Tuesday from 2-8 p.m., with a parish prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Wednesday at St. Mary Catholic Church from 11 a.m. until time of funeral mass at Noon with Rev. Greg McCallum officiating. Full military honors will be accorded him at the cemetery at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery
Memorials may be made to the family of John Boyk.
