John Doduk aka Iszczak (Eschak)
My grandfather John Joseph Doduk (my father’s father) immigrated to Canada from the Poland but he was Ukrainian. Stojanów was in Poland at the time of his birth, but it is now in Ukraine again.
The land has had various rulers. Currently the country of Ukraine is in a war with Russia.
Originally his name was Jan Iszczak or Ivan Iszczak on various documents.
My grandfather was born more likely in 1911. He lied about his age to come to Canada so the early documents have his birth year at 1907. We aren’t sure.
John Joseph Doduk died in Vancouver, British Columbia June 1973. He died of a heart attack – at age 61 according to the death certificate.
Crossed the Ocean
I believe my grandfather John Doduk aka IVAN ISZCZAK arrived in Canada in 1928, in Montreal.
According to this ship manifest from August 5th, 1928 arrival document. The ship was SS “(not sure what that says)” from Southampton.
This document lists Jan Iszczak as a Third Class passenger #18 on the list. He paid for his own passage. The document does not have a noted destination in Canada. The information it does contain shows:
#2 First Last Name – Jan Iszczak
#4 AGE – 21 (Born 1907)
#7 Country + Place of Birth – Poland Stojanow
#8 Nationality – Poland
#9 RACE – Ukrain
#14 CAN YOU READ – Yes
#15 Language Spoken – Ukrain
#18 What Trade you Followed – FARMER
#19 What Trade you plan to continue in Canada – FARMER
#21 Name of relative in homeland – FATHER also named JAN ISZCZAK
To the Prairies
He travelled to the prairies and ended up in Saskatchewan to join family there, and work on the farms. It is possible he followed his older brother Stefan.
He began working as a Tailor at some point.
DODUK in Vancouver, British Columbia
He met my grandmother Walburga Klotz. They married and eventually moved to Vancouver, BC – Wally’s father Gottleib Klotz who was a German also moved to Vancouver.
The 1946 British Columbia City Directory lists the Doduk’s at 1932 Lakewood Drive, Vancouver, BC. My grandfather is listed as Tailor and my grandmother as a seamstress.
They had two children – my aunt Leona in 1949 and my father Kenneth in 1947. However the legal last name of the family was still Iszczak but John was going by the last name Doduk. WE believe it might have been his mother’s maiden name.
In 1947 my grandfather was running a business called Western Pant Co. at 445 Richards Street Vancouver. A year later he registered a company named Pacific Clothing Co. Ltd.
In 1950 they officially changed the entire family’s last name to Doduk.
By 1951 Gottleib Klotz purchased the home at 791 West King Edward, Vancouver, BC.
In May of 1952 Gottlieb Klotz dies and Wally and John move into his home, and buy out the relatives to own it. In 1953 they are registered as residents at 791 West King Edward, Vancouver, BC.
Pacific Clothing Co. Ltd.
In 1946 John Doduk worked for HBC as a tailor – which is an interesting cross over of family ties. Then created is a rather productive Clothing Manufacturing business in 1948 named Pacific Clothing Co. Ltd. – in 1963 he purchased 300 Water Street and ran his business from that renovated old hotel in Gastown – Vancouver.
There is an extensive history of information on the page about the company.
Retirement in 1969
My parents married in 1968. My grandfather John Retired in 1969. The year my brother was born.
My grandfather died in June 1973, a few months after I was born. He died of “acute myocardial infarction” which occurs due to decreased coronary blood flow, leading to insufficient oxygen supply to the heart and cardiac ischemia. He had been diagnosed with a “coronary thrombosis” is a blood clot that forms in the blood vessels or arteries of the heart. The clot may obstruct blood flow to the heart partially or completely. When this happens, the supply of blood and oxygen that the heart needs is cut off, and this can lead to a heart attack.
John and Wally rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, BC, Canada.
We don’t know a lot about the Iszczak branch of the tree – beyond their arrival in Canada.
What little we do know was provided by Alexander Doduk, John’s little brother that came to Canada in 1952 and also worked at Pacific Clothing Co. Ltd. for his brother. Alex told us a few details over the years before he passed away.
Stojanow, Ukraine
Technically the small farm town – Stojanow, Radziechow – that my grandfather was born in – was located in Poland at the time of his birth, so the immigration documents note him as from Poland – but also note he is Ukrainian.
The town he was born in, is now located Ukraine, after the borders changed.
Apparently the family lived there many generations as farmers. I have been researching the town. You can find information on that here.
Other notes:
Several family member connections in Manneville, Alberta have the last name as Eschak.
Updated April 28, 2024