Eagle, Idaho – Victor Paul Eroschenko, 84, of Eagle, Idaho, passed away on December 15, 2022, in Surprise Arizona, surrounded by his loving family. Victor was born on May 15, 1938, in a village near Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine and was the eldest child of Paul and Feodosia Eroschenko. One of his favorite memories living in Ukraine, was walking to the station as a young child with his grandfather, to watch the trains. Prior to immigrating to the United States, they fled their farm in Ukraine and lived in a refugee camp in Germany during WWII, until it was liberated by the French. It was there he learned to speak German, that would later prove to be beneficial when wooing his future wife. The Eroschenko family eventually immigrated to the United States following WWII, to pursue the American dream.
Victor joined the United States Army where he was stationed in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. There, he met the one and only love of his life, Elke (Hennig) and they were married on April 20, 1964 and spent 59 blissful years together. Following their marriage, they moved to Sacramento, California, where Victor earned a PhD in human anatomy and physiology at the University of California, Davis.
During his career, Victor was a professor at the University of Idaho where he taught human anatomy to undergraduates and histology to the WWAMI medical students. Occasionally, he would bring his medical students over to the house to watch movies. Most every year on Halloween, it was tradition for medical students, along with their families to watch Young Frankenstein at the house, which was one of Victor’s favorite movies. His reputation for being a tough professor followed him throughout his career, but he was always fair and rewarded hard work and effort. Living in a small college town, everyone seemed to know who Victor was. His influence on his students and anyone who met him continues even to this day. His daughters are continually asked if Victor is their dad.
Victor loved his family and instilled a hard work ethic and drive into all four of his daughters. He believed and experienced, early on, that an education is something that can never be taken away from you and supported his daughters through school and achieving their potential. He was known to die 1,000 deaths until he heard from his kids that they had arrived safely at any destination. He loved being surrounded by his family and could talk for hours to anyone, who would listen, and how proud he was of all of his kids and grandkids. Victor loved supporting his kids and grandkids with anything they participated in, including graduations, sporting events, concerts/recitals, you name it, you could always find Victor as a willing participant. He was the father and grandpa everyone came to love with his big Russian Cossack hat that was always a conversation piece. He created special moments with the grandkids, usually after performing some free labor, where he would take them out for an ice-cream.
He loved his son-in-laws as if they were his own and would never turn down time to watch a WWII movie, football game, or to grab coffee/lunch, fish, or just talk for hours about his life and theirs. He was always up for a good family gathering and would always push to have his whole family with him anytime he could. He loved being the avid grill master, where all meat was cooked to well done. His kids helped him build garden boxes so he could grow his own tomatoes and cucumbers. He found it soothing and therapeutic as it also reminded him of his parents.
Throughout his life, Victor was an avid modeler and would often compete in hobby shows throughout the Pacific Northwest with this wife (who also was an avid modeler), in tow. They would spend countless hours working together in their hobby room and enjoying their quality time together. Many conversations were had while modeling between Elke and Victor and many memories were made.
Victor never met a stranger he did not like and would strike up a conversation with anyone who was willing to listen. One of his favorite things to do in Arizona would be to ride the light-rail to Tempe for lunch at his favorite Greek Restaurant, and on the way back, tour around the airport on their light rail. He was known for his wicked sense of humor and being able to tell the perfect joke or pull a practical joke on an unsuspecting teaching assistant. We know, right now, dad is still telling jokes, reuniting with his family, and meeting new friends. We are also hopeful that maybe he can help the Seahawks next season.
Victor is survived by his loving and supportive wife Elke, who over the last five years has been by his side through this journey to be there for his every need and care, his four children, Sharon (her fiancé Victor), Tatiana (Todd), Kathryn (Chadwick), and Diane (Josh); nine grandchildren, Shannon, Sarah (Connor), Mckenzie, Ian, Beckett, Cassidy, Declan, Lydia, and Colton, and nieces Melissa (Bobbi), and Kristina. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Feodosia; and his sister Valentina.
A funeral service will be held, 11:00 am, Tuesday, January 3, 2022 at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr., with a viewing beginning at 10:00 am. A committal service will be held at 1:00 pm, at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 10100 Horseshoe Bend Rd., Boise.
To watch the funeral service, please visit: https://vimeo.com/786126461