Valentyn Boshtan

Valentyn Mykolayovych Boshtan was born on March 25, 1952, to Mykola Petrovych Boshtan (b. 1926) and Kalyna Trokhymivna Boshtan (b. 1929), in the village of Malyntsi, Khotyn district, Chernivtsi region, Ukrainian SSR.
In 1968, Valentyn made a covenant with the Lord, was baptized, and became an active member of the church.
In 1969, he graduated from high school.
From 1971 to 1973, he served in the Soviet Army. He endured much hardship for refusing to take the military oath, and only God spared him from imprisonment.
In 1977, Valentyn married Lidiya Semenivna Plaksyva. They spent ten meaningful years together and had three children: Vitaliy, Viktor, and Alinochka. The newly formed family was tested early on-in 1978, they lost their firstborn, Vitaliy, who lived only nine months. When Viktor was seven and Alina just two, their mother became seriously ill with pneumonia. Due to poor medical care, the illness progressed into cancer, and she passed away, leaving the children to be raised by their father and God, who she fervently prayed to. Valentyn had to become both father and mother to his semi-orphaned children.
The weight of this tragedy took a toll on his health for the first time. It was then he chose not to give up but to move forward with God's help. He learned to find joy and thankfulness in the smallest things. That is how everyone remembers him-always smiling and full of life despite the pain.
In 1989, Valentyn married Zinaida Vasylivna Yakovets (b. 1960). With her came a new child into the family-Ihor Ivanovych Osadchuk. Zina not only became a mother to Ihor but also to Viktor and Alina.
In 1994, Valentyn fulfilled a vow he had made to God in his youth and entered pastoral ministry. Many congregations where he served still remember his faithful labor and express deep gratitude.
Valentyn's pastoral service continued until 2012, when his health seriously declined, and he could no longer actively lead church projects-he didn't want to lead without fully serving. The challenges of life-religious persecution under the communist regime, hard work, the death of his firstborn and beloved wife-inevitably affected his health.
In 2021, he became ill again. Despite treatment, there was no lasting relief. By 2022, the pain became unbearable-he could no longer sit, lie down, or walk. Thorough testing revealed stage 4 cancer. It sounded like a death sentence-but not for him, someone who had overcome so much.
Before starting treatment, the family turned to God and performed the anointing with oil. During prayer, God heard their cry and answered-Valentyn's severe pain disappeared and never returned. Thanks to Alina's persistence and God's providence, Valentyn arrived in the United States in 2022 and began receiving quality medical care. God gave him three more peaceful years of life, surrounded by his beloved daughter, grandchildren, and the care of his loving wife Zinaida. It was a quiet harbor after a long and difficult life in Ukraine. To his children, it felt as though God mirrored the life of the patriarch Jacob in their father's story. God fulfilled his dream to visit the United States-even to attend a General Conference Session.
Despite the severe illness of his last three years and his weakened body, everyone who knew Valentyn would ask, "Does he ever feel sad?" He always smiled and lifted the spirits of everyone around him-even when he himself needed support. Though there was hardly any muscle left on his body, he never stopped, not for a day. He even knew how to joke about it. The disease destroyed his body, but never broke his spirit.
His resilience will forever be an example to his wife, children, and four grandchildren. Following his example, we do not mourn today as those without hope, but we thank God for blessing us with such a father-especially knowing our separation is not forever.
At 5:00 p.m. on July 23, 2025, the heart of a loving father, husband, and grandfather stopped beating. Valentyn fell asleep in God's arms-to soon awaken and see Christ in His glory and be reunited with his family and loved ones.
Valentyn Mykolayovych Boshtan is lovingly remembered and farewelled by:
• His wife, Zinaida Vasylivna Boshtan
• His daughter, Alina Valentynivna Petrashyshen, with her husband Vasyl Valentynovych Petrashyshen, and their daughters Dianka and Sofiika
• His son, Viktor Valentynovych Boshtan, with his wife Roksolana Romanivna Boshtan, and their children Danyil and little Emily (who sadly have not been able to leave their war-torn country and haven't seen their family in three years)
• His son, Ihor Ivanovych Osadchuk, with his wife Nataliya Anatoliivna Osadchuk.