Merril Kiliwnik was born in Russell, Manitoba on March 15, 1940. Kiliwnik played with the EMO (Elphinstone-Menzie-Oakburn) Mallards, Angusville, Binscarth, St. Lazare, and Virden. He retired as a player in 1969 and began umpiring in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League in 1970. Kiliwnik went on to become a level five umpire. He umpired at the Western Canadian Junior championships in Surrey, at the Senior Canadian championships in North Battleford and Regina, the World Youth championships in Kindersley, and at the Intercontinental Cup in Edmonton. Named Manitoba Baseball Association Umpire of Merit in 1990. Kiliwnik also supervised the officials at Brandon’s 1991 World Youth championship.
