Obituary of Alex Kuziak

KUZIAK - It is with great sadness that the family of Alex Gordon Kuziak announces his passing on May 14th, 2010, at the age of 101 years. Alex Kuziak was born at his parent's farm home in Saskatchewan near Donwell, 8 miles south of Canora, on October 15th, 1908, the third youngest of 10 surviving children of Jacob and Mary Kuziak (nee Luchek). By 2010 Alex and his brother John were the only surviving children. He took his early schooling in the Burgis district and near Amsterdam, north of Canora, and in Canora, and his high school in Yorkton and Saskatoon. He obtained a teaching certificate at the Moose Jaw Normal School in 1931 when he returned to Canada after working for two years in Detroit and Pontiac, Michigan as a factory worker and taxi driver. He taught school in the Canora area until he married Ann Kuziak (nee Jarman) on June 8th, 1935. Following their marriage he took a job as Secretary-Treasurer of the R.M. of Keys, with its office in Canora. He resided in Canora until 1952, where his three boys, Myron, Jerry and David were born, then moved to Regina where, daughter Bettie Anne was born, and where the family lived until 1964, when they moved to Yorkton, where he has resided since that time. His beloved wife Ann died in 2003 at the age of 94 years, followed by their son Jerry in 2007 at age 63. Alex moved to Regina to accept appointment to the Tommy Douglas CCF provincial cabinet, after being re-elected as an MLA for Canora, and held various ministerial positions until being defeated in 1964. He became the Administrator of the R.M. of Gary at Jedburgh until his final retirement at age 65 in 1973, but then worked as a Saskatchewan Investment Fund salesman for 10 more years. Alex spoke Ukrainian, Russian and English, and was an orator, a skill used during his long political career. First as a CCF activist, then as an MLA, elected for Canora in 1948, then as a government minister, he played an active, creative and positive role in the development of Saskatchewan. He helped to bring it forward into the modern industrial age, and was responsible for managing many Crown Corporations, and helping to bring about extensive highway building, encouraging the development of the mining and timber industry, fostering rural electrification and gasification, as well as a modern health care system, just to mention a few achievements he participated in. He was the first person of Ukrainian origin to be appointed to a government ministry in the Commonwealth. Prior to his work in provincial government he helped to establish the Canora Union Hospital, the Canora consumer co- operative, the Canora Credit Union, Canora's recreational facilities, and the farm implement co-operative. He was a devoted family man, caring for his wife and children, and was one of the early male sharers of domestic chores. He spent a lot of his retirement time enjoying his family, including his 4 grand-children and their spouses and 3 great grandchildren, and living a quiet life. In these last few years, it was his family that he was most proud of and comforted by. He was involved in several sporting activities throughout his life, including marathon running, golf, curling, boating and fishing. He and Ann traveled often, including car trips across Canada, the US and Mexico, and air trips to Europe, Russia and Ukraine. Alex was predeceased by his parents, five brothers and three sisters, his wife, Ann, and son, Jerry. He is survived by Myron and his wife Sara, of Neudorf; by David, of Yorkton; and by Bettie Anne, and her husband, Donald Thompson, of Theodore. He is survived by his grandchildren, Natalya, of Ottawa; Nicole and her husband, Clint Novak, of Yorkton; Sara and her husband, Jeff Grehan, of Regina; and Tanya and her husband, James Srochenski, of Canora, as well as his great-grandchildren, Ashley, Sabrina and Bryony. He is also survived by his older brother John, of London, and many nephews, nieces, and friends. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 from Westview United Church in Yorkton with Faye L. Greer officiating. Organist, Sharon Litvanyi led members of the church choir and the congregation in the singing of the hymns 'Amazing Grace' and 'In the Garden'. Son Myron gave the eulogy. The interment took place in the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Nicole Kuziak, Tanya Kuziak, Clint Novak, James Srochenski, Eugene Kitchen and Ed Kitchen serving as the casketbearers. Arrangements were entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 2:00pm, Westview United Church Interment Details Yorkton Memorial Gardens