Obituary of Annie Joyce Koback

I was born Annie Joyce Grebinski, and on November 20, 1923, my parents, Anton and Katherine Grebinski, lovingly accepted me as their ninth child. Five brothers (Frank, Stanley, Peter, John and Bill) and three sisters (Mary, Angela and Victoria) arrived before me, and two brothers (Michael and Leonard), and one sister (Sophie), followed me. Ours was a large family of 12 children. I grew up on a farm in the Beckenham District and attended Winthorpe school (grades 1-8). I enjoyed school and would have gone on to take additional grades, but times were difficult, and circumstances did not allow me to easily continue. While growing up on the farm my fondest memories were of my family, my mom and dad, and my family’s many cousins, friends and neighbours. Our farm, because of its location, was a natural gathering place for friends, neighbours and others just passing through. Music and laughter would often be heard in the distance. And, despite the hardships, there was always love. We felt loved and I felt loved. My father would often assign his various children to certain tasks in and around the yard, and the farm. My brother Stanley and I were often paired to bring the cows home at the end of each day, and to shut the gate after the cows had come in. But, as young teenager, I was not strong enough to close the gate by myself, and Stanley was often annoyed with me as he had to come back and close the gate for me. But I knew that he was not so annoyed with me for he had a kind and loving heart, and little did my brother know how much I loved and admired him. In my life’s journey there were many joyous occasions. As a teenager and young adult, I loved going to dances, picnics, weddings, and family and community gatherings. Alex Koback and I were married at the Sacred Heart Church in Ituna in October, 1946. And following our marriage, we settled on the property originally owned by an English family – the Goodens. Our farm was located about two and half miles Southeast of Horse Lake, and turning south, about two and a half miles from Walkerville School. A few years later my sons Lorne and Norman were born, and we became a typical farming family. Following Norman’s illness, and his passing from cancer in 1961, we left the farm and settled in Ituna in 1962. We continued to farm from town. And Lorne completed his junior high and senior high school years at the Ituna High School. I worked at various jobs in Ituna starting with Pearl and Walter Kreway’s Café, Bill Martyniuk’s clothing store, Marshall Wells, and Mon Lai’s restaurant. My sisters Victoria, Sophie and I also painted a number of house interiors, and took on other smaller jobs. I always enjoyed living in Ituna and being in my local community. I was a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and the church choir, an active member of the Social Club, and I enjoyed annually visiting the Beckenham church and the community hall. Those Beckenham visits and reunions with friends and farming neighbours were especially joyous and spiritually important to me. I was also able to visit my son Norman who is buried at the Beckenham church cemetery. The Creator has blessed me with many years of life and with many happy experiences. But, at times, there were tears, and my tears and prayers were, and always are, for those loved ones whom I lost: my son, my husband, my mom and dad, my brothers and sisters, my brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, my nephews and cousins, friends and neighbours. In May 2014, my daughter-in-law Carolyn, whom I loved and cherished as a daughter, passed away much too early from cancer. My son Lorne continues to reside in Regina along with my grandchildren Jared, Robyn and Jordan (Chantel), and their two young sons: Jace and baby Brock - my two precious great grandsons. My love always for my son Lorne and his family; my brother Leonard Grebinski and his family in Kitchener Ontario; my nieces and nephews - many of whom live outside the province; my in-laws Jerry and Ruby Ewanus in Regina, and their daughter Linda (Terry) Robinson; my Ituna neighbours Janet Stecyk, and Roman and Violet Yachiw; and my niece, Verna Bohach on the farm near Ituna, who helped me in so many ways. Both hope and my faith in the Lord have sustained me in the happiest, and in the most difficult and sorrowful, tearful times. Throughout my life I vowed that I would never turn away from the Lord. And the simple things in life are often the most wondrous: the warm glow of the sun’s rays upon one’s face, the coolness of a gentle rain and mist, walking bare-footed and squishing one’s toes in the mud as we did when we were children, the kindness of a loving touch or smile from another, a little bumble bee landing on a flower so gently and delicately, flowers turning their petals towards the radiance of the sun, and a beautiful little bird sitting on its perch, gazing outward and bursting into song. May our Divine God continue to bless each of you. Be kind to one another and help each other. I graciously ask that the Lord accept me. And with all my love I humbly sing Alleluia! In lieu of flowers, memorials in Annie’s name may be made to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan 200-4545 Parliament Ave., Regina, SK S4W 0G3, Heart & Stroke Foundation 1738 Quebec Ave., Unit 26, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9 or Operation Smile Canada 375 University Ave., Suite 204,Toronto, ON M5G 2J5 Service Details. Service When: Monday, December 20th, 2021 11:00am Location: Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church Address: Main St. N. ,Box 340 ITUNA, SK S0A 1N0 Interment Location: Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery Address: Box 340 ITUNA, SK S0A 1N0 Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event Ongoing Online Event About this event In Loving Memory Of Annie Koback November 20, 1923 - December 15, 2021 Look inside to read what others have shared Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book