Obituary of Lawrence Grodzinski
Lawrence was born on March 10, 1940 in Canora Sk. He was the second oldest son of Michael and Emily (Matsalla) Grodzinski of Tiny Sk. Life on the farm was rough as at the age of 9 Lawrence lost his father in 1949.
Lawrence attended Kowalowka School until 1952 when the family moved to Norquay Sk. and then continued his schooling until the age of 17 when he ventured off with his older brother Victor to Vancouver B.C. While in Vancouver Lawrence worked for C.N. Telegraph even delivering a telegram message to the hotel room of Elvis Presley. In 1960 Lawrence returned to Norquay where he worked various jobs including Canada Survey, Sask Wheat Pool, Galay’s Esso Service and Norquay Bakery. In 1963 he married the girl next door Sylvia Burtnick. In 1965 their first daughter Roxanne was born. Lawrence purchased a Pool Hall from his father -in-law in 1966 which Lawrence ran and also worked for the Co-op Creamery in the summer months picking up cream from local farmers. In 1969 Lawrence sold the pool hall and the family moved to Nipawin Sk. where he worked as a parts man for Mills Motors and volunteered with the Nipawin Fire Department. In 1972 the family moved to Yorkton Sk. where Lawrence worked as a parts man for Korb Motors which shortly turned into Logan Chev Olds and then to Watson Chev Olds. In 1976 the next editions of their family arrived, Charleen and Chad the twins. After being a GM parts man for 21 years Lawrence decided to start a new career. He began working for the Yorkton School Division as a custodian at C.J. Houston School and obtained his Fireman’s Boiler Operator Certificate so he could run and maintain the school’s boiler system. He worked there for 10 years until the school was closed and then transferred over to the brand-new M.C. Knoll/St. Michael’s Schools where he worked as head of maintenance for 7 years until he retired in 2005.
Lawrence loved sports as a child playing hockey, baseball, slow pitch, football and track. As he got older, he continued playing hockey as well as coached and refereed, played in local slow pitch and curling leagues and took up golfing. As the years went by, he slowly had to give up playing sports and settle for just watching with the final sport to give up being golf in 2013 after suffering a stroke. Lawrence continued to drive the golf cart for his wife Sylvia and be her caddy for a few years after. He loved watching the Saskatchewan Roughrider, Toronto Blue Jays, Curling and his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs on T.V. always getting annoyed if he found out the score of the game before he had a chance to watch the game if he had tapped it. Lawrence and his wife Sylvia were also big local sports fans as they attended Yorkton Cardinal Baseball games and were season ticket holders for the Yorkton Terriers since 1972 until the lockdown and health reasons prevented Lawrence from attending the games. Lawerence also served as a Director for the Terrier Hockey Team in the 1978-79 season. Outside of sports Lawrence loved camping, fishing, and animals especially all his previous pets and in later years watching nature videos especially ones about monkeys.
Lawrence leaves to mourn in his passing his loving wife Sylvia of 61 years. His daughters Roxanne Dionne of Saskatoon, Charleen Therrien of Yorkton, his son Chad Grodzinski of Yorkton, his grand daughters Tiffany (Arron) Andrusiak of Saskatoon, Chelsea (Andrew) Fulmer of Saskatoon, his grandson Ashton Therrien of Yorkton, his brothers Victor (Halia) Grodzinski of Tisdale, Alexander Miko of Norquay, his sisters Isabel Krizmanic of Yorkton, Sonia Engel of Yorkton, Sandra Miko-Olynyk of High Level AB as well as many nieces, nephews, family and friends. Lawrence was predeceased by his parents Michael and Emily Grodzinski (Miko), Step-father John Miko, son-in law Kelly Therrien, brother Melvin Miko, parents-in-law Alex and Emily Burtnick, and brothers-in-law Dennis Engel, Wille Krizmanic and Taras Olynyk.
The Memorial Service was held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Doreen Day, Certified Celebrant officiating. Words of remembrance were shared by Lawrence's children; Roxanne, Charleen and Chad. Nephew Perry Grodzinski shared words of scripture and comfort. Brother Sandy Miko sang "Don't Let the Old Man In". The interment followed in the Trinity Columbarium, Yorkton Memorial Gardens with grandchildren Ashton, Tiffany and Chelsea serving as urn bearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kinsmen Telemiracle, Paws & Claws or to a charity of one's choice as gifts of remembrance.
