Obituary of Ed Kuspira
The family of Ed Kuspira, beloved husband of Minnie Kuspira, sadly announce his passing on Saturday, July 26, 2025. He was 95 years of age.
A Visitation for Family and Friends will be held on Thursday, July 31st at 7:00pm from the Chapel of Bailey's Funeral Home, Yorkton (45 Fifth Ave N.).
The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 1st at 10:00am from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre (HWY #10 E).
CLICK HERE for access to the Live-Stream Recording.
The interment will follow in the Yorkton City Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Heart & Stroke Foundation, Stars Air Ambulance, Breakthrough T1D Canada (formerly known as JDRF Canada) or to a Charity of your choice as gifts of remembrance.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home, Yorkton.
Edward Peter Kuspira – better known as Eddie, passed away peacefully in the early hours of July 26, 2025 with his beloved wife Minnie by his side.
Eddie was the second of 13 children born to Michael and Anne Kuspira (née Dobko). He was born on March 12, 1930 on their family farm in Fonehill, SK. From an early age, he developed a deep love for farming, horses, and hockey. By the age of 12, he was grooming horses and operating a six-horse-drawn machine on his own—walking behind the machinery, as was the custom at the time. When his father’s health declined, Eddie left school at the age of 15 to help his family and become a full-time farmer.
In his spare time, he played hockey for the Yorkton Juveniles and the Fonehill Flyers. He worked hard, played hard, and loved every minute of it. During this time, he met Minnie Pacholko of Willowbrook, SK, who quickly became the love of his life and soulmate. After she completed her nursing training, they married on October 29, 1955, at St. Mary’s Church in Yorkton.
They began their 70-year marriage together on the Kuspira family farm, where they raised their four children: Sandra, Laureen, Kelly, and Bryan. They worked tirelessly to make a living, but after a devastating hailstorm in 1962 that had destroyed their entire crop, Eddie decided to take a job in Yorkton to support his family and help with the children’s schooling. They moved to Yorkton temporarily, trying to balance farming and town life, however, after four years, Eddie had made the difficult decision to sell the farm.
In 1963, they bought their home on Victor Place in Yorkton where they continued to raise their family and have lived ever since. Eddie held various part-time jobs—trucking, working on the golf course—before becoming the full-time arena manager in 1965. When the Yorkton Arena closed in 1975, he moved to the Agriplex, where he worked until his retirement in 1995. During the summers, he worked as a greenskeeper at the golf courses at York Lake, Deer Park, and in Melville. He was instrumental in building the original grass greens at both Deer Park and Melville. When the hockey seasons extended due to artificial ice, he gave up working as a greenskeeper to focus exclusively on the rink.
Eddie was known across Western Canada for his ice-making expertise. He was invited to numerous seminars on artificial ice maintenance and spent thousands of overtime hours perfecting the ice for events; a self-taught perfectionist as one would say. He was also a skilled farmer, horseman, handyman, and gardener. His yard was always immaculate, and he loved relaxing in it with family and friends. He was also known as the family gardener, often helping his children and friends with their yards. Though friendly, he was somewhat reserved, but he made many lasting friendships during his 35 years in leisure services. Even in later years, Eddie loved helping friends on the farm—time in the fields always lifted his spirits.
In 1980, Eddie bought his first racehorse, beginning an exciting chapter in his life. This chapter saw him owning 12 horses over the years, showing a strong resemblance for his love for them as a child. Some of these horses ended up being talented enough to be profitable. This was an era that the whole family enjoyed being a part of.
Eddie’s children were his pride and joy. He ensured they had the best facilities and equipment to develop their skills and talents. Though not always verbal with his affection, he showed his love through his actions. He loved watching his sons play hockey, his daughters figure skate, and later, his grandchildren and great grandchildren in their many activities. He welcomed their friends and spouses into his home, and his joy only grew with the arrival of eight grandchildren and, more recently, his 9 great-grandchildren, who lovingly call him Boots.
Alongside his busy days, he found time to also create a love for sports. He became a longtime Saskatchewan Roughriders fan and season ticket holder, attending as many games as possible. Eddie was also an avid follower of the Blue Jays (though he often thought they could do better). In addition to sports, hockey was in Ed’s life from day one. He began as a loyal Maple Leafs supporter who eventually became the Pittsburgh Penguins’ No. 1 fan, thanks to Minnie’s persuasion. Together, they passionately followed curling and attended many Briers, Grey Cups, and Blue Jays games.
Ed and Minnie traveled extensively—by car, train, plane, and bus—often to attend their children’s activities. Many cherished summers were spent camping at Good Spirit Lake, where they passed on their love of nature. In 1992, they bought a cabin there, planning to enjoy retirement doing what they loved. The grandchildren visited often, and days were filled with boating, fishing, cooking, campfires, golf, hiking, and water fights.
Those happy years will be treasured and deeply missed.
Eddie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He accomplished much in his life, and his family is incredibly proud of him. He raised his children with love and trust, encouraging them to follow their dreams. We will love and miss him always and are eternally grateful to have had him in our lives.
Eddie is survived by his beloved wife Minnie of 70 years; his children Sandra, Laureen (Brian Weber), Kelly (Susan Wintersgill), and Bryan (Pat Kardynal); his grandchildren Kristin (Garrett Karcha), Lindsay (Dustin Magnusson), Doug (Amy Kowalchuk Weber), Keith (Jeanette Gelleta), Paul Kuspira, Ashley (Kyle Materi), Katelyn Kuspira, and Heather (Aaron Huber); step-grandchildren Chris (Emily) Wintersgill, Lyndsay (Ryan) Beck, and Kristen (Aaron) Sims; his precious great-grandchildren Keegan and Kamdyn Karcha, Alexi, Skyler, and Tyken Magnusson, Harlow, Wynn, and Rooke Materi, and Everett Weber; and step-great-grandchildren Finley and Sawyer Wintersgill, and Isla Beck. He is also survived by his brothers Bill (Judy) Kuspira, Bob, (Judy) Kuspira, sisters Delores Emery, Elizabeth Kuspira and Helen Kuspira, his sisters-in-law Stella Hardybala and Adeline Pacholka, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Michael and Anne Kuspira, his in-laws Bill and Mary Pacholka, his siblings John Kuspira, Carl Kuspira, Art Kuspira, Bernice Kotyk, Beverley Hardybala, Fred Kuspira and Gregory Kuspira; brothers-in-law Miro Kotyk (Bernice), Peter Hardybala (Beverley), John Pacholka (Adeline), John Hardybala (Stella) and Jack Emery (Dolores); sisters-in-law Joanne Kuspira (John), Dianne Kuspira (Bill), Pat Kuspira (Carl), Nadine Boyk (Art); and son-in-law Dave Taylor (Sandra).
Donations in Ed’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, STARS.ca, Breakthrough T1D Canada, formerly known as JDRF Canada), or the charity of your choice.
