Obituary of Edwin Rotinsky
ROTINSKY – The family of Edwin Rotinsky of Yorkton, formerly of the Wroxton district, beloved husband of Shirley Rotinsky sadly announce his passing on December 14, 2025. He was 90 years of age.
Edwin was born April 29, 1935 on the family farm in the Stornoway District to John and Mary (Sawchuk). He was the fifth child.
Edwin attended Brandon School located 2 miles East of the family farm from grades one through eight, and his teacher was Mr. Fred Tetoff. Edwin was ten years old when he went walking to school one day and the teacher’s father came out and said, "We won the war! No School today!”
Edwin also mentioned many times that in 1944 the farm they lived on was 18 miles south of Kamsack and a tornado and sheet lightening occurred through most of the night. Edwin farmed on the family farm of Kamsack with his parents for years. During that time Edwin and Shirley met at a friend’s wedding and married one year later on November 4, 1967 in Kamsack by the Late Rev. Father Walter Wasilishen. They farmed for 11 more years and then decided to move to Yorkton.
Dennis John was born in September 1968 and nine years later Darla Stacey was born in August 1977. On November 1, 1978 the family moved to Yorkton. A few days before they moved to Yorkton, their neighbour Alex Tkachuk came with his truck and took Edwin and Dennis and all of their mixed breeds of cattle to the Roblin, MB stockyards. As they sadly watched their cattle walk through the ring they had to say their goodbyes to them, they all had names whether it was Fire, Red, Maude or Susan, they loved to talk with the cows and were very sad to see them go.
After moving to Yorkton in 1978, Edwin’s first job was working in carpentry for the Landlord of their townhouse. It was a very cold winter working on his hands and knees, Edwin wasn’t happy with that job so he took a welding course. Edwin suffered from sore eyes with that job and in 1979 he began cleaning sewage and fencing. He then became a crop adjuster with Saskatchewan Crop Insurance. Edwin and Dennis farmed one quarter of land then with 12 foot machinery, two JD tractors and two cylinders with a Put Put. Edwin always took Dennis on the road with him while working with Crop Insurance when there was no school. Dennis liked to question the farmers about what they had for livestock or what makes of machinery they farmed with. They would always enjoy a beautiful delicious smorg while on the road.
In 1981 Edwin began working at the Yorkton Union Hospital doing laundry. In the summer of 1981 he got a job at Municipal Hail as a hail adjuster in the Regina and Weyburn area. In October 1981 Edwin began his career with the Yorkton RCMP as a guard at the cell block and worked there for 20 years. In December of 2000, Edwin retired just before Christmas and was able to take it easy while spending precious time with his only grandchildren Brooke and Ashton. Brooke and Ashton were truly his pride and joy. His face lit up every time he saw them and he always made them smile. On December 5, 2023 Edwin was blessed with his greatest pride of all, his Great-Grandson Khassius. Edwin referred to him as Kasmer until the very end. On Dec 5, 2025 Darla showed her dad Ed a photo of the little boy and told him that it was his 2nd birthday. Edwin was already very frail and couldn't speak but when he saw the photo his face lit up and he whispered "Kasmer".
During the summers, Edwin enjoyed working in the garden, appreciating his harvest, and crawling around the yard weeding the flower beds. Every Wednesday in Summer was "Farm Day" but before they went Ed ensured that the grass was cut. If there was a second mower running Edwin would take one and send Dennis to cut the grass at the school across the road as he was always about doing kind things for others. As he became less mobile he enjoyed his days sitting outside watching vehicles go by and waiting for company to stop in. His favourite was when Darla and the children would stop over which usually included a yummy treat for "Papa". Darla and Ed had an amazing father-daughter relationship which they both were so proud of. Brooke and Ashton were so blessed to have Ed as their Papa.
Edwin was predeceased by his parents, John and Mary (Sawchuk) Rohatynski; siblings Edward and Joyce; in-laws Mary and Bill Jacobs, Diane and Andy Maluga and Richard Jacobs; brother-in-law, John Tkachuk in 2002; brother Thronsen Rotinsky in 2004; sister Ethel Tkachuk in 2023; sister-in-law Jean Rotinsky in Dec./2025; three nieces: Beverly, Lavern and Sharon. Edwin leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 58 years, Shirley; son, Dennis; daughter, Darla (Todd); grandchildren, Brooke and Ashton and great-grandson Kass; Ed's sister, Gayle (Frank) Hawryshko as well as many nieces and nephews.
The Funeral Liturgy was held on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton with Rev. Father Jeffrey Stephaniuk as the Celebrant. The responses were led by Colette Karapita and Funeral Choir members. The cross bearer was Brooke Webster (granddaughter) and the epistle reader was Karen Craig (nee Tkachuk).
Serving as honourary pallbearers were Bernard Nokinsky (cousin), Metro Zawada (cousin), Dan Calef (friend) Ernie Derworiz (friend), Wilfred Zimmer (best man) and Bernie Fisher (cousin).
The interment took place in the Riverview Cemetery, Kamsack with Ashton Webster (grandson), Cameron Belfour (ring bearer), Herb Kruizenga (nephew), Duncan Nokinsky (cousin), Evan Derworiz (farm neighbour) and Barry Petruk (farm neighbour) serving as the casket bearers.
