Obituary of Doris Rusnak
The family of Doris Rusnak of Yorkton, beloved wife of the late Mike Rusnak, sadly announce her passing on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Doris was 98 years of age.
A Visitation for Relatives and Friends will be held on Monday, January 19th from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Bailey's Funeral Home (45 Fifth Ave. N, Yorkton), and from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre (Hwy #10 E).
The Memorial Service in celebration of Doris' life will take place on Saturday, July 25th at 2:00 p.m. from Westview United Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Doris Rusnak may be made to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Cancer Research Foundation of Canada, or to Westview United Church Backpack for Kids Program as gifts of remembrance.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey's Funeral and Cremation Care, Yorkton.
Doris Eleanor Rusnak was born July 22, 1927, to Roy and Annie (nee Larson) Davidson. She was the 3rd of 3 children born in the Naicam District of Saskatchewan where her parents farmed with her mother’s brother, Sigurd Hogan. Anne used her father’s last name, whereas some of her brothers took the farm name from Norway as their last name. Doris attended grades 1 to 9 in Pinkham and then they moved to Colville for Grades 10 and 11. The family eventually moved to the homestead in the Insinger district where she attended school in Theodore for Grade 12.
Doris met the love of her life, Michael, at a fastball tournament in Theodore in 1946 when they jumped into a car together to get out of the rain, she was 19 at the time and they got engaged on her 21st birthday on July 22, 1948. They married on October 24, 1948, a bond that lasted 71 years. Their first home was on the farm in the Insinger district which had no running water or indoor plumbing. Wayne and Joann both lived in the farmhouse before Doris and Michael moved to Yorkton in 1954, where David was born.
Doris was Michael’s secretary and social convener for many of the years he worked with Mutual Life and its successors. They worked as a team with Doris running the household and ensuring there was always meals ready when Michael brought a client home unexpectedly for dinner or supper. Doris’s tradition of having everything necessary to serve a beautiful meal continued throughout her life and included friends of her children, grandchildren, and finally great-grandchildren. All were greeted with open arms and a friendly smile.
Doris was also Michael’s farmhand, hauling grain, picking rocks, making lunches and anything else that needed to be done until the boys got big enough to help out during their active years of farming.
Doris was an avid church goer and dedicated countless hours to the Presbyterian Church and later when the family joined Westview United, she participated in the choir, fall suppers, funerals, and many other events in support of the church.
Doris’s life after Michael’s passing in 2019 continued at Yorkton Crossing where she was presented with an award for her generosity in sharing her talents of growing flowers and doing crafts with all other residences at the facility. She was loved by all that encountered her. Doris’s care for her older brother, Arnold, which continued throughout their adult life was perhaps the basis of her compassion for others. This was a characteristic that shone through her lifetime with family, friends and strangers, all who felt her immediate warmth when they interacted with her. She was able to instill this philosophy through her actions in others.
Doris is survived by 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, having lost great grandson Grayson at the young age of 9 ½ months.
Doris was pre-deceased by all members of her and Michael’s siblings, Doris’s siblings, Lynos aka Dave (Margaret) Davidson and Arnold aka Busty Davidson. Michael’s brother, Nick (Ruth) Rusnak, Bill (Fae) Rusnak, and John (Olga) Rusnak, Michael’s sisters, Mary (Wasyl aka Bill) Koshman, Ann (Nick) Kopan, Kay (Steve) Hnatiuk, Sophie (Steve) Husulak, Margaret (Dave) Davidson, Iris (Wasyl aka Bill) Rusnak, and Michael’s kid sister Olga Rusnak.
Doris was the ever-present wife and mother, grandmother and great grandmother that made the Rusnak household run with precision and ease. She never lost her love for her family and continued to express it right up to the last hours of her life.
She will be truly missed. She had 98 ½ years with her family spending countless hours both working and playing with all members leaving opportunity for memories to be forged that will never be forgotten.
Doris leaves her 3 children and their families; son, Wayne (Diane) Rusnak, their 4 children; Lee (Jodie) Rusnak, Emma, Ali, Ty; Brett (Claudia); Lara (Shawn) Veroba, Dylan and Bryn; Todd (Kim) Rusnak, Holt, Cozie, and Gigi; daughter, Joann (Barry) Zapshalla, their 3 children; Jake (Britainy) Zapshalla, William, Katie, Brock, and Logan; son David (Laurie Anne) Rusnak, their 3 children; Christopher (Beth) Rusnak; Janna Lee (Justin) Yawney, Isla, Maddux; Cassandra (Cameron) Rieger, Elliahna, Grayson (pre-deceased), Avalynn, and Jameson.
In addition, Doris leaves numerous nieces, nephews and greats that she had a very close relationship with.
