Obituary of John Sawchuk

My name is John C Sawchuk, I was born on April 15 1913 at Calder, Sask. to Cidor and Mary Sawchuk (nee Kisluick), I was their third child. Those were hard times and sad. My mother died of the Flu Epidemic in the fall of 1918 when I was just a little over 5 yrs old. We lived in the Zorra District north of Calder at this time. Then father decided to move to MacNutt where we lived with his parents, Penteley and Annie Sawchuk, nearly a year, then we moved to Inglis Man where Dad bought some land and I started school. I was 8 yrs old and went to Shell River School until Grade 3, that was all the schooling I got. Had to help out at home, the usual chores with cows and horses and we always had a garden. At age 15, I was doing a man's job, stooking and hauling bundles at harvest time. When I was 18 years I went to work for Leslie Roberts at $20.00 a month, I earned enough to take the train to South Porcupine Ont. where sister Anne was living with her husband Nick Bren. I tried to get a job at the Gold Mine but no luck. So I then got a job in a restaurant at South Porcupine, a 12 hour shift and stayed there 2 years. From there I got a job in a bush camp where I was "cookee", helping the cook, making coffee, sandwiches, soup and serving 35 men. This lasted 1 year then I went to St. Catherines Ont. where I got a job working for some builders who were building a factory and when it was completed I got a job inside for 2 years. It was a war industry, after 2 years the fumes were making me sick so I quit and got a job back in South Porcupine for 6 months at the Gold Mine. In the fall I decided to come back to Sask. to help with harvest. Then I got a call to go to the Army but as I was helping with harvest I was exempted. The Mountie from Calder by the name of Bennett wrote to Ottawa explaining this. At this time I decided to buy a quarter of land 9 miles north of Churchbridge. By now it is 1946, on June 2nd 1947 I married Rosie Woroschuk, who had a small boy called Bobby. We built a house, bought some cattle, horses and started farming. We farmed 3 years, then sold the cattle and horses and rented the farm to my brother Peter. Then we went East to Toronto where I got a job with a car wash for 1 month, then at "Wonders Bakery" it was a good job. Rosie worked in the Café. After a year we split up and I worked 2 weeks at Delco Tobacco Farm in Simcoe, Ont. before returning to Sask. and my farm and painting which became a steady job. I had received my Certificate as a qualified Painter in 1947 and still have it. I spent 2 yrs in Winnipeg painting, then back to Sask. continuing to paint and had a big area such as Calder, McNutt, Wroxton, Churchbridge, Langenburg, Bredenbury, Saltcoats and for Webers in Yorkton, also at K1 IMC Potash Mine north of Esterhazy in 1958-1959. Also painted schools, churches, hotels, stores and cafes, Banks and many country homes, barns and granaries. I retired from painting in 1983. For entertainment I enjoyed camping at Clear Lake Man. All Ukrainian doings, dances and going to singles dances in Yorkton. It was at a singles dance in Yorkton I met Jean Anderson, we were married in June 1982. In 1983 we bought a motorhome and spent 6 winters in Texas, USA Have also travelled into Alberta, BC, Dakotas and Minnesota USA. We still take in the Dauphin Ukrainian Festival and go to the Manitou Mineral Spa at Watrous Sask. twice a year for a week or 10 days, as well as visiting relatives and friends. I sold my house in Bredenbury in 1983 and lived in Stockholm ever since. Sold our house March of 1993 and moved into Westview Manor a Seniors Residence here in Stockholm. I am now 81 years of age and enjoying life. Since then, with aging and poor health, they moved to Melville. Sadly in 2012 the love of John's life, Jean passed away. He continued to live in his home until the age of 100 years. At that time he moved to a private care home in Westview. At 103 years old he moved to the Ituna Care Home. This final chapter of his life was precious to him with his new family and friends. John was predeceased by his parents Cidor and Mary Sawchuk; brothers Nick and Pete; sisters Lena Flundra and Anne Bren; second wife Jenny; son-in-law Stan Herperger; step grandsons, Ron and Sid Burge; and several brothers and sisters-in-law. He is survived by step daughters, Martha Burge (Fred Joynt) and Bernice Herperger as well as many nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren. Service Details. Service When: Saturday, February 29th, 2020 11:00am Location: Bailey's Funeral Home - Melville Address: 101 Fifth Ave. W. MELVILLE, SK S0A 2P0