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Neil Holmes
September 11, 2016
Neil Holmes was born Sept. 10, 1940 in Yellow Grass, Sask., and passed away Aug. 21, 2016 at the age of 75 years.
Recently of High Prairie, and formerly of Red Deer and Drayton Valley, Alta., Neil was initially from Weyburn, Sask.
Neil was predeceased by: his parents, Frank and Ida; brothers Clarence, Ron and Lyle; sisters Lois, Audrey, Cheryl and twin sisters Doreen and Dorothy; three sister-in-laws and three brother-in-laws.
He is survived by: his loving wife Judy; son Allan [Cheryl], daughter Jody [Kelly], daughter Lisa [Darrell], and son Travis [Jennifer]; eight grandchildren including Andrew, Chelsea, Zane, Vincent, Brayden, Justin, Braeden and Abby; sister Lorraine; brothers Gary [Deloris] and Dennis; sister-in-laws Sandra [Torgy] and Penny [Lynn]; and brother-in-laws John [Carrie] and Denis [Kathy]; and several nieces and nephews.
Neil was a hard worker and provided well for his family. He enjoyed life, children and grandchildren. He enjoyed sports, boxing, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Blue Jays. A highlight in his later life was when his friends Kenny and Al, of Red Deer, took him to the Grey Cup in Regina. The Riders were playing and they won, which made it extra special.
There are many memorable memories.
Neil will be sadly missed; he loves us all as we love him.
Jody, Lisa and Judy were with Neil when he peacefully passed. There is no more pain, no more suffering.
Cremation has taken place. As per Neil’s wishes, there will be no service at this time. Burial will take place at Weyburn at a later date.
Louise Hyndyk
September 28, 2016
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Louise Alma Hnydyk [Lemay] at the age of 69 years on Sept. 8, 2016.
Louise was born to Henry and Helen [Bedard] Lemay in High Prairie on March 25, 1947. Louise attended school in Big Meadow, High Prairie and McLennan. She later attended SAIT in Calgary in a medical records program.
Following her education, Louise was able to travel, including trips to California, Mexico and France. One trip was taken to Quebec and Berlin, New Hampshire, with her mother.
Louise worked at medical records in High Prairie, Edmonton and Two Hills hospitals where she enjoyed her productivity and made many friends.
In Two Hills, she met David Hnydyk as a patient. This led to a romance and marriage in 1988. Louise retired from work at the hospital in Two Hills in 1995. Louise and David enjoyed life in Two Hills with work, travel, family and friends.
David was of great help and support to her until his sudden passing July 20, 2010. Following David’s passing it was difficult for Louise to maintain her home in Two Hills so she made the big move back to her home town of High Prairie where she was able to obtain residence in Pleasantview Lodge. She enjoyed numerous friends and found a strong support network. She appreciated the food, the activities, the individualized support, time for her faith, and the friendship.
In August, Louise’s health took a turn. Her mobility decreased and she became hospitalized. Her immune system was struggling to a point where the Lord took back. She rests in peace. Louise was determined not to end up in a nursing home and her wishes were realized.
Louise was predeceased by: her parents; her husband, David; and her sister-in-law, Lorraine Lemay.
Louise leaves to mourn: her brothers Robert [Janet], Paul [Myrna], Leo [Leona] and Arthur [Carol] Lemay and their families; her stepchildren Matthew and Davina Hnydyk; two step-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Shirley [Hans] Bernard and families; Paul and Agnes Bedard; and numerous other relatives and friends.
A funeral service will be held in High Prairie at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. and an internment at the Two Hills Cemetery Oct. 10 at 10:30 a.m.
Donations in honour of Louise may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Leigh Homfray Davies
October 5, 2016
With heavy hearts and a deep sense of loss, the family of Leigh Davies [born Feb. 22, 1945] announces his passing on Sept. 19, 2016 at the age of 71.
Leigh will be lovingly remembered by his cherished wife Judy, together for 54 years; his daughter Becki and husband Jaret [Cardinal], their children Adam and Mya; his son Nathan and wife Dena [Foo], their children Bryce and Erika; his son David and wife Jellyrose, their children Aiden and Alijah; and his three brothers and two sisters.
Leigh’s family would like to thank friends, former students and colleagues for their support and thoughtful messages.
We would like to thank Dr. Robin Laughlin, his staff and the High Prairie Hospital staff for their compassionate care and the support shown to our family.
A celebration of Leigh’s life will be held on Oct. 15, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Prairie River Junior High School in High Prairie.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made at any TD Branch or through an email transfer to donations@leighdavies.org to help create the Leigh Davies Memorial Scholarship.
Joseph Olansky
September 21, 2016
Eulogy by Bradley Tannahill & Jessica Tannahill
Many of you are here to honour a man who you knew as a friend, a peer, a neighbour, a co-worker, a husband or a dad. You may have known him as Joe, Joseph, Big Joe, or Grumpy Gramps, but to us he was known as grandpa.
Our grandfather was a man who was strong-willed, stubborn, a jokester, clever, family oriented, opinionated, witty, and he had integrity and character. He was also one who always had a story to share or a joke to tell, and never took life too seriously.
He was born as Joseph Olansky on July 3, 1933 in the Radway Hospital. He was the youngest of eight children of Annie and Michael Olansky. He is survived by: his sister, Olga; and is predeceased by: his mother and father; two brothers [Steve and John]; and four sisters [Mary, Diane, Helen, and Kay].
Grandpa lived in Waskatenau, Alta. from 1933-59. He then moved to Radway, Alta. where he and grandma resided until 1965 when they moved to High Prairie.
Prior to moving to High Prairie our grandfather worked for the county of Thorhild, Alta. working in the Northpoint Coal Mine and on a bridge crew. He later farmed for six years with his brother-in-law Bill Clare in Radway. From 1963 until his retirement in 1994, our grandfather worked for the provincial government in transportation as a grader operator.
While residing in High Prairie, grandpa got involved with sports and the community. He was a member of the Pioneer Thresherman’s Association, High Prairie Elks and the High Prairie Golden Age Club for many years. As an avid hockey and baseball enthusiast, he umpired for the High Prairie fastball league and coached minor hockey. He was also involved with the High Prairie Regal hockey club. You could often find him at the entrance of the arena selling tickets and greeting everyone who came in.
Another place you could often find our grandpa was on Friday and/or Saturday nights bartending various events. Later in life, grandpa also participated in the senior games in both floor curling and bocce ball.
Between 1956-57 our grandfather Joe meet our grandmother, Alicemary Clare, and they married June 27, 1959. They were blessed with five children: Michael, Elaine, Beverly, Robert and William. And they were also blessed with six grandchildren: Bradley, Talon, Justin, Jessica, Chad and Kyle.
Playing cribbage was a big part of our grandfather’s life. In our family, cribbage is a generational game – our grandfather taught his children as well as us grandchildren. We hope to teach his one-day great-grandchildren the game just as well as he taught us.
We want to thank you all for coming. Your attendance here speaks volumes about the impact that this wonderful man had on all of us. As grandpa has laid his final hand of crib we would like to leave you all with these words, “Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, which is why it is called the present. What the caterpillar perceives is the end; to the butterfly is just the beginning. Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.”
The funeral for Joe Olansky was held Sept. 7 at the High Prairie Legion Hall with Rev. Leon Cadsap officiating. The eulogists were Bradley and Jessica Tannahill, William Olansky was the urn bearer. Honourary pallbearers were Bradley Tannahill, Justin Olansky, Chad Olansky, Talon Olansky, Jessica Tannahill and Kyle Olansky.
As a tribute to Joseph, contributions can be made to the STARS Air Ambulance and/or the High Prairie Regional Hospital Palliative Care Society as expressions of sympathy.
John Kryzalka
May 26, 2016
On May 7, 2016, John Kryzalka of Edmonton, formerly of High Prairie, passed away at the age of 85 years.
John is survived by his two sons, Dennis [Chris] and Edward [Lois]; daughter, Tammie; three grandchildren, Katrina, Natalia and Jonathan; one brother, Alex [Olga]; niece, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was predeceased by his father, Harry in 1970; his mother, Julia in 1991; and sister, Maria of Ukraine in 1928.
The funeral service was held May 13 at 1:30 p.m. at Park Memorial Chapel, 9709 – 111 Avenue in Edmonton with interment in St. Michael’s Cemetery.
In lieu of other tributes, donations may be made to the Arthritis Society, Alberta and NWT Division, #307, 10109 – 106 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3L7.
John “Jack” Gordon
August 31, 2016
John “Jack” Gordon, a long time resident of High Prairie, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2016 with his family by his side.
Jack was born in 1936 on a small farm in Swan River, Manitoba, to John and Charlotte Gordon. He was the youngest of six children, Bruce, Frank, Agnes, Mary and George.
His sister Mary recalls going to town to see her baby brother for the first time. Baby Jack was sleeping in a dresser drawer because no more cribs were available.
Jack stayed on the farm till 1958, when he decided to join his brother George in Alberta.
There he would start working for Square M Construction Company. His first job was working on the TransCanada Highway in Banff, where he would learn to operate the dragline.
Later working in Golden B.C., he would travel back and forth by train.
Jack also worked on the Jasper Highway between Lake Louise and Jasper.
The Dunvegan Bridge was another project he was proud to say he helped build.
In the late 1960’s, Jack would come to work in High Prairie, where again he would operate the dragline to straighten out the East Prairie River to prevent flooding of local farmland.
Soon after he would meet the love of his life, Linda Fisher and in 1969 the couple got married.
Three years later, Jack purchased a backhoe to start his own business, and was now expecting his first child.
Jack and Linda would have three children, Mike, Willy and Laura.
They would raise their family on the outskirts of High Prairie, while enjoying the finer things in life, like hunting, fishing or just spending time as a family.
At one time Jack owned his own plane, which he loved to take friends for a buzz over the town.
Over the years, Jack would support his family and friends in anyway possible.
He always took pride in his work and needless to say, was very good at it.
Those that had the privilege to know Jack, knew that whenever he was around, there was never a dull moment.
Jack is survived by his sisters Agnes and Mary, his wife Linda, their son Mike (wife Lisa, daughters Sarah, Amy and Paige), their son Willy (wife Kristie, daughters Anna and Jessica) and their daughter Laura (husband Ross, sons Jordan and Cody).
He will be greatly missed but the memories of “Jack Gordon” were always good ones and will never be forgotten.
A celebration of life was held at the Roman Catholic Church on July 23, 2016 at 1:00 pm.
The Family of Jack Gordon would like to thank everyone who were able to attend and for all the support they received from family and friends.
James Carlyle Miller
August 19, 2016
James Carlyle Miller, known as Lyle, was born May 3, 1938 in a cottage hospital in Shellbrook, Saskatchewan to John and Mary Miller.
He was raised on the homestead near Holbein, Sask.
Lyle helped his mother and started going to school at the great old age of eight in the Rich Valley School north of Shellbrook.
His father passed away when Lyle was very young.
His mother married again, to Jack Penner and gave Lyle some siblings, twins Austin and Leona and another brother Marvin.
While growing up, Lyle’s family moved to several different towns including Shellbrook, Holbein, Barrhead, and Minberg, and finally going to school in Shellbrook.
He kept himself entertained by riding horses through the community pasture and listening to the battery-powered radio.
There were many days when his Aunt Alisa would complain that he had run the battery low.
Lyle played cylinder records on the old gramophone and often talked about how he would get a good tune going and then lift the receiver on the old (telephone) party line and have people wondering where the music was coming from.
When he was 18, he started to work for the National Grain Company painting and repairing elevators.
Next, he went into construction of the grain annexes, moving throughout Alberta and ending up in Hythe.
After that, he worked in several sawmills in the winter time and for farmers in the summer, then going back to work constructing the elevators for Alberta Pacific.
In 1963, he went to work for United Grain Growers as a grain buyer, staying there for five years.
He had four sons from his first marriage, Carl, Allen, Earl, and Lyndon.
That marriage broke down and Lyle went on with his life meeting the love of his life, Pearl in 1971, and marrying her in 1973.
They had three sons, Les, James and Gerald.
In 1973, Lyle moved his family to Kinuso for two years where he cut tamarac fence posts to support his family, earning the nickname “Tamarac”.
People didn’t know his name and needed to call him something.
In 1975, he moved the family to High Prairie where he worked for farmers and Buchanan Lumber.
The family lived in several different places around High Prairie until 1988 when he bought the family farm and lived there ever since.
He worked for Winagami Lake Provincial Park for nine years and then went to work for High Prairie recreation board until his retirement at the age of 70.
Lyle loved peopled and enjoyed making them laugh.
He enjoyed music, farming and cutting fence posts and fire wood.
His children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, whom he loved dearly and were very precious to him, gave him lots of pride and joy in their lives and accomplishments.
To each and everyone of you know that your father, grandfather loves you very much.
Lyle leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Pearl, sons Carl (Cathy), Allen (Wendy), Earl (Agnes), Lyndon, Les (Angie), James (Martha) and Gerald (Doris), 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and four great-great- grandchildren.
Hank Gordon McDermott
September 28, 2016
Hank Gordon McDermott passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side, on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at the age of 69 years, after a long battle with cancer.
Hank was born on Dec. 20, 1946 in High Prairie. He was raised on the family farm near Banana Belt, went to college in Grouard to be a forester, drove truck and owned his own trucking company in the 1980s. He then moved into working as a welder and mechanic at Prairie Truck and Trailer in 1993 and worked there until 2008 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and the battle began.
Hank started the Night Ryder Band in 1968 and played around the Peace Country for many, many different functions, weddings, fundraisers and rodeos. He loved to talk about the sea of cowboy hats dancing to his music.
Hank also was part of a special group of quadding friends that he was with most weekends for many years. He also had a special love and patience for his grandchildren whom he enjoyed to tease and spend time with.
Hank is survived by: his loving wife, Marge; and his children Mark McDermott, Kelly [Paula] McDermott, Vonda McDermott and Barry McDermott; stepchildren Tiara [Darryl] Huber and Rae-Lyn Rasmussen [Jason Payne]; and grandchildren Cody Mineault, Dylan McDermott [Morgan Gaucher], Shelby McDermott [Dallas Fowler] and Alison McDermott [George Bradshaw)] step-grandchildren Lance Huber [Ashlee Cowie], Angie Huber [Darcy Gavine], Joshua Huber, Joel Huber, Colton Sandboe [Sydney Williams], Danyka Sandboe, Cassie Payne, Colby Payne, Keydon Payne, Jaden Payne and Jaylynn Payne; special great-grandchild Chet Dylan MacKenzie Fowl- er; step great-grandchildren Fisher Gavine, Gibson Gavine and Finley Gavine; family members David and Barb McDermott, Ardith and Pete McCann, Debbie Spreen and Gene Goertzen, Connie and Ron Senkoe, Harold Henderson, Joan and Ed Ragan, Donna and Jack Minsky; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Hank was predeceased by: his parents, George and Gladys McDermott; and one sister, Barbara.
A celebration of Hank’s life was held Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Grande Prairie Alliance Church.
In Hank’s memory, his family would ask that all your gracious gifts and/or lieu of flowers be made to assist patients of the Cancer Clinic with expenses they are faced with when undergoing treatment: Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation Re: Cancer Clinic Social Work, 10409 98 St. Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 2E8.
