Obituary of William Fred Suschinsky

A memorial program from the funeral service may be printed under the "Memories" tab, then choose "Memorial Program". SUSCHINSKY - With family present, Wm (Bill) Suschinsky passed away suddenly February 3rd, 2014 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre at the age of 103, as a result of a un-witnessed incident at the Nursing Home where he lived for the last couple of years. Wm was born on August 4, 1910 in a small village of Pohourlovtsy, north of the City of Chernovtsy, Bucovina which was a part of the Austro Hungarian Empire. Later this area became part of Romania and is now a part of the Ukraine. His Father emigrated to Canada in 1912 and in 1921, Wm along with his Mother joined his Father in the Village of Insinger. In 1926 he graduated from Insinger School with Grade 8, went on to High School in Theodore, Yorkton City Collegiate, and in 1929 graduated from the Saskatoon City Park Collegiate with Grade 11. He went on to Teacher's College, which at that time was called Normal School and graduated in 1930 with a 2nd Class Teachers' Certificate. He attained all that in approximately nine years after arriving in Canada at age 11 not speaking a word of English. He started teaching in 1931 and through Home Study Programs he obtained his Grade 12 Standing in 1941 which enabled him to have a 1st Class Teachers' Certificate. He tried farming full time during the 1940's with teaching part time, but went back to teaching full time in 1953 as well as grain farming full time. He took more classes by Correspondence and attended Summer School Classes at the University of Saskatchewan so that in 1959 he was granted a Standard Teachers' Certificate. Wm ended his teaching career in 1973 at the Theodore High School. A list of the various schools Wm taught at includes: starting in 1931 at Asgarth, followed by War End, Insinger, Westbrook, Sheho, Hilda, AB, Lysenko, (then full time farming) then part time in Insinger again (while continuing to farm), then full time teaching at Walkowetz, Chernowitz, McNab, Lysenko again, (while grain farming full time) and finally Theodore High School. Wm loved animals which began with a cow that he looked after when he was age seven years in the old country. He also had a horse before he came to Canada and loved to ride horseback. In Canada he got thrown off a horse at full gallop and broke his arm. He always had a dog and cats were common on the farm. Wm married Dora Kostenuik on July 15th 1934 and together they raised two children, moved around to the various schools where he taught and the farm where they also lived some of the time. Dora also helped Wm on the farm which they purchased from her parents in the mid 1940's. From 1953 to 1958 they would live on the farm during the summer and move to the typical little teacherage in the rural school yard for the winter. Lots of moving. Wm was often the emcee at weddings and other social functions in the area where he taught. He read a lot and accumulated a treasury of clippings and sayings, like the one on the back page of this memorial folder. In 1958 they built a house in Insinger, Wm taught at the Theodore High School while still operating the farm just a few miles out of Insinger. They moved to Theodore in 1962, Wm farmed for a few more years but continued to teach till 1973. Wm was active in the Theodore Senior Citizens Club and helped establish the Whitesand Golf Course at the White Sand Regional Park including operating the park for a summer season. He enjoyed reading, telling stories and promoted education. In his younger days he was active in the local Farmers' Union, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Theodore Senior Citizens Club as well as a member of the Masons. He enjoyed board games like Scrabble, Checkers, Dominos, as well as Golfing, Fishing, Bowling and spending time with family. In 1983 they relocated to Yorkton and in 2003 took up residence at the Bentley Retirement Community. While at the Bentley he became quite a Pool Shark. Wm & Dora celebrated 75 years of marriage just before Dora's passing in August 2009. Wm took up residence at the Yorkton & District Nursing Home in October 2011. Up until his passing he was a member of the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan including the Yorkton and District Chapter. Predeceased by his parents and his wife Dora, Wm leaves to mourn his passing, his sister Mary Byers and her husband John of St Paul, MN, daughter Jase Rowe of San Francisco, son Bob and his wife Doreen of Yorkton, grandchildren: Jennie, Dr. Kelly and Scott along with great-grandson Braxton McLaren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Wm will be missed by those who knew him. A visitation was held on Sunday evening, February 9th 2014 from the Chapel of Bailey's Funeral Home. The Funeral Service was held on Monday, February 10th 2014 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Very Rev. Father Mel Slashinsky officiating. Cantor, Gerald Yaholnitsky, assisted by members of Holy Transfiguration Parish Choir, led in the singing of the responses. The crossbearer was Cecelia Denesyk. The interment took place in the Garden of St. Luke with Tony Zahaik, Clay Serby, Ron Pillipow, Randy Kozak, Scott Suschinsky and Braxton McLaren serving as the casketbearers. Condolences can be left at baileysfuneralhome.com Memorials were to the Yorkton Chapter of the Superannuated Teachers Assoc. or to the Yorkton SPCA. Visitation Details Sunday, February 9th, 2014 7:00pm - 8:00pmService Information Monday, February 10th, 2014 10:00am, Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre Interment Details Yorkton Memorial Gardens