Obituary of Peter Sauchuk

Peter passed away peacefully on Monday, March 22, 2010 at Crocus Court Personal Care Home, Roblin, MB. Peter was born July 13, 1921 in the Calder District to Kost & Nellie (Krill) Sauchuk who immigrated to Canada in 1898 and 1900 respectively. Kost homesteaded on NW 28-25-30 W1 which was Peter's birthplace. At a very early age Peter showed a great interest in music. He was able to play the violin quite well by the age of five. As time went on Peter perfected the violin and added other instruments to his expertise including the accordion, harmonica, guitar, banjo, piano and Jews harp. He attended Zorra School until grade 8 or 9 and at that time quit school to farm with his Dad. Eventually, Peter acquired the farm from his parents. On October 22, 1944; at the Romanian Orthodox Church West of MacNutt; he married Mary Eftoda, daughter of Eli & Mary Eftoda, from the Wroxton district. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Ken in 1946, Patricia in 1949 and Virginia in 1953. In 1946 Peter and Mary took in Mary's sister (Virginia) and raised her until she got married in 1951. Over the years, Peter served as Trustee on the Zorra School Board and on the Central Board Committee. Peter played with the Western Moonlighters at many weddings and social functions. He preferred to play the violin, but occasionally he would switch to other instruments and sometimes he even would sing. Peter was quite the poet - as a surprise he wrote Mary a beautiful poem for their 50th wedding anniversary. Peter & Mary worked hand in hand doing the farm work. Each year when the fall work was completed, they would take a much deserved, although short trip. Peter & Mary continued farming until 1974 when tragedy struck and Peter became totally paralyzed as a result of a farm accident. However, with a lot of determination and moral and physical support from his wife Mary, Peter regained the use of his body enough to once again help look after the farm yard consisting of several flower beds, a large vegetable garden and large lawn. Peter purchased a White yard tractor with mower, tiller and snow blower attachments and often said this was the most expensive tractor he had ever purchased! At this time the farm land was rented out. In 1994 Peter & Mary sold the farm. In the fall of 1994 they moved to the Co-op Apartments in Roblin, MB. However, tragedy struck again on January 11, 2002, when they lost their son Ken of Penticton, BC to cancer. In March 2008, due to deteriorating health, Peter & Mary moved into Crocus Court Personal Care Home in Roblin. They were together all through their married lives - even in the Care Home they were in rooms across the hallway from each other so they could see each other in their beds. As Mary's dementia progressed Peter continued to be a faithful loving husband and often commented how Mary was "the most beautiful woman in the dining room" to encourage her to come out of her room for meals. Right to Peter's last breath they were together. They were sitting side by side in their wheelchairs when Peter peacefully slipped away. Peter is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary of Crocus Court Personal Care Home, two daughters; Patricia (Victor) Yakabowski, Dauphin, MB; Virginia (Roy) Allen, Roblin, MB; eight grandchildren; Kevin Yakabowski (CherLynn Leblanc), Winnipeg, MB; Kerry (Waldemar) Wyszynski, Calgary, AB; Karen Koutroubis, Winnipeg, MB; Shannon (Rick) LeBlanc, Kelowna, BC; Kendra Yakabowski (Chris Frazer- Harrison), Calgary, AB; Ken (Annette) Allen, Roblin, MB; Jamie Allen, The Pas, MB and Kathleen Lauttamus (Michael Bilay), Brandon, MB and eight great-grandchildren; Madison & Kelsey Yakabowski, Winnipeg, MB; Johannah & Braden Mehling, Steinbach, MB; Daniel Wyszynski, Calgary, AB; Paige & Hayley Allen, Roblin, MB and Roxton LeBlanc, Kelowna, BC along with numberous nieces and nephews. Peter was predeceased by his son Ken (January 11, 2002), father Kost Sauchuk (September 4, 1949), mother Nellie Sauchuk (February 2, 1954), infant sister (September 2, 1906), brothers Nick (1910) and John (July 12, 1976), sisters Dora Wereschuk (September 5, 1991) and Mary Fitkowski (September 13, 2003). Funeral Service was held Saturday, March 27, 2010 at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Pastor Heath Butler officiating. Casket Bearers were Kevin Yakabowski, Ken Allen, Chris Frazer-Harrison, Nelson Daneluk, Gerald Kryworuchka, and Rodney Flunder. Interment was in the Garden of St. Luke, Yorkton Memorial Gardens. A memorial luncheon was held at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre.Memorial Gifts in memory of Peter may be made to the Roblin and District Community Foundation for Crocus Court Personal Care Home, Box 1599, Roblin, MB R0L 1P0.Baileys Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Service Information Saturday, March 27th, 2010 Interment Details Yorkton Memorial Gardens