Obituary of Walter Schabel

Walter Schabel was born on June 27, 1932 in the Pastoral District of Beckenham, Saskatchewan, the oldest son of Alex and Mary (nee Sereda) Schabel. Walter received his early schooling at Bon Accord (Kitzul) and Calarain (West Bend) Schools. When the family moved to the Ituna area he continued his schooling at St. Anne's Orphanage, Ituna School and later St. Joseph's College in Yorkton. At the age of 19, Walter headed east to Sudbury, Ontario to work for a time in the nickel and oil industries but the prairie called him home. He headed first to Lucky Lake where he worked as a grain buyer then moved to Regina where he worked as a Corrections Officer at the Regina Jail. On October 5, 1957 he was united in marriage to Mary Sobchuk. They continued to reside in Regina where Walter worked as a Social Aid Worker with the City of Regina, and then with Social Services in the Welfare Department, for the Government of Saskatchewan. In 1970, ("by the luck of the draw" according to family legend), Walter and his family relocated and settled on the family farm north of Ituna. After trying his hand at farming for a few years, Walter accepted employment as a Manager with the Canada Farm Labour Pool in Yorkton. During this time he pursued and was appointed a Commissioner of Oaths and a Notary Public and provided personal accounting services in his "free time". This led Walter to realize his goal of being self employed by establishing Schabel's Agencies Inc., in 1979 Walter's community-mindedness began early in his life and prompted him to be a contributing member wherever he resided. He was active in the Ukrainian Catholic Youth organization in both Regina and Sudbury, holding executive positions. As a parishioner of St. Basil's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Regina, he served actively on the Executive Building Committee, as the Financial Secretary, and as President of the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood. He was very proud to be a Charter Member of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Budka Council #5914 of Regina, for over 50 years. He served on the Saskatchewan Arts Board for 4 years and, as a believer in cross-cultural understanding, was a member of the Regina Indian and Metis Society. He was President of the nd Regina East Liberals, 2 Vice president of the Catholic Family Service Society, and Campaign Chairman for St. Joseph's College for Regina City. Walter's deep love and respect for his Ukrainian roots permeated his life. He served as President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Regina Branch. During his tenure the executive was successful in having the Regina City Council support the declaration of Ukrainian Independence Day and fly the Ukrainian flag over City Hall. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Regina Ukrainian Co-op Association. He was active in the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Yorkton & District, the Ukrainian National Aid Association of America, and was, for 30 years, a Director of the Ukrainian Mutual Benefit Association of St. Nicholas of Canada for the Province of Saskatchewan. Walter felt education and contributing to one's community were very important. He was elected Reeve of the Municipality of Bon Accord #246 for 2 consecutive terms, served as a Trustee on the Ituna Local School Board for 10 years, and then as a Unit Trustee with Deer Park School Division for 4 years. He was the Liberal Candidate, in 1970, for the Touchwood Constituency. Throughout his contributing years Walter was involved in numerous organizations and committees: Vice president of the Ituna Chamber of Commerce, President of the Ituna Branch of the Parkland Community College, Board Member for the Ituna and District Library, Treasurer of the Ituna Recreational Co-operative Association (Arena), Member of the Advisory Committee for the extension and remodeling of the (old) Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Executive Member of the Ituna Lions Band, Secretary for the Ituna & District Regional Park, Member of the Ituna Recreation Center (Old Hospital) Committee and the Ituna Main Street Development Board. He was also a member of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and the General Insurance Council of Saskatchewan. He held an honourary life membership in the Saskatchewan Liberal Association. At the time of his passing, he was actively involved on the 2010 Ituna History Book Committee. Walter was a kind, humble, huge-hearted man who earned respect by extending it to others. His love of family was demonstrated in the pride he felt in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. He was a zealous reader especially of history, politics and "things Ukrainian". He was well versed in current events, always enjoying a lively conversation where he wasn't afraid to share his point of view…as was the case when playing "a friendly game" of cribbage. In his younger years he enjoyed curling, baseball, bowling, and fishing. Walter was predeceased by his parents, Alex and Mary, sister, Ann (in infancy), sister-in-law, MaryAnn Schabel and brothers-in- law, John and Harry Sobchuk. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 51 years, Mary, 3 children and 6 grandchildren; Alex and his sons, Jordan and Justin (Edmonton), Barb (Leonard) Kuschak and their children Lyrissa, Danielle, Landon and Dylan (Ituna), and Cathy Schabel (Gary) of Saskatoon. He is also survived by his two brothers, Ted (Regina), Matt (Lethbridge, Alberta), two sisters, Rose (Dr. Oswald) Graham, (Clovis, New Mexico), Cecile (Waldo) Wasson, (Hinton, Alberta), in-laws Steve and Dorothy Sobchuk and Anne Sobchuk, nieces and nephews Shelley, Brenda, Matthew (Karen), Michael (Joy) Schabel and Diana Krall, Steven and Sue Wasson, Maureen (Brian) Horbay, Jacquie (Ian) Lowe, Mark Schebel, Kim (Rob) Harkness and Marcia (Dylan) Harris and families. Service Information Thursday, November 13th, 2008 10:00am, Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church Interment Details Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery