Edward Stadnichuk

Dad was the fifth and youngest child born to John and Antonia (Pawluk) Stadnichuk on June 14, 1929, on a farm in the RM of Wolverine, north of Guernsey, SK. From an early age, dad displayed a strong work ethic, trapping gophers to take the tails to the RM for cash and other small animals to sell the fur.

Dad’s father was usually away working for other farmers and his mom cleaned and cooked for nearby farming families. He was grateful for his sister Cora who taught him to read and write before school age. He finished grade 8 at Duffville School, a one-room country school, and then worked for nearby farmers to help his family during very tough times.

When he was 17, he joined his friends, the Powell brothers, in Fort Frances, Ontario to work in lumber camps. Unfortunately, he broke his arm on the second day of work and ended up working as a cook’s assistant. The money he made in the bush camp allowed him to support his parents and buy the first tractor for the farm. After a couple of years of working in Ontario, he stayed and helped his dad farm.

Dad met the love of his life, Louise Samoleski, and they married on October 26, 1957. They lived on the farm with his parents until dad built a house for his new family. After three children and several years of bad harvest, dad decided to sell the farm and move into Guernsey where he opened Ted’s Hardware. The last two children were born in Guernsey.

Dad was a hard worker who was constantly pivoted to new jobs and businesses to support his family. While running the hardware store, he also drove school bus and he and mom worked as school janitors. After he closed the hardware store, he briefly sold Electrolux vacuums, then operated a coin machine business, which took him to many hotels where he serviced pool tables, juke boxes and shuffleboards. In 1977, he bought Meacham Hotel, which he and mom ran for three years. They returned to Guernsey and dad opened Sport Highlights in Lanigan. After a few years, dad had to resume ownership of the hotel until he sold it, after which he opened a health food store in Lanigan.

Dad was very active on Guernsey Village Council, including serving as mayor, and on the Recreation Board, where he played a key role in transforming the closed school into a community centre. He was awarded a Provincial Volunteer Award for his work.

His last important job was as mom’s caregiver after she had a debilitating stroke at age 62. A few years after mom’s stroke, they moved to St. Volodymyr’s Villa in Saskatoon where dad continued to live after mom’s death in 2016. He spent his last 18 months at Porteous Lodge where the staff called him “Papa Ted.”

Dad is predeceased by his wife Louise (Samoleski), his son Tony; his parents; his sisters Mary (Nazaruk), Cora (Bay) and Anne (Prebushewski); and his brother Peter.

He is survived by his children Bob (Linda Hueller), Cheryl, Joy (Cornel Friesen), Lorne (Sheri); his grandchildren Bill, Barbara, Tijash, Tyler, Brianne and Alexandra; great-grandchildren Mary and Riley, and great-great-granddaughter Jaylynn; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or to a charity of your choice.