John Edward Witkowicz

John Witkowicz, of Viscount SK, passed away on Saturday, July 29, 2023 after a brief battle with cancer.

John was born on March 8, 1936 to Julian and Anna Witkowicz on the homestead in High Tor, Saskatchewan. His youth was spent on the farm learning how to hunt, fish, and trap while attending the Swampy Lake School.

After completing his school, John worked for various farmers in the Kelvington district. He would move on to work for Wilfred Leason in the logging camps in Hudson Bay during the winters. In the summers he found his real passion when he took a job at the Imperial Oil bulk plant in Kelvington working for Tommy Adams.

In 1962 while working at the Imperial Bulk Agency, John met a young lady who was employed by the Kelvington Co-op. Carol had received a tip from a Co-op colleague that a guy named John was interested in her. A first date occurred and on July 1, 1963 John and Carol married.

John and Carol started a new life together by moving to Viscount, SK in October of 1963 to take over the Viscount Imperial Bulk Agency. For the next 59 years they would live in Viscount, raising a family and operating a successful business. They were blessed with 4 children, Linda (1964), Lyle (1965), Diana (1970) and Michael (1973).

John felt strongly about family, the community, and the church. His family was most important to him and his spare time was often spent playing with his children, teaching them various life skills, or doing hobbies with Carol. He spent countless hours volunteering in the community including the volunteer fire department, serving on town council, calling bingo, raising funds for community projects, parade organization and many others. John was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus and he also spent time with different committees at the local church.

John and Carol retired from Esso in 1993 and started the next busy phase of their life running various businesses from a berry farm to a vending machine operation. They also did hobby farming, supplying businesses and consumers in Saskatoon with their vegetables for many years.

John lived a full life and was respected and loved by many. He was predeceased by his parents Julian and Anna, sisters Annie and Agnes. He is survived by Carol, his wife of 60 years, his children Linda, Lyle (Sheriza), Diana (Kent) and Michael (Kathleen). He is also survived by his 8 grandchildren Selena, Marissa, Michael, Will, Akasia, Robert, Anthony and Nicole.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Alphonse Cemetery Fund (103 Elgin Street Viscount, SK S0K 4M0) or the Canadian Cancer Society (55 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 500 Toronto, ON M4V 2Y7).

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2023 the St. Alphonse Catholic Church (103 Elgin Street in Viscount, SK). Rite of Committal to follow the service.

For those unable to attend please visit www.faithproductions.ca/livestream to view the service.

Arrangements entrusted to Travis Minor.