George Demyen

George Demyen Jr., Kipling, SK, passed away January 19, 2012 at Regina General Hospital with his family by his side. George was born April 12, 1922 at Lestock, SK to Mary and George Demyen Sr. Raised at Handsworth and Corning Districts, he farmed near Corning until 1960 before moving to Kipling. George became a school bus driver and later a pipeline construction worker until his retirement in 1992. In 1942 he fell in love with the love of his life, Ethel Daku of Kipling. In 1943 George joined the Canadian Army training in Vernon and Comox, BC, regimental #L154408 and was attached to the American Army in August of 1943 when he went to deal with the Japanese invaders on Aleutian Islands of Alaska. In January 1944 in Scotland he became a member of the Calgary Highlanders, 2nd Division and as such he landed on the beach of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. He fought in France until August 13, 1944 when he was wounded and evacuated to a hospital in England for six months to recuperate. In 1945 George returned to Corning and began farming. On August 13, 1947 he became engaged to Ethel Daku and they were married on November 6, 1947. Later they moved onto their farm near Corning and while farming, they welcomed their two sons, Gerald George in 1949 and David James in 1951. The young family moved to Kipling in July 1960 where transporting students to school became George’s profession. In 1965 he started in the pipeline construction business and became full time in 1970. Pipeline construction took George and Ethel everywhere from Medicine Hat, AB to North Bay, ON and countless locations between over the next 23 years where they met and made life-long friends. George enjoyed all sports. In his early years he was a very good baseball pitcher and horseshoe pitcher. He loved to play cards, checkers and visit with everyone. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his boys. He did a lot of traveling, farming, gardening and just lending a hand. George loved his community and family. He was especially proud of his 67-year membership in the Royal Canadian Legion as well as being a lifetime member of Bekevar Presbyterian Church. He worked and volunteered countless hours to both. George was predeceased by his parents, George and Mary Demyen and brothers Joe and Nick, his in-laws Ben and Barbara Daku, Barbara (Kimery), Mary (Stevenson) and Joe Daku. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Ethel (Daku), his sons Gerald and Wendie (Hamilton), Dawson Creek, BC, David and Diane (Hensrud), Calgary, AB, grandchildren Lincoln and Stacey; Chad (Maureen) and Nathan and great granddaughters Porscha and Ashley, sisters Helen, Alice and Joyce, many brothers and sisters-in-law and their families, many nieces and nephews and their families as well as a wide array of good friends. The funeral service will be held in the Kipling Community Centre, Kipling, Sk., on Monday, January 23, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Interment in the Bekevar Cemetery. Donations in memory of George may be made to the Kipling and District Health Foundation, Box 989, Kipling, SK., S0G 2S0 or to a charity of choice. Arrangements in care of Tubman Funeral Home, Kipling, SK.