John Felix Warick

1925 - 2011

John passed away peacefully at age 85, April 22, 2011. John Warick was born Oct. 22, 1925 at Dana, Saskatchewan. His parents Stephan and Mary Warick emigrated from Poland in the early 1900’s. John took his schooling at Dana and then took over the family farm. He married Marie Dust of Bruno on Oct. 24, 1945. Initially they lived with John's parents on the original homestead, which has remained in the Warick family for more than a hundred years. For one winter John and Marie moved their young family (Jerome & Randy) to Egg Lake, a logging camp near Flin Flon, Manitoba. They were joined by Louie and Doreen Dust and their children Gloria and Cecil. Upon their return they resumed the operation of their mixed farm until they retired in Bruno. At that time Jerome and Marie, who had been farming with them for a number of years, continued to operate the farm.

John and Marie raised five children, Jerome (Marie LeBlanc) of Dana, Randy (Judy Hickie) of Saskatoon, Elaine (Jim O’Neill) of Edmonton, Dale (Bernadette Fritz) of Edmonton and Connie (Melvin Wandzura) of Saskatoon. They had eleven grand-children and eight great grand-children.

Besides his life as a progressive farmer, John was an active community member. He served as a trustee for Wakaw School Division for 35 years, many as board chair. He was always proud of the positive relationship between teachers and the Board during his tenure. John was also a hail insurance agent and adjuster, a job he continued to do past his 80th birthday. Another job that John worked at for a number of years wasa PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act) Inspector.

The local church was a big part of John and Marie’s life. As well as being a long time member of the Board and a member of the church building committee, he and Marie were leaders of the choir for many years at St. Maurus Parish in Dana. John and Marie worked tirelessly to support the church through such activities as Christmas caroling, local sports days and bazaars.

John and Marie loved to dance. They were longtime members of the local dance club in Bruno and their polka two-step was a joy to behold. Some time after their retirement in Bruno, Marie, his wife of 52 years passed away.

After a number of years on his own, John was blessed to have met a wonderful and caring woman, Elfreida Ritter of Saskatoon. They were married in 1998 and enjoyed over 12 wonderful years together. Elfrieda taught John a love of gardening. Together they enjoyed dancing, bird watching, traveling, playing cards, the occasional trip to a casino and most of all visiting family and friends. Our family was enhanced by the addition of Elfreida’s children; Gustav Engelhardt (Ursule), Ingrid (Gene Kamineski), Doreen (Tim Foy), Leslie (Dwight Adams) as well as her five grand-children and two great grand-children.

Though he had cancer for these last numbers of years, John embraced life to the fullest. He never lost his sense of humour or his love of visiting. Due to health problems he and Elfreida spent their last months at the Saskatoon Convalescent Home where they received excellent care. Sadly, Elfreida passed away in the early morning on the same day as John.

John is also survived by his sisters Micheline Chilliak and Pauline Galgan, sisters and brothers-in law Emily Warick, Joe Dust (Liz), Doreen Dust, Rita Dust, Noreen Dust and Rosella Zimmer.

John was predeceased by his brother Mike and his wife Rosie; his brother Joe; his sister Helen; his brother Felix and his wife Lena; his brothers-in-law Tony and Mike; Marie’s brother Louie; her brother Aloysius; her sister Irene; her brother Norbert; her brother Lenny and his wife Margaret and her sister-in-law Ann.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Better Living Care Home, the staff of the Saskatoon Convalescent Home, Home Care and Palliative Care staff.

Donations in John’s memory can be made to St. Maurus Cemetery (Dana) or Saskatoon Convalescent Home Foundation.

A Vigil of Prayer for John will be held Friday, April 29, at 7:30 pm at Acadia McKague’s Funeral Centre, 915 Acadia Drive, Saskatoon. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 am at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, 602 Boychuk Drive, Saskatoon. Interment will follow at 3:00 pm at St. Maurus Cemetery, Dana. Condolences may be extended to the family by linking to acadiamckaguesfuneralcentre.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to David Grambo of Acadia - McKague’s Funeral Centre (955-1600).