WIEBE, John of Swift Current, formerly of Waldeck and Rush Lake, Saskatchewan districts passed away peacefully on July 29, 2011 at the Cypress Regional Hospital with his family by his side at the age of 82. John was born on March 6, 1929 in Beechy, Saskatchewan to Mary and Cornelius Wiebe, the second child and only boy. John grew up on a farm, telling of many stories where they walked to and from school uphill both ways and swimming in the creek on his way home from school without his mom catching him. John met and married Betty (Elizabeth) McCurrach on August 23, 1952. They made their first home in Regina where John was a manager in the produce department of Sherwood Coop, often bringing home fresh produce on a Saturday night that would spoil before the store re-opened Monday morning. After
leaving Regina in 1957 they moved to a dairy farm on his parents homestead five miles east of Swift Current where they lived in a one-bedroom home. It was here that their first son, Greg was born, followed by Doug and Jeff. The three boys had the bedroom while John and Betty slept on a hide-a-bed in the living room. It was when the three boys were still little that they moved to their own dairy farm west of Rush Lake. Here their family grew by the addition of their fourth son, Randy followed by their only daughter, Dianne. John was very proud of the dairy farm he built up, even being named as the "largest dairy producer in Saskatchewan". It was during those years that John flooded an ice surface, the kids began skating and their love of hockey and figure skating was born. In 1969 they sold the dairy farm and moved to a hay farm north of Waldeck. John then worked on becoming a successful hay farmer. Farming was imbedded in John and that stuck with him until his final days. Even when his health problems caused several trips to Regina over the last four months, he would comment on the amount of water sitting on the
fields or the number of hay bales that should have been taken in before the snow flew. He lived up to the saying "once a farmer, always a farmer". He loved the summer foods such as fresh berries and finding chokecherry bushes and especially watermelon and rollkuchen. He enjoyed gardening and loved Saskatoons including Saskatoon pockets. As the kids continued to grow, so did John's pride for their skills and supporting them in becoming the best they could be. This meant early morning practices, weekends away, driving in winter storms, and volunteering. John's love and pride of his family, including his kids and grandkids, was evident as he would often ask or comment about what one of them had accomplished or what they were doing next. He loved when the family, especially the grandkids and the great-grandkids came to visit, making sure there were candies so he could entice the little ones to his knee. John and Betty enjoyed travelling with special friends Don and Eunice Robertson as well as playing cards. They also welcomed the winters spent in the warmer climates south. Another passion of John's was swimming as well as singing in the choir. John will be greatly missed but forever held close by Betty, his wife of 59 years, children Greg & Lynn (Brittany, Matthew and Andrea); Doug & Emily (Evan & Kari, Janelle & Chad, Melissa & Ben and great grandson Jaxson); Jeff & Brenda (Carley & Mike - great grandchildren Kadyn & Callyn; Kailyn & Blair); Randy & Heather (Parker & Jenna); Dianne & Gord (Tyler); a sister Nettie Buist, sister Lil & Bob Tedrick, brother-in-law Jack and Dorothy Jansen and numerous nieces and nephews. John is predeceased by his parents, Cornelius and Mary Wiebe, sister Mary Jansen, brother-in-law Jim Buist, Betty's parents, Alex and Georgina McCurrach, brother & sister-in-Iaw
Don & Marg Kaufman and brother-in-law Alan Loveridge. The funeral service was held Monday, August 1st at East Side Church of God, Swift Current with Pastor Kevin Snyder officiating. The eulogists were his children, grandchildren and Brian Kaufman and the pallbearers were: Jim Robertson, Reg Jansen, Tim
Jansen, Brian Kaufman, Lionel Bonneville and Rob Wells. The ushers were Tim McKay and Dwayne Dekowny, and the song "How Great Thou Art" was sung by Sharon Veer. The interment was at the Hillcrest Cemetery with arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home. The family would like to express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Dr. DeKlerk and the many nurses and specialists who served John with compassion and caring during his several hospital stays over the last four months. Special thanks to Leanne & Maureen who were there for us during his last hours, not only ensuring that John was comfortable but that the family was comfortable as well. In his memory memorial donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or a charity or your choice. Warren's Funeral Home in care of arrangements. For further information please call 773-8831 or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to the family in our book of condolence.