Leonard Lorne Stewart 84, of Tompkins, Saskatchewan passed away April 18, 2014 at the Gull Lake Special Care Home.
Leonard is survived by his five children; Stan (Roxanne) Stewart and their children Tristan (Courtney) and Darnel; Cindy (Ryan) McGregor and their children Dylan (Stacy), Brittany (Tyson) Migneault; Darren Stewart and his children Cody, Jennica (Eli) and Alycia; Bonnie Jones and her children Joey (Diana), Brendan, Kayli and Lacey; Robert (Leslie) Stewart and their children Dayton and Jayde; five great grandchildren Nashton and Jaxon Stewart, Zaffrina Broderick, Gavin McGregor and Isabel Migneault; her sister Grace Winquist and several nieces and nephews.
Leonard was born on March 21, 1930 in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan to Preston and Rose Stewart. Leonard was the youngest in a family of two boys and two girls. He grew up in the Garden Head district and attended school at Stonepile. In 1947 Leonard and his parents went to Sardis and Abbotsford, BC cutting cedar logs and working in the hop yards. In 1949 he moved to Lethbridge, AB where he ran a caterpillar building the St. Mary’s Dam. He also drove a gravel truck for a company which took him all over southern Alberta and was sent to Saskatoon to help build the airport until his father’s passing in 1952. Leonard then started working for the R.M of Carmichael and built many roads operating a D 9 caterpillar for ten years. On June 10, 1955 Leonard married Isabel Wedrick and moved to Tompkins in 1956. In 1962 Leonard became partners in the Tompkins Cattle Co. and started a lumber yard. Many grain bins were built at the lumber yard giving employment to many local guys including Leonard’s boys Stan and Darren. Leonard did lots of walking and crawling over corrals checking cattle everyday which kept him in good shape. When the lumber yard burnt down in 1974 Leonard and Isabel decided to buy out the partners and run the feedlot themselves. In 1980 Leonard started farming as well and then shut down the feedlot in 1992. He continued to farm until his retirement in 2006. Leonard helped build the Tompkins Skating Rink. He coached minor ball and hockey for several years and enjoyed curling and watching the Tompkins Tigers hockey team. Leonard was a charter member of the Tompkins Lions Club and volunteered at many events. He didn’t take much time for himself as work always came first. Isabel and Leonard managed to travel with good friends Bob and Dolly Schermerhorn a few times which put a twinkle in his eye. He liked to keep up on the news and enjoyed following politics on the political show “Power Play”. Leonard had a faithful friend his dog “Lady” which went everywhere with him. Leonard became a resident of the Special Care Home in Gull Lake in September of 2013. The family is most grateful for his excellent and compassionate care while a resident.
Leonard was predeceased by his wife Isabel in 2010, a sister Laura Thienes in 1991 and a brother Roy Stewart in 1986.
Funeral Service were held in Tompkins on Friday, April 25, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. with Funeral Celebrant Rick Schneider officiating. Interment took place at Tompkins Cemetery. In Leonard’s memory donations may be made to the Tompkins Skating Rink or The Tompkins Fire Department in care of Binkley’s Funeral Service at 297-2412 or toll free at 1-877-BINKLEY.Binkley’s Funeral Service of Shaunavon (www.Binkleys.com) was in care of arrangements.