On December 22, 2023, William Markovich passed peacefully with his family at his side at the age of 89. He was Dad to few, Grandpa to some, Willie to many, and will be fondly remembered by all.
William lived and loved farming, successfully seeing through countless and bountiful prairie harvests. Meticulously maintaining his farm with great pride, he found happiness behind the wheel of a grain truck or a combine, and passed this appreciation for the land down through generations, on a homestead that was in his family for nearly a century.
He served at various levels of municipal government, including the R.M. of Hoodoo, the Board of Directors for the Wakaw Union Hospital, and the Lakeview Pioneer Lodge, selflessly offering his guidance and efforts for the betterment of his community.
William found beauty in simplicity. He enjoyed watching curling and baseball in a plaid shirt in his favorite chair. He loved watching wildlife pass through his yard, especially jumpers and hummingbirds, and looked forward to the annual return of his flock of geese every summer. Bats, moles, and muskrats, not so much. A man of routine, William always dedicated Sunday nights to Kaiser. When throwing the lead trump card, he declared, “These are the good guys.” He was a skilled opponent, a great teammate, showed calm confidence when he bid a 9-no hand, and made his bids almost every time. Every day of the week, though, visitors were welcomed warmly with an insistence that he and Jean “pull out the table” and “bring out some squares.” Later in his life, he befriended a cat, Mitchell (but maybe Mitsou), and tended to it with utmost affection. This meant even letting it inside the house, a rarity among farm felines. In the winter, he put a toque on it for trips to the quonset.
However, the luckiest recipient of his affection was his family, in which he took profound pride. He was strong and silent, but always caring. He faithfully watched his boys and grandsons play hockey and shared with them a passion for hunting, and instilled a remarkable work ethic and compassion for others in all of his girls. He deeply loved his children: Judy (Dwayne), Duane (Chris), Larry (Vikki), and Sherry (John). Six grandchildren (Crystal, Ashley, McCali, Courtney, Landon, and Hailey) and four great-grandchildren (Blake, Jordyn, Griffin, and Harper) were also lucky to be loved unconditionally. Their precious memories of Grandpa include tractor rides and tailgate meals in the field, snowmobile excursions through his yard, pest removal with the .22, his generous gifts at birthdays and Christmas, and his legendary hugs.
When Mom’s health declined, Dad took excellent care of her, leaving his beloved farm so his beloved Jeannie could find support at the Lakeview Pioneer Lodge. He visited and fed her every day, a testament to his dedication after 66 years of marriage.
As per Dad’s wishes, there will be no funeral. If you are so inclined to honor his memory, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society, Lakeview Pioneer Lodge in Wakaw, SK, or your local cat rescue.
Dad, you will always be in our thoughts and forever in our hearts. See you in the sunsets.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Marc Blondeau at Kushneryk Funeral service, Wakaw, SK at 1-306-233-4403.
