Walter Wasylow

Walter Julian Wasylow August 13, 1922 August 13, 2011 With great sorrow we announce the passing of Walter Julian Wasylow on August 13, 2011, at the age of 89. He is lovingly remembered by Helen, his wife of 62 years, children Jerome (Angela) and Marion (Dr. Kailash Prasad); grandchildren Andrea (Jean-Pierre Ducasse), Simon (Julie) Wasylow, Philip (Erin) Wasylow, Rajani and Sunita Prasad. Also left with treasured memories are great grandchildren Oleksa Wasylow, Michael-Gerard, Tristan and Gabriel Ducasse, Hannah Smith, Joseph and Allyson Wasylow, and Alton and Sophie Wasylow. He is survived by his sister Rose Shawchuk, sisters-in-law Phyllis Gutiw, Mary (Ron) Guran, Olga (Dennis) Maguire, numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Pearl (Mantyka), brother Michael, sister Natalie, brothers-in-law John Shawchuk, Metro Gutiw, John Gutiw and Steve Pobran, sisters-inlaw Anne Pobran, Stella Gutiw, nephews Vern and Craig Pobran, and nephew Terry Gutiw. The family extends its sincere thanks to the staff of the Parkridge Centre in Saskatoon for their great kindness and care. Walter was born and raised in Saskatoon, and spent his early years helping in his father's store, Joe's Grocery and Dry Goods on 20th Street. After graduating from Normal School at the age of 19, he taught in the northern community of Molanosa and helped organize its first Post Office. He then volunteered for the Canadian Navy and served as a telegrapher aboard HMCS Joliette during World War II. After the war, Walter returned to teaching and, after serving at a number of rural schools in Saskatchewan, he joined the Federal Department of Indian Affairs in 1953 and spent 16 years there as teacher, principal, guidance counsellor and finally as district superintendent of the Battleford and Meadow Lake regions. In this time, he attained Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor and Master of Education degrees from the University of Saskatchewan. He was a founder of the Saskatchewan Indian Teachers Federation and organized numerous Indian Cultural Heritage programs. He returned to provincial teaching in 1969, serving as principal of Marcelin and Hafford Schools and then in various assignments at Cairns School in North Battleford until his retirement in 1983. In retirement, Walter travelled extensively with Helen and enjoyed his grand children and great-grand children. The great loves of Walter's life were his wife, Helen, and his family. There was nothing he would not do for her and for them. Although by profession, a teacher, at heart he was a carpenter and handyman, relishing any time when sweat dripped into sawdust. He also loved music, especially the big bands and crooners of the thirties and forties, and was still favouring family audiences with selections on his harmonica only a couple of days before his passing. He was an avid reader and writer, particularly enjoying researching and detailing family histories. He was a man of faith and principle, an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, serving several years in executive positions on parish councils, a Fourth Degree member of Knights of Columbus and a past grand knight. Walter approached all life's tasks with tireless determination and was an irrepressible optimist, maintaining his good spirit to the end. He will most definitely be missed. Prayers for Walter will be held on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy will take place Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Both services will be held at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church (10th Street East and Munroe Avenue, Saskatoon), officiated by Rev. Fr. Dmytro Dnistrian, CSsR. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 279 Third Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 2H8. To send online condolences to the family, visit www.parkfuneral.ca . Arrangements entrusted to Greg Lalach, PARK FUNERAL CHAPEL, 306.244.2103 .