William Barker Rees

1932 - 2021

REES, William (Bill) Barker. July 16, 1932 - November 9, 2021 . It is with great sadness that the family of Bill Barker Rees announce his passing at the age of 89. Bill passed away peacefully in Saskatoon on November 9, 2021. Bill grew up in various rural communities in Saskatchewan, and as a child remembered his mother feeding those who rode the rails during the Depression. He worked as a farm hand and then as a CPR telegraph operator. In the early 60s, he entered the Public Service of Canada. Retiring in the late 80s, he then returned full circle to the vocation of farmer. Bill is predeceased by his wife Myrita, his son Sean, and sister Mina. Left to remember Bill are his children from his first wife, Jean: William (Julie), Gerald (Stefanie), Jacqueline (Andre) and Molly(Rob); and step-children Carmen, Quinten and Yvonne. Bill is also survived by his brother Haven and sister Sheila. Bill leaves behind 8 grandchildren: Bryn, Haven, Liam, Sonia, Cali, David, Jack and Jeannie; and two great grandchildren, Yuri and Artem. Being mindful that life is a battle that will ultimately be lost, Bill always lived life to its fullest and always had a positive attitude. In retrospect, it was only the recent passing of his spouse Myrita that took the wind from his sails. Bill will be remembered by his family as a good father who always kept himself and those around him busy. He had many passions in his time but perhaps the biggest were aviation, hunting and farming. In his youth he was an avid curler and he played baseball and hockey. Although his Public Service job took him around the country, Bill's soul longed for and belonged to the prairie; he never strayed from Saskatchewan for long. Bill's family will be forever indebted to his many neighbours who faithfully and diligently dropped by to check up on him and assisted him with the various travails of country living. A celebration of Bill's life will be held in Stockholm, Saskatchewan on June 25, 2022 at 4pm (Communiplex Hall). Bill was not one for formality or stuffiness, and would be the first to apologize if the date chosen for his funeral interfered with a farmer's busy summer. Memorial donations may be made to Spruce Home Cemetery.