With grieving hearts yet full of gratitude for a life well lived, the family of the late Adolph Kowalchuk announce his peaceful passing at the Canora Gateway Lodge on March 5, 2026, at the age of 97 years.Adolph was born on September 2, 1928, at home in the Tiny District to Julian and Karoline (Sliwa) Kowalchuk. He was the fifth of fifteen children and attended Tiny school, along with his siblings, until grade 8. Later in life, he attained his GED.When he was young, Adolph worked on the family farm near Tiny, SK, then ventured to Winnipeg, MB and Fort Francis, ON, before returning home to continue farming. After he returned, Adolph asked Julie to introduce him to her co-worker, Esther Leis, who worked at the Canora Hospital.Soon, Adolph and Esther were inseparable. They married in Canora, SK, on August 13, 1955.They spent their first year with Adolph’s parents and then moved to their own home and lived in a two-room log house. As time passed, their family grew to include nine children. They moved into larger homes on the farm as the family grew and then downsized when they moved to Canora in 2010. The family continues to grow today and now includes 26 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren.Together, Adolph and Esther operated a mixed farm. Later, while continuing to farm, Adolph was employed at a turkey farm and then as a service rep with the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Farm Service Centre. He formed many long-term relationships with his coworkers and business associates. In 1993, at the age of 65 years, he retired from SWP but continued daily trips into town to meet with coworkers and friends for coffee or drinks.During retirement, Adolph and Esther were able to travel and visit family in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, California, and Mississippi.In his spare time, Adolph loved to read - especially autobiographies and the daily Leader Post. He listened to the news faithfully each day as he believed being up to date on current world events was important.Additionally, he was often found out fishing at the borrow pit on the farm with his children, grandchildren, and friends. Playing Rummy with family and friends was also a favourite past time! In his later years, he enjoyed riding his scooter downtown to get the mail and go for coffee. The family was often seen accompanying Adolph and Esther on their scooters - walking or with their bikes. These trips usually included being treated at the ice cream store.Adolph made a connection and a lasting impression on everyone he met, always leaving them with a story to tell. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.He was predeceased by his parents, Julian and Karoline, his daughter, Barbara, in infancy; his son-in-law, Doug Nordin; daughter-in-law, Dianne; sisters: Magdalen Bugera, Gertrude Becenko, and Josephine Lampel; and brothers, Stanley, Emil, August, and Lawrence.Adolph will be missed by his wife of 70 years, Esther; his daughters, Lynda (Bryan Hermanson), Sandra Nordin, Donelda Korponay, and Jacqueline Dewitz; his sons, Warren, Thomas (Bev Yaschuk), Robert, Kenneth (Barbara), and Grant (Jennifer); his daughter-in-law, Michelle Kowalchuk; and his 26 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Isabelle Nichol and Julia Mazur and brothers, Edmund, Bernard, Anton, Arthur, and Chester; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and many friends.A Private Funeral Service was held at the Chapel of Leson’s Funeral Home, Canora, SK, with Rev. Fr. Thomas Mutavanattu officiating. Rite of Committal will follow in the Canora Cemetery, Canora, SK at a later date. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Canora Gateway Lodge Auxiliary or to a Charity of Donor’s Choice, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Adolph Kowalchuk.
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