We are eternally grateful to you, our dear Dad, Dido and Great-Dido for your loving kindness, caring guidance and sense of humor.聽 The Lord called you to come to His house on December 5 and you willingly accepted. Alexander (Alex) Tkachuk was born on February 25, 1925 to Wasyl and Nettie (Pelech) Tkachuk on the family farm, near Wroxton, SK. From 1931-1940 he attended Brandon School which was located three miles NE of his family's farm. In 1935, Alex was struck with osteomyelitis in his left leg. At the age of 10, he lost mobility in his left ankle. Despite this adversity, Alex enjoyed skiing down Salon's Hill on his homemade skis, riding his bicycle to go swimming in the river, playing baseball, hunting, fishing and farming alongside his Father, Mother and five Sisters until his Father's passing in 1945. Devoted to his family and the family farm, Alex lovingly accepted the responsibility to nurture the family and farm. Alex's humble life became complete when he met his beloved wife at a Barn Dance in St. Phillips in 1954. On October 22, 1955, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kamsack, Alex married the love of his life, Anne Bobyk. Together, they shared a life of hard work building their farm and family with a spirit of joy and gratitude. Saddened by Anne's sudden passing in September 2013, Alex moved off the farm, in November, to the Bentley in Yorkton and in March 2015 to Loewen's Care Home in Prince Albert where he remained until falling asleep in the hands of the Lord and reuniting with his beloved. Alex was a man of the land and took great pride in his work ensuring that everything was very well cared for from seeding and harvesting to producing quality feed and shelter to keep his livestock healthy. Amidst the work, Alex always made time for family and friends for a game of cards, cribbage, checkers or a story and beverage at the kitchen table. He enjoyed curling in Wroxton, dances, sports days and whist drives at Brandon Community Centre. The farm was a great gathering place for many. He particularly enjoyed family gatherings during the holidays. Many late nights pursued, around the dining room table, playing his favourite card games, Hola and Horse Races. So much joy and laughter was experienced by all. Alex had a gift to relate to all ages, from his grown children and their extended families to his granddaughters and great-grandson. Despite his struggle in his last week of life, he lovingly admired his newborn great-granddaughter. Throughout Alex's life, he maintained his Orthodox Faith. He was a member and served on the Executive of the St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church near Stornoway. Recognizing that he was Blessed with a long life, he would often say that anything over 75 years of age was "gravy". In his 90 years of life, he experienced significant world changes from horse and buggy to smart phones and embraced it all. He instilled in his children the Golden Rule, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and the virtue of "do you need or do you want". He truly had a love of life and took the good times and bad times with grace, prayer and trust in God. Alex was predeceased by his Wife, Anne; Father, Wasyl Tkachuk and Mother, Nettie (Pelech) Wintonyk; Infant Brother, John; four Sisters and Brothers-in-law: Mary (Dan Kastalanych) (Pete Oucharek); Anne (Harry Brigidear); Katie (Fred Matechuk); Irene (Russ Weir); Lawrence Paskaruk; Father-in-law and Mother-in-law John and Jennie (Kushner) Bobyk; Brother-in-law, Mike Bobyk; Sister-in-law Ann (Leonard Forman) Bobyk. Alex will be welcomed at the gates of Heaven by many neighbours, friends, and relatives that have gone before him. He leaves to grieve, his loving four children, Joanne Frederick; Ken (Theresa) Tkachuk; Karen (Dean) Craig and Cynthia (Dale) Leschyshyn; seven granddaughters, Sabrina Frederick, Laurinda (Chris) Jeffery and Chelsey Tkachuk, Kelsey (Steve Hankewich) and Kaitlin Craig, Courtney and Brooklyn Leschyshyn; Great-Grandson Knox Frederick-Regnier and Great-Granddaughter Lainey Anne Jeffery; Sister Olga Paskaruk; Brother-in-law Eugene (Candice) Bobyk and many relatives and friends. Dad, the twinkle of your beautiful blue eyes will be missed very much and your sense of humour and grace will be carried in our hearts forever. 
聽The Prayer Service was held on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK and Funeral Services were held on Thursday, December 10, 2015 from Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yorkton, SK. The Very Reverend Father Mel Slashinsky officiated both services and the cantors were Zennovia Duch and members of the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church Choir. The Interment Service followed in Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church Cemetery near Stornoway, SK with Orest Ourcharek, David Matechuk, Tony Oucharek, Roy Prysliak, Raymond Prysliak and Garry Tetoff serving as the casket bearers. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
