Celebrating the Life of Joe Hunchak
Joe was born April 13th, 1929 and passed away Jan. 3rd, 2024 at the age of 94 years. Joe was the youngest of 13 children, born to Theodore and Kathrina (Melnychuk) Hunchak, from the Brombury area. He attended Winthorpe school.
Joe had fond memories of helping his dad on the farm, and walking the mile to church with his mother. After completing his formal education he spent the summers farming and the winters in the Toronto - Brampton areas working in the machine shops at the Cockshutt and Massey Harris plants. The family relocated from Brombury to the Foam Lake -Tuffnell area in 1949, and Dad began farming his own land in 1951.
Joe met Nellie Axford at a dance at the Mount Hecla Hall. They were married October 14th, 1955, and were blessed with 5 children, eventually 9 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren (to date).
Joe loved his mixed farm, and although he hunted, he respected and enjoyed the wildlife that inhabited his land ( with the exception of beavers!). Having an abundant garden was important to Dad, especially his potatoes, corn and sunflower seeds. Joe was a caring person that never came home from town without a Coffee Crisp bar, or a package of chips for Mom and the kids. Later on in life it was a scratch ticket. Dad tried to give his kids the best, but the best gifts he instilled in us were the importance of honesty, integrity, and having a good work ethic. Dad played the violin from the age of 13, and in his younger days enjoyed playing at dances and house parties. He also enjoyed listening to Tommy Hunter and Don Messer. Dad liked playing cards and watching boxing, and often spoke of going to the fights when he was in Toronto.
Through the years Dad supplemented his income working on various projects around the area, from grain elevators, to the hospital, and the Royal Bank. Dad also had a stint working at Lilydale in Wynyard. Farming until 3 pm and working the cleanup shift from 4 pm to 11:30 pm at Lilydale, coming home and starting the same routine the next day was normal. Dad also volunteered his time to local projects such as the Tuffnell Community Hall and the Tuffnell Curling Rink, when time allowed, and he always enjoyed the comaraderie of all that were there.
Joe enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Teasing them and taking them for ice-cream whenever he had the opportunity was important to Dad. He especially liked being at the Yorkton Exhibition with them, mostly because he enjoyed having family around him.
In 2012 Joe and Nellie moved (reluctantly!) from the farm into town due to dad’s knee surgery and mom's heart surgery. This move was “for the winter only!” 11 years later they were still enjoying life at Tiger Lily Lodge. Coming out to the farm on an almost daily basis to feed their beloved "Lady" (their dog), their cat Tinker, and do what needed to be done was standard. In spite of being diagnosed with prostate cancer in May of 2021, and having a knee replacement in April of 2023, Dad continued to farm with his son Dave. He did what he could. Dad enjoyed welding, tinkering, improvising, and adjusting. After getting his first "auto darkening welding helmet" at 90 years old, he commented by saying “I’m welding like I'm 70!" Dad hauled his last load of grain September 2, 2023.
Dad was a proud Organic Oat Grower!
Due to a bad skin reaction to chemicals in his younger days, he embraced the organic method of farming, enjoyed talking about it and dealing with the organic community.
Joe was predeceased by his: parents Theodore and Kathrina; brothers George, Alex, and William whom all died in infancy, and George, John, Steve, Peter and Nick; sisters Dora, Rose, Anne, and Mary.
Joe leaves to mourn and celebrate his life his: loving wife of 68 years, Nellie; five children daughter Jennie (Bob) Reynolds and their children Kyndall (Amanda) great-granddaughter Maevry Reynolds, and Crystal (Kyle) Springinatic great-granchildren Alison and Blake Springinatic: son David (Lois) daughter Jessica; daughter Carla (Terry) Kolodziejski; son Sheldon (Sandra) and their children Justine (Nathan) Cherwaty, Sean, and Jaclynn; daughter Candace (Russel) Peesker, Stephanie Peesker, Samantha (Samuel) Golas and great-grandchildren Joseph and Andrew Golas, and Devin Peesker
Celebration of Life
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Foam Lake - Leslie United Church
Foam Lake, SK
S0A 1A0
Those wishing to send
cards of sympathy & caring
may send them to:
The Hunchak Family
P.O. Box 205
Foam Lake, SK
S0A 1A0
Donations in memory of
Joe Hunchak
may be made to:
Allan Blair Cancer Society
4101 Dewdney Ave
Regina, SK
S4T 7T1
