In Loving Memory of Steve Kekish

Steve Kekish passed away peacefully on May 15, 2024 at Golden Acres in Wynyard, Saskatchewan. He was 97.

Steve was born on the family farm near Wishart, Saskatchewan to Peter and Queenie Kekish on February 3, 1927. He attended Honey Bank School and helped on the farm in his youth. In 1946, he enrolled at Musker Engineering Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he earned diplomas in Senior Automobile Mechanics and Arc/Acetylene Welding. While there, he remembers riding the street cars to the Eaton’s downtown and visiting his mother, who was at St. Boniface Hospital for a surgery. He also helped now and then on his cousin’s nearby dairy farm. Having completed his trades programs, Steve returned home to help his dad on the farm. After Peter's passing in 1947, Steve kept things running with his mother and his sister, Joyce.

Steve and Teresa Lewandowski fell in love and were married on September 3, 1956. They raised their three children, Gloria, Carol, and Allen, on the same farm where Steve was born and where their grandchildren would spend many happy holidays and summer vacation sleepovers in years to come. Steve and Teresa proudly received a century farm award for maintaining the farm his parents established in 1911. They lived on the farm in the original family home until the summer of 2022 when they decided to move into an apartment in Wynyard. They were married for 67 years. They weathered life’s ups and downs, and through it all they clearly loved each other deeply.

Steve was active in the community. He served on the Municipal Council for Division 6, Emerald #277 in 1956 and 1961. In addition to farming, Steve drove a school bus from 1965 to 1976 for Shamrock School Unit No. 38. Over the years, Steve also served on the Wynyard Union Hospital Board and the agricultural Committee in Wynyard representing the R.M. of Emerald #277, as well as serving with Teresa on various boards and committees in the community and their church. He and Teresa were faithful members of St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic church, where they loved singing with the church choir. His faith was important to him and in his last years, Steve could often be found quietly praying the rosary. 

Steve enjoyed playing a tune on the guitar or violin as a young man. He and Teresa loved playing cards with family and friends, hosting family gatherings, and going to weddings, dances, and Ukrainian dance concerts in town. They also found some time for travelling together, including a trip to California and, later in life, visits to see Allen and his family in New York and Texas. They also enjoyed fishing trips closer to home with the little boat they owned for a few years.

After he retired from farming, Steve kept busy with projects around the farm and garden, peeling potatoes, or cooking his family-famous chicken and rice. He relaxed with his word search puzzles and was often found “resting his eyes” in his recliner. He enjoyed playing canasta and three-spot and could handily win a round, even if he claimed he had a hard time seeing the numbers on the cards. 

Steve had a generous nature and a sharp sense of humour, as well as a profoundly compassionate disposition. He was full of joy whenever children were around. If there was a baby nearby, you could be sure to find Steve engaged in delighted chatter with them or asleep in his chair with the baby sleeping just as soundly in the crook of his arm. He was a kind and gentle man, who easily charmed and endeared himself to everyone he met. More than anything he loved his family.

Steveis survived by his devoted wife Teresa and his large adoring family including his three children and their spouses, ten grandchildren and their partners and spouses, and 15 great-grandchildren. His love has also extended to numerous nieces, nephews, 13 god-children, and countless “adopted” family members whom he and Teresa have embraced with open arms over the years.

The family wishes to extend our gratitude to the staff at St. Joseph’s Integrated Care Centre and Golden Acres for the care they provided Steve in his final months, and to all who reach out with condolences and fond remembrances.

We are grateful to have had so many happy years together.



 

A service will be

held at a later date

 

Those wishing to send cards of caring & sympathy may send them to

The Kekish Family

P.O. Box 744

Wynyard, SK S0A 4T0

 

Donations in memory of Steve may be made to

a charity of one’s choice