Obituary for Harold Sastaunik
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Harold Frederick Sastaunik was born on the farm in Bateman, SK, on November 29, 1933, and passed on August 24, 2020. He attended Piche School there and after a series of moves, including to a farm near Grayson, Melville, and Vancouver, BC, he happily settled back in Melville; he was very proud to call Melville his home.
Dad took up his trade in the meat business, which he thoroughly enjoyed and supported his family of his wife and four boys. He started at Finkeldy’s Meat Market, IGA, and finally to OK Economy Stores, where he proudly spent most of his career as Meat Manager for 34.5 years. Dad was a people person and was known far and wide. He was well respected in the company by many, something he cherished.
Dad met our mother when she asked him to borrow his car for a driving test. It was a love story that never ended. He cherished her forever, devoting his time and love as he visited her daily in the nursing home after her stroke and the onset of dementia. Dad’s most important concerns were for his family, and he never failed to be there for each and every one of us. Even though he was very proud of his accomplishments, one of Dad's proudest moments was when he was recognized by the Canadian Blood Services for his 130th blood donation, one of the top donors in Saskatchewan. He spent 13 years volunteering with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as a host, meeting many new people who became friends. Dad was a “people person” and a “giver” who would help anyone, talk to anyone and easily made friends out of complete strangers. Dad’s love for life was infectious, and he made a point to live by that every day; he said that being positive was a choice to live by and is an essential practice that his four sons still live by today. Dad was a man of incredible common sense and could reason any situation to a happy conclusion. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church played a huge role in his and Mom’s lives, where he volunteered on church council and as a deacon. Dad’s faith in God kept him in good hands until he had to leave us.
Harold was predeceased by his parents, Philip and Mary (nee Printz) Sastaunik; mother- and father-in-law Jacob and Katherine (nee Keller) Erbach; in-laws Leon Ness, Val Sastaunik, Harold and Phyllis Erbach, Albert and Tillie Erbach, Donald Erback, Henry and Mary Rathgeber, Ernest and Janet Rehbein and Harvey Friesen; nieces Lori Sastaunik and Donna Ness; nephews Kim Sastaunik, Darcy Dietz, Darren Erback, Garnet and Brent Rehbein, Dennis Murphy and Chris Nicholson.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lydia Sastaunik; his children: Gary (Mona); Douglas (Lisa) and family Zachary (Olivia), Nicholas (Josea) and Thomas; Jeff (Christine) and family Brandon (Alandra) and Austin (Atyra); and Glenn (Marilyn); brothers Art, Lloyd (Billie) and Ken Sastaunik; sisters Pearl Ness and Doris Dietz (Carl); brother-in-law Gilbert Erback; sisters-in-law Violet Wiebe and Lyona Friesen; as well as many nieces, nephews, neighbours and friends.
We would like to thank his neighbours and friends, too numerous to mention, for the incredible help and care they have given our family. We would also like to thank Dr. Eshawesh, the staff at St. Peter’s Hospital and St. Paul Lutheran Home for their compassionate care.
Husband and father, mentor, teacher, a humble soul who enjoyed people, a team player who gave his all. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who was loved by his family and friends. Rest in peace, Dad, and know that we love you.
TO LEAVE A CONDOLENCE MESSAGE: click on the “Memory Wall” tab above
TO MAKE A MEMORIAL DONATION: scroll to the bottom of this page.
Harold Frederick Sastaunik was born on the farm in Bateman, SK, on November 29, 1933, and passed on August 24, 2020. He attended Piche School there and after a series of moves, including to a farm near Grayson, Melville, and Vancouver, BC, he happily settled back in Melville; he was very proud to call Melville his home.
Dad took up his trade in the meat business, which he thoroughly enjoyed and supported his family of his wife and four boys. He started at Finkeldy’s Meat Market, IGA, and finally to OK Economy Stores, where he proudly spent most of his career as Meat Manager for 34.5 years. Dad was a people person and was known far and wide. He was well respected in the company by many, something he cherished.
Dad met our mother when she asked him to borrow his car for a driving test. It was a love story that never ended. He cherished her forever, devoting his time and love as he visited her daily in the nursing home after her stroke and the onset of dementia. Dad’s most important concerns were for his family, and he never failed to be there for each and every one of us. Even though he was very proud of his accomplishments, one of Dad's proudest moments was when he was recognized by the Canadian Blood Services for his 130th blood donation, one of the top donors in Saskatchewan. He spent 13 years volunteering with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as a host, meeting many new people who became friends. Dad was a “people person” and a “giver” who would help anyone, talk to anyone and easily made friends out of complete strangers. Dad’s love for life was infectious, and he made a point to live by that every day; he said that being positive was a choice to live by and is an essential practice that his four sons still live by today. Dad was a man of incredible common sense and could reason any situation to a happy conclusion. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church played a huge role in his and Mom’s lives, where he volunteered on church council and as a deacon. Dad’s faith in God kept him in good hands until he had to leave us.
Harold was predeceased by his parents, Philip and Mary (nee Printz) Sastaunik; mother- and father-in-law Jacob and Katherine (nee Keller) Erbach; in-laws Leon Ness, Val Sastaunik, Harold and Phyllis Erbach, Albert and Tillie Erbach, Donald Erback, Henry and Mary Rathgeber, Ernest and Janet Rehbein and Harvey Friesen; nieces Lori Sastaunik and Donna Ness; nephews Kim Sastaunik, Darcy Dietz, Darren Erback, Garnet and Brent Rehbein, Dennis Murphy and Chris Nicholson.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lydia Sastaunik; his children: Gary (Mona); Douglas (Lisa) and family Zachary (Olivia), Nicholas (Josea) and Thomas; Jeff (Christine) and family Brandon (Alandra) and Austin (Atyra); and Glenn (Marilyn); brothers Art, Lloyd (Billie) and Ken Sastaunik; sisters Pearl Ness and Doris Dietz (Carl); brother-in-law Gilbert Erback; sisters-in-law Violet Wiebe and Lyona Friesen; as well as many nieces, nephews, neighbours and friends.
We would like to thank his neighbours and friends, too numerous to mention, for the incredible help and care they have given our family. We would also like to thank Dr. Eshawesh, the staff at St. Peter’s Hospital and St. Paul Lutheran Home for their compassionate care.
Husband and father, mentor, teacher, a humble soul who enjoyed people, a team player who gave his all. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who was loved by his family and friends. Rest in peace, Dad, and know that we love you.