Obituary for Peter Sawchuk
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Peter was an incredible man - kind, generous and compassionate. He was an amazingly wise husband, father and grandfather who filled our lives with love and was deeply loved in return. He inspired us to do our best in sports and in life. Peter brought fun and laughter with him wherever he went, and his sense of humour remained with him to the end. He will remain in our hearts forever.
Peter was also a gifted teacher. Known as Sawch to his many students, he encouraged them to reach for the top in all their endeavours.
Peter was born near Endeavour, SK, to George and Annie Sawchuk. He graduated from Canora Composite High School and enrolled in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. At an early age, Peter developed a love for all sports, especially baseball and track and field. In four consecutive provincial championships, he competed in the 100-, 220-, 440-yard sprints, as well as long jump and triple jump. He played his first Senior baseball game at age 13 and that led to many, many years of playing ball, mainly as a pitcher and player coach. He was well-known in the area as an ace no-hitter pitcher. In Grade 11, Peter was offered a baseball scholarship to Sequoia College in California but turned it down.
Peter began his teaching career in Kamsack, SK. After he and Anne married in 1958, they moved to Melville where he taught at Melville High School, then at the newly-built Melville Comprehensive School, where he helped plan and design the gym facilities and playing fields and developed the Physical Education program. His main focus was Phys. Ed., and he spent countless hours coaching basketball, football, badminton, golf, as well as most of the sports offered, bringing many championships to MCS. Peter ended his teaching career as Vice-Principal in 1992.
During his years at MCS, Peter served as president of three provincial Sports and Student Associations, receiving the Award of Merit from Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association. He was the Saskatchewan Delegate to British Commonwealth Conference on Health, Physical Education and Recreation, a member of Provincial Curriculum Committee on Health and Phys. Ed., a Coaching Master Instructor and held many other sports-related positions. Peter enjoyed volunteering for the community: charter member of Melville Lions Club and Melville Country Club; director of Chamber of Commerce, Melville Housing and City Parks and Recreation. At All Saints' Anglican Church, Peter served many years as Rector's Warden, Vestry Chairman and Communion Assistant. He was Melville Association of Christian Churches' representative for years, serving a term as non-clergy president.
Peter’s grandchildren brought him special joy. It was always a fun time with grandpa as they grew from babies to adults. Peter loved coffee times, sitting with Anne on the deck he built, watching his windsock, listening to birds, chatting with anyone going by. Many hours were spent hunting for morels and saskatoons, fishing, and hunting for treasure with a metal detector. He was a lifetime fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and enjoyed rehashing games with Brett. Peter was a self-taught musician and never found an instrument he couldn't play, alone or with friends. He enjoyed singing with Melville Community Men's Choir.
Peter encouraged his children to become walkers and joggers at a young age, with family runs outdoors and in the halls of MCS, running to the music of Boney M. For many years, he and Anne walked "for the mail" and often circled the town. There were family camping trips in Canada and the U.S., winter trips to Hawaii, and a Mediterranean Cruise with visits to Egypt, Turkey and Greece. Another memorable trip was one to Italy with all four adult children and granddaughter, Sabrina.
Peter was predeceased by his parents, George and Annie; sister Lil (and Mike) Popoff; brother Adam; Anne's parents, Rev. Peter and Rose Tokaruk; brothers-in-law Toby Tokaruk and Bill (and Gerty) Tokaruk; and nieces Lou Tokaruk, Charmaine Korchinski and Ashley Tokaruk. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Anne; children Brett, Rosanne (Shien), Sheryl (Marc) and Trevor; grandchildren Josh (Kristi), Jordan (Anna) and Sabrina (David); great-grandchildren Thea and Isla; brother Jerry (Maryann); sister Dianne Garbolinsky; brother-in-law Micheal Tokaruk; sisters-in-law Florence Erichsen and Mary Tokaruk; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
TO LEAVE A CONDOLENCE MESSAGE: click on the “Memory Wall” tab above
TO MAKE A MEMORIAL DONATION: scroll to the bottom of this page.
Peter was an incredible man - kind, generous and compassionate. He was an amazingly wise husband, father and grandfather who filled our lives with love and was deeply loved in return. He inspired us to do our best in sports and in life. Peter brought fun and laughter with him wherever he went, and his sense of humour remained with him to the end. He will remain in our hearts forever.
Peter was also a gifted teacher. Known as Sawch to his many students, he encouraged them to reach for the top in all their endeavours.
Peter was born near Endeavour, SK, to George and Annie Sawchuk. He graduated from Canora Composite High School and enrolled in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. At an early age, Peter developed a love for all sports, especially baseball and track and field. In four consecutive provincial championships, he competed in the 100-, 220-, 440-yard sprints, as well as long jump and triple jump. He played his first Senior baseball game at age 13 and that led to many, many years of playing ball, mainly as a pitcher and player coach. He was well-known in the area as an ace no-hitter pitcher. In Grade 11, Peter was offered a baseball scholarship to Sequoia College in California but turned it down.
Peter began his teaching career in Kamsack, SK. After he and Anne married in 1958, they moved to Melville where he taught at Melville High School, then at the newly-built Melville Comprehensive School, where he helped plan and design the gym facilities and playing fields and developed the Physical Education program. His main focus was Phys. Ed., and he spent countless hours coaching basketball, football, badminton, golf, as well as most of the sports offered, bringing many championships to MCS. Peter ended his teaching career as Vice-Principal in 1992.
During his years at MCS, Peter served as president of three provincial Sports and Student Associations, receiving the Award of Merit from Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association. He was the Saskatchewan Delegate to British Commonwealth Conference on Health, Physical Education and Recreation, a member of Provincial Curriculum Committee on Health and Phys. Ed., a Coaching Master Instructor and held many other sports-related positions. Peter enjoyed volunteering for the community: charter member of Melville Lions Club and Melville Country Club; director of Chamber of Commerce, Melville Housing and City Parks and Recreation. At All Saints' Anglican Church, Peter served many years as Rector's Warden, Vestry Chairman and Communion Assistant. He was Melville Association of Christian Churches' representative for years, serving a term as non-clergy president.
Peter’s grandchildren brought him special joy. It was always a fun time with grandpa as they grew from babies to adults. Peter loved coffee times, sitting with Anne on the deck he built, watching his windsock, listening to birds, chatting with anyone going by. Many hours were spent hunting for morels and saskatoons, fishing, and hunting for treasure with a metal detector. He was a lifetime fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and enjoyed rehashing games with Brett. Peter was a self-taught musician and never found an instrument he couldn't play, alone or with friends. He enjoyed singing with Melville Community Men's Choir.
Peter encouraged his children to become walkers and joggers at a young age, with family runs outdoors and in the halls of MCS, running to the music of Boney M. For many years, he and Anne walked "for the mail" and often circled the town. There were family camping trips in Canada and the U.S., winter trips to Hawaii, and a Mediterranean Cruise with visits to Egypt, Turkey and Greece. Another memorable trip was one to Italy with all four adult children and granddaughter, Sabrina.
Peter was predeceased by his parents, George and Annie; sister Lil (and Mike) Popoff; brother Adam; Anne's parents, Rev. Peter and Rose Tokaruk; brothers-in-law Toby Tokaruk and Bill (and Gerty) Tokaruk; and nieces Lou Tokaruk, Charmaine Korchinski and Ashley Tokaruk. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Anne; children Brett, Rosanne (Shien), Sheryl (Marc) and Trevor; grandchildren Josh (Kristi), Jordan (Anna) and Sabrina (David); great-grandchildren Thea and Isla; brother Jerry (Maryann); sister Dianne Garbolinsky; brother-in-law Micheal Tokaruk; sisters-in-law Florence Erichsen and Mary Tokaruk; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.