John Krutz

John Krutz of the Canora Gateway Lodge, formerly of the Endeavour district passed away on Monday, November 12, 2018. He was ninety four years of age.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Preeceville Funeral Home.

Interment will follow in the Preeceville Community Cemetery.

Memorials in memory of John may be made to the charity of one's choice as gifts of remembrance.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

John Krutz was born to Nick and Michelina (Lozinsky) Krutz on April 17, 1924 at their farm west of Endeavour. John was the third of five children.

     John attended Midland school and then went to work, working for different farmers in the summer and in bush camps in winter. He started farming full-time with his brothers, then doing some logging and sawing lumber in the winter.

     John loved nature and enjoyed many activities there, hunting, fishing, berry and mushroom picking. He said his best time was fishing at Lake of the Prairies after he retired and moved to town. He liked going for coffee. He said he would go for mail every day just for exercise and if you met someone they’d go for coffee. Even after he went to the care home and used the walker he continued to “go for mail,” just so he wouldn’t forget how to walk and where to go. John enjoyed playing cards. Friday nights in the winter would often find him at a whist drive. He remembered who had played what card and what every player’s invite was. John didn’t really enjoy playing with those who weren’t as observant or serious about the game as himself!

     John had stacks of “Sports Illustrated” and knew who played for what team, their batting average and follow them right through to the World Series. He bought a transistor radio as soon as they came out, taking it to the field with him in threshing time so he could listen to the World Series. He volunteered with the Endeavour Fastball league as long as it was active.

     John really enjoyed Auction Sales. He and brother Mike would go all around the countryside to see what they could find, visit with people and have coffee and a burger. John never could leave anything behind. If he bought several boxes at once he would take it all - “you never know when it could come in handy!” Even after he moved to town it was something he enjoyed. John had a truck and drove for a few years but his eyes bothered him so he got rid of it. He sold his TV because his eyesight was going, so his radio gave him great pleasure. He always listened to the Saturday Night Get-together on CJGX. Sunday found him listening to all the church broadcasts. The Lutheran Hour was his favourite and if anyone asked for his church affiliation he’d say Lutheran, “because they’re right on.” He was raised in the Orthodox faith and enjoyed all their special services on the radio for Easter and Christmas, especially the carols. He often talked about going carolling on Christmas Eve (Jan. 6) driving all over the neighbourhood till all hours, often getting people out of bed.

     Failing health saw him move to a care home in Preeceville in 2012 and then into long-term care in Canora. He found it very frustrating. He was blind and deaf, unable to find his belongings as they always seem to be moved from where he left them. Always dependent on someone else for everything, who had been so independent all his life.

     John Krutz was predeceased by his parents Nick and Michelina, brothers William and Mike, sister Mary and her husband Steve Balysky, nephew Steve Pasiechnik, great-great nephew Dillan Walker. He is survived by his brother Steve (Margaret) Krutz of Canora. Nieces Rose Ann Pasiechnik and family, Adella (Eugene) Sapach and family, Teresa (Ian Winrow) Stiff and family, Corinne (John) Lam Ma and family, Janet (Robert) Krogstad and family.