Joe Romick

The family of Joe Romick sadly announce his passing on December 23, 2018. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 29 at 2:00pm from St. John Lutheran Church in Preeceville with Pastor Hein Bertram officiating. Memorials may be made to the St. John Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or Poplar Grove Cemetery Fund as gifts of remembrance. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

Joe was born on August 3, 1933 when John and Tekla (nee Holowachuk) Romick became the parents of a newborn son, a brother to the previously born 5 sisters and 3 brothers, with an additional sister to come later.  He was born on the family farm 2 miles south of Ketchen, where he grew up.  When school age came, he attended Netchie Hills School (which at that time was in the country 2 miles north of Ketchen), a 4 mile walk. 

As school years became a thing of the the past, adulthood and working became the norm.   While still single, he worked in the Northwest Territories (Eldorado mine) Port Radium.

In the fifties, he met his future wife Shirley Jensen (daughter of Ole and Iva Jensen) whom he married on August 31, 1957 at St. John Lutheran Church, Preeceville.  To this union they had 2 children Glen Cameron Romick born May 24, 1959 and Tammy Faye Romick born August 24, 1964.

During their marriage, Joe and Shirley owned and operated several businesses at various locations including stores in Buchanan, Ketchen 1964 to 1966, Choiceland 1966 to about 1971 and Flin Flon 1983 to 1986.  From 1971 to 1983, they lived in Preeceville first working with his brother in law Willard Antonichuk doing carpentry and bricklaying and  the later part he worked in these fields on his own, building many cement block basements, carpentry, and bricklaying in the area.  He built a few homes in Preeceville for himself.

In 1985, Joe and Shirley purchased an acreage in Ketchen where he built their retirement home. Here they enjoyed their dream of retirement living close to family, flowers, birds and animals. Sadly, while living here, Shirley became ill and passed away 01 June 2003.  Having lost all of his immediate family, Joe's last few years were a sad and lonely time in his life. After Shirley's passing, he was committed to continuing as their life was together and learned the ropes of the kitchen, which had been Shirley's domain.  Teaching himself cooking perogies, cabbage rolls etc., canning, and he could bake the best apple pie to be found.

Joe's friend Annabelle Knight became part of his life and also made memories together. Due to failing health, in 2013 he sold his home in Ketchen and moved to Sturgis.
    
Some other notable events of Joe’s life are as follows:

In younger years having a trapping lease by Jan Lake, delivering mail by car in the area, driving a school bus, owning and operating the theater in Preeceville and travelling to several surrounding communities showing movie shows in small town halls, being a self-taught musician, mainly the violin.  Playing with Shirley and several other local musicians.  He also repaired and made a violin.  He was skilled in mechanics, welding and carpentry and as well had as hobbies grafting trees, gardening, bee keeping and honey extraction, making sausage and birdwatching.

Joe passed away on December 23, 2018 in the Canora Hospital.  His life being full of experiences, joy and sadness. He leaves us many memories to be cherished.

Joe was predeceased by his son Glen in 1959, daughter Tammy in 1991, and wife Shirley in 2003, father John in 1963, mother Tekla in 1965.  Siblings: Annie (Bill) Matlock, Helen (Joe) Petrowski, Mary (Walter) Chalupiak, Pauline (William) Chalupiak, Peter Romick, Paul (Pauline) Romick, and Billie Romick.  Brothers in law Bill Gulka and Willard Antonichuk.

He is survived by sisters Bella Gulka and Joyce (Ralph) Bjerke, and sisters in law Stella Romick, Julia Romick and Faye Antonichuk, and brother in law Wayne (Gail) Jensen.

He lived a long life filled with many adventures.