Steve Krutz

The family of Steve Krutz, beloved husband of the late Margaret Krutz, sadly announce his passing on Monday, August 19, 2019. He was ninety years of age.

A graveside service was held on Thursday, August 22nd at 1:00 p.m. in the Preeceville Community Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Canora Hospital Auxiliary as gifts of remembrance.

Arrangements were entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

     Steve is predeceased by his beloved wife Margaret, parents Nick and Michalena Krutz, parents-in law Henry and Inga Brown, brothers Willie, John and Mike and sister Mary. He is survived by his daughters Teresa (Ian Winrow), Corinne (John Lam Ma), Janet (Rob Krogstad), his grandchildren Christopher, Keenan, Jordan (Meaghan), Brittany (Jonathan), Rachel and Joel and many nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours and friends.

     Steve was born April 9, 1929, at home on the farm in Endeavour, Saskatchewan to Nick and Michalena Krutz. He attended Midland Rural School for his entire education walking to school four miles each day. Steve was an ambitious youngster. He also looked around the farm to see what needed to be done. At age 8 he built the families first outhouse and taught his mother to speak English.  Steve bought the farm across the road from his parent's farm and it was here that he and Margaret lived and farmed for over 45 years following their marriage on October 28, 1955 at Grace United Church, in Sturgis Saskatchewan. For over 63 years, Steve and Margaret did everything together. Theirs was truly a match made in heaven. Their home, on the farm, was planned and built by them in the summer of 1955. It was not until 1963 that they got electricity and then water works in 1971. That same year, they put an addition on the house to accommodate their growing family and in 1978 made a large dining room which would be the gathering place for many family meals and for visiting with the neighbours.  Steve and Margaret raised Aberdeen Angus cattle, pigs and chickens. They also owned a sawmill which they worked at in the winter for several years. Steve and Margaret both enjoyed wood working. Steve would build the furniture and Margaret would do the finishing. Many of their creations are still in the homes of their children and grandchildren as cherished possessions. Later they began refinishing antique furniture for themselves and for resale. They had a large collection of antique glass and china and had a small antique shop on the farm which drew buyers from all over the province. Steve and Margaret loved auction sales and travelled together many miles in search of a rare find for their shop. Steve loved to drive and often spoke of his childhood dream to be a long-haul trucker. He gave that idea up to farm and be close to his wife and children. Sundays were family days. It was time for church and to explore new roads. A family favourite was to try and find a road that Steve had never driven on. Many miles were made driving and eating ice cream. In 1983, Steve and Margaret sold their cattle and turned much of the land into alfalfa and grain. Steve spent hours in the fields making sure the carefully planted seeds grew to bountiful crops. Swathing was a favorite part of harvest which came in second to combining. He worked very hard each year and hoped that mother nature would cooperate to make sure he could give his girls their first combine ride before school started. Steve’s love of country living was passed on to his children. Each season brought stories of him taking care of nature while trying to farm. He tilled around bird nests in the field while seeding and later around baby deer in the summer while baling hay. Steve and Margaret spent hours in bush searching for mushrooms or picking berries. Strawberries were a favorite. He spent hours cleaning the slough so the kids could skate or feeding the birds and deer so the kids and grandkids could be closer to nature. Even after he retired, Steve made sure to buy ample bales each year to make sure the deer would come to the front yard to eat. Family was central to every aspect of his life. Steve always put Margaret, their three daughters, and grandchildren first. Many miles were made to help the girls move. He was a skilled packer; not many people could move an entire household in a couple of half-ton trucks! Steve often spoke of the richness of growing up so close to many relatives and neighbours. He would reminisce of special family traditions with his parents and with the Lozinsky and Folwark families. Singing Christmas carols and going from house to house spreading Christmas cheer. He loved to share of special memories over the years such as fishing with Henry, David and Bruce during a storm and knowing that he was the only one that couldn’t swim so wondered who would volunteer to save him. Taking all four of his girls to a picnic a We Own It Hall. Being fortunate to have two “summer” daughters, Christine and Joyce who he loved and called his own. Loving Mr. Covey’s toy collection so much he started one of his own. Travelling to Winnipeg on war train to see a doctor about his broken arm. Taking his enormous kidney stone home from the hospital so he could show his kids. In 2001 Steve and Margaret retired in Canora. It was difficult to leave their home of so many years, so the two of them built a cabin on in the quarter across the road so they could still look out onto their farm. For the next 18 years, Steve and Margaret would travel weekly, sometimes daily, to tend to the garden at the cabin. Faith was central in both Steve and Margaret’s lives. With Margaret’s passing in June 2019, Steve would say he knew she was still with him. He lived only two short months after her passing and during that time not a day went by that he did not say he needed to go home to be with her.  With the blessing of God, he did not wait long to reunite with his beloved.