Tom Prekaski

Tom was born on July 29, 1952 at Preeceville, to his parents Leo & Sadie Prekaski.  He grew up in the town of Sturgis.  Many hours were spent at the Pool Hall and at the Northern Café as well as at the Sturgis Stock Yards and local Auction Marts with his dad, who was a Cattle Buyer. It was often said Leo could look at an animal and tell you how much it was worth.  Probably that is where Tom’s love of animals came from.  His childhood best friend was his dog named Cindy.  Tom often told stories about how his mom would send the dog to the Pool Hall to let Tom know it was time to come home for dinner!

Tom attended the Sturgis Elementary School and graduated from the Sturgis Composite High School in 1970.

He was very active in sports all his life, until an accident, that occurred while escaping an apartment fire, left him with a badly damaged knee, but he still continued playing sports in spite of the challenges.  He played minor ball and hockey in his childhood, basketball and football in high school (he was the quarter back for the football team) and excelled at track & field.  His love of sports kept him playing fastball for many years with teams such as HD & S, Norquay Sportsmen, Sturgis Fastball and Hudye Hustlers.  He also joined the Sturgis Division Teachers’ Slow Pitch Team and won the Teachers’ Provincials in Sintaluta one year.  As well he was a member of the Sturgis Regals and the Sturgis Trash hockey teams for many years. Tom loved broomball and played with the Drake Hotel Condors when they won the Western Canadian Championship two years in a row.  As well he truly enjoyed his time curling with his Prekaski cousins Jim, Jay & Trent.

Tom’s love of sports led him to be involved in coaching many school sports during his teaching career at La Loche, Stenen and Norquay.  While in La Loche his basketball team won the Northern Winter Games Championship.  He was very proud of that!

In his youth he worked at the auction marts at Sturgis/ Wadena & Kelvington, and often went with his dad buying cattle from many local farmers.  He did some geological exploration at Thompson and construction/cement work at Sturgis.

In the community he was involved with the local Superannuated Teachers Association, the Kinsmen Club and the Sturgis Sports & Rodeo Association.

In July of 1973 he married his dear, sweet “Margie”, and they had 49 wonderful years together.  Finding that special person that is your forever partner is a blessing indeed and that is exactly what Tom & Marg had!  Theirs was a true love story!

After their marriage, he and Margaret attended the University of Regina together and achieved their Standard A Teaching Certificates in 1975, (later completing their Bachelor of Education degrees from the U of S in 1978).  Armed with their Certificates, ambition and excitement to begin their teaching careers they headed off to La Loche, Sask where they spent three years enjoying the culture and making new life long friends.  Tom’s teaching career continued at Stenen for a brief time and then he transferred to Norquay School where he taught for many years!

After a long and successful teaching career Tom (aka Mr. T.) retired in 2006 which allowed him more time to visit with friends, and watch sports on TV  – All KINDS OF SPORTS! ….  and READ!  Tom was an avid reader! He could easily read for hours on end!

Tom was predeceased by his loving wife Margaret (January 2023), also by his mother & father Sadie & Leo Prekaski, brothers Bobby & Jerry, sister-in-law Sandra and in-laws Bud & Yvonne Morken.

He is survived by his brothers & sisters-in-law Richard (Mavis) Morken, Brian (Shannon Booth) Morken & Elizabeth (Dale) Prestie, as well as special cousins Trent (Elenore) Prekaski, Jay (Dianne) Prekaski & Jim (late Donna) Prekaski, also life long friends Duane Johnson, Bill Ochitwa & Val Bugera and Jeanne (late Duane) Auramenko, plus many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and extended family.

Tom will be dearly missed by many!