William Cherniawsky

William George Cherniawsky was born on April 8, 1923 (Orthodox Easter Sunday) to Dokitsa (nee Sullivan) & George Cherniawsky in Danbury at the family home. The family moved to homestead north east of Sturgis in 1924.

     William went to school at Cavel where he received his Grade 7 and then stayed home to work the farm with his father. He joined the army in October 1943. In January 1945 he was deployed overseas with the 3rd Division Training School as instructor on Flame Throwers. He served in the Army of Occupation with the South Saskatchewan Regiment in Holland and Germany until April 1946. Upon discharge, he went back to his father’s farm where he resided until August 2020.

     On June 8, 1950 he married Lila Firomski and they had 6 children, 2 boys and 4 girls. Dad and Mom celebrated 70 years of marriage in June 2020.

     William was a board member with the UGG and Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. He was actively involved with the Royal Canadian Legion since 1968. He held the position of Vice President from 1983 – 1987 when he became President. He was caretaker of Spring Valley Cemetery.

     Dad loved his farm and took pride in making it look the best. He would never leave equipment in the field. It was always brought to the yard and parked in its place. The house, barn and granaries were always painted especially the house with the orange door and the bright red for the barn and granaries.

     Dad and Mom went on many trips to British Columbia to visit family, to Thunder Bay, Detroit and Florida. They travelled with Dad’s cousin, Victoria Dambroise to the Ukraine in 1993 which was a trip of a lifetime. Every summer they had lots of relatives come to visit and spend time on the farm. Dad was always generous in opening his home to whoever would come. He was known for his preciseness in everything he did. He could fix or build anything.  He spent many happy hours working in the shop building and inventing. He was a problem solver and an excellent provider. He raised 6 children on a half section of land which provided for their retirement in 1997. Mom and Dad remained on the farm until August 31, 2020 when they both moved to the Norquay Health Centre. We believe that Dad did this for Mom, knowing that he had her comfortable and settled, in the event that he wouldn’t be there for her.

     In the early morning of Saturday, September 26, 2020 William passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Norquay Health Centre, without the remote on his chest (as he had wished). Leaving behind to celebrate his life, are his wife, Lila, 6 children, Don (Joan) Cherniawsky of Regina, Lloyd (Renee) Cherniawsky of Saskatoon, Fay (James) Klemchuk of Sturgis, Irene (Ed) Ubell of Regina, Linda (Wayne) Dupperon of Saskatoon, Ruby Sapieha of Saskatoon, 13 grandchildren and 9 great granchildren, sister-in-law Jeanette Cheremkora,  brother-in-law Victor (Mildred) Firomski and brother in-law Delmar (Marianne) Firomski and many nieces and nephews.

     William was predeceased by his parents George in 1948 and Dokitsa in 1991, a sister Mary in infancy, father-in-law, Joseph Firomski, mother-in-law, Mary Firomski, step mother-in-law, Sophie Firomski, brothers-in-law, Sam Cheremkora and Marion Firomski and sister in-law, Caroline Firomski, step brother-in-law, Donald Hyrhorash and step sister-in-law, Mavis Hyrhorash.