William 'Bill' Kowalishen was born to Mike and Anna Kowalishen (nee Mysko) on the family farm near Stornoway, SK on November 16, 1923. Bill was called by the Lord on October 14, 2016, just one month before his 93rd birthday. The son of Ukrainian immigrant parents, Bill (Vasyl) spoke only Ukrainian when he first attended school. After completing grade eight, he quit school to work on the family farm. As he grew older, he would help his older brothers John, Peter & Steve on their farms as well as helping Peter with his construction business. Bill learned many skills during his life and applied them when he built his two family homes, his big red barn with the silver roof, his farm buildings, the sturdiest swing set around and a set of wooden monkey bars for his daughter. Bill was a carpenter, plumber, electrician, inventor, welder, barber and butcher, but above all else he was a farmer, having lived on his farm south of Kamsack for some sixty years. Just one month before his death he was still dreaming of farming. Bill also enjoyed picking mushrooms, hazel nuts and berries, especially Saskatoons and cranberries. He made the best cabbage borscht, kutia (Christmas wheat), sausage and flavoured vodka from chokecherries. He loved being around people and visiting, having the gift of gab with complete strangers and entertaining people with his God-given talent to sing and play guitar, Hawaiian guitar and the omnichord, all self-taught and played by ear. He was always there to help when neighbours called and when you came to visit him at his home, he'd offer you a drink and send you home with a ring of sausage. In 1948 Bill married Annie Khadiken, with whom he had two daughters, Shirley and Sherle. Annie passed away in 1962, leaving Bill to raise his two daughters with the help of his family and sister, Stella Krupp, whom they lived with for a short time in Yorkton. In 1968 he met Jean Oberkirsch in Regina through a mutual friend and in 1970 they were married. Bill and Jean had one daughter, Karla. Bill leaves to mourn his wife of 46 years, Jean; his daughters Shirley (husband Terry Fluney) and Karla (husband Jason Wilhelm); granddaughters: Andrea (husband Bruce Klassen) and Jacqueline Haller; great-granddaughters, Emily and Ava; a sister, Emilia Dereniwski, as well as numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and friends. The funeral service was held on Thursday, October 20, 2016 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Pastor Stephen Ruten of the Parkland Evangelical Free Church in Kamsack officiating. Scripture was read by Gift Kachur. Special music was provided by Free Spirit, who led in singing 'Because He Lives' and 'Tell Me the Story of Jesus'. The eulogy was given by Angeline Hesje and David Kowalishen. Special recordings Bill had made were played at the funeral: 'The Old Rugged Cross', 'What A Day That Will Be' and 'This Land Is My Land'. Honourary bearers were Mike Kuzenko, Paul Cherkas and Jack Fofonoff. The interment took place in the Garden of St. Luke with David Kowalishen, Dennis Mysko, Emil Strutynski, Dennis Tibbett, Barry Stefan and Bernie Nemetchek serving as the casket bearers. Memorials were to the Skinner Unit of the Yorkton & District Nursing Home.Â
