It is with great sadness the family of William Popoff announce his passing at the Yorkton Regional Hospital on May 26, 2012 at the age of 85 years. Bill was born on September 26, 1926 on a farm north of Veregin along with his twin brother Peter. He went to school at Pretty View, completing Grade 9. Bill worked on the farm and helped his older brother Fred with carpentry tasks. Bill played guitar and keyboard. He loved dancing and performed with his brother Peter in a band at community dances. Entertaining others put a smile on his face. In 1951 he married Alice Joss at Westminster United Church in Kamsack. They farmed for 3 years north of Veregin, then moved to the Mikado district in 1955, where he enjoyed farming and fishing. Bill and Alice were blessed with two children - Donna was born in 1956 and Daryl was born in 1958. Bill and Alice traveled to various placed including Russia, Switzerland, Alaska, Las Vegas, Maritimes, Churchill, Nashville and Florida. In 2006, they sold the farm and moved to Canora. They lived there until 2010 when they moved to Queen Elizabeth Court in Yorkton. Bill was a member of St. Andrews United Church in Canora. He served on the church board from 1975-1979 and then from 1991-1995, the POOL committee from 1976-2001, and on the executive committee of the Mikado Curling Club. He was a school trustee of the Pretty Valley School District for a time. He loved farming, the great outdoors and open spaces. Fishing was Bill's favorite hobby and he spent many hours teaching his grandchildren his tricks. Many cherished memories were made while having fun fishing at the curve. Spending time with family made Bill happy, especially spending an evening watching NHL Hockey or having a competitive game of cards. He loved giving his grandchildren rides on the little Ford tractor, golfing, sneaking ice cream, cross-country skiing, playing hockey on the dugout and river, tobogganing down the hill and of course playing practical jokes. He also enjoyed dressing in disguise at the Mikado Halloween dances, you had to wait until the end of the evening to figure out it was Bill. He had an excellent sense of humour and you could always count on him to tell a joke or story that would make you laugh. Bill was predeceased by his mother Anna; his brothers Fred and Pete; his uncle Sam; his in-laws Gottlieb and Mary Joss; his sister-in-law Gladys Daum and brothers-in-law Philip Daum and Mike Chutskoff. Bill will be sadly missed by his wife Alice; daughter Donna (Wes) Uhryn; son Daryl (Karen) Popoff; grandchildren who were dear to him, Jaimie (Tyler) Husulak, Jason (Laura) Uhryn, Twyla (Jeff) Froese, Jenna and Eric Popoff. He had two great-grandchildren that lit up his eyes when he saw them - Adam and Hannah Husulak. A viewing for Bill was held on Friday, June 1 starting at 6 pm, followed by prayers at 7 pm, from St. Andrew's United Church in Canora. A memorial service was held on Saturday at 10:30 am also from St. Andrew's United Church in Canora with the Reverend Catherine Pace officiating. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made in William's memory to the Canadian Cancer Society. Arrangements have been entrusted to Andrychuk Funeral Home of Kamsack.
