ILNISKY: John
February 28, 1931 β April 13, 2017
The passing of John Ilnisky of Watson, SK occurred at Humboldt District Hospital on Thursday, April 13, 2017. He was 86 Years of age. John was born February 28, 1931 in Gronlid to Ukrainian immigrants. He spent his youth on the farm. As a young adult, he worked various jobs including Slumber J Oil, auto body mechanics and Melfort Creamery. John met Nettie Gusnowski in Saskatoon in 1955 and they were married in Calgary in 1956. They lived in Melfort until 1965 and then moved to Choiceland where John started his career in law enforcement.Β In 1967 they moved to Kinistino where he continued policing and in 1970 they moved to Watson where John was the Chief of Police for Watson and surrounding municipalities until his retirement in 1980, where he earned the nickname βWatson John.β He was passionate about hockey and he was the manager for the Watson Saints Jr. B hockey team for many years. John's hobbies included gardening with Nettie; fishing with his brother-in-law Ed and grandson Brandon; hunting and camping.Β He was a sports enthusiast, and enjoyed watching curling, hockey, baseball and football. He was a die-hard Rough Rider and Blue Jays fan. He loved to meet new people and never lacked for interesting conversation, he loved to tell stories and jokes, debate politics and he could sell sand in the Sahara Desert. John liked to reminisce about his trip to California, when he and Nettie took his grandson Christopher to Disneyland and Universal Studios and his trip to Whitehorse and Alaska where he fished and spent time with family. After retirement, John and Nettie enjoyed travelling to Alberta to visit family and road-tripping around the local communities in Saskatchewan visiting friends and selling JI's Mouse Deodorizer to farmers and small businesses. He was a friend to many, and he was loved deeply by his wife, children and grandchildren.Β John will be greatly missed by his wifeΒ Nettie (nee Gusnowski) Ilnisky a nurse (retired) and homemaker; daughter Darcy Halbreich (Ilnisky) from San Jose, CA; son Leslie Ilnisky (Charlene) from Regina, SK; son Richard Ilnisky (Tina) from Watson, SK, and grand-daughters Rachel and Jamie, 2 great-grandsons and 1 great grand-daughter; daughter Valerie Ilnisky (Clarence Nowosad) from Melfort, SK and grandson Christopher (Brittany), great-grandson Daetyn Brice, and grandson Brandon Brice; his siblings, Walter Ilnisky from Gronlid, SK; Russel Ilnisky from Kinistino, SK; Elsie Woolsey from Kenora, ON; Ann Howorth from Winnipeg, MN; and Judy Ilnisky from Toronto, ON. John was predeceased by his parents Kost and Anna Ilnisky; and siblings: Paul Ilnisky, Anna Holodnuik, and Mary Ilnisky. A private family service was held at Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Rev. Al Hingley. Interment will take place at a later date. Memorial donations may be directed to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
