Peter Kwochka passed away Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the age of 82 years. He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Mary Kwochka, grandson, Peter J. Kwochka and brothers-in-law, Howard Osman and Eddie Adasci. Peter was born September 6, 1934 on a farm near Hume, as the second born child and son to Fred and Mary Kwochka. Only Ukrainian was spoken at home and when Peter began attending St. Elmo’s school at the age of 5 [as one more student was needed to avoid the school closing] he didn’t speak a word of English. He picked up the language well and enjoyed school, particularly after Dennis Hallberg became the teacher. Mr. Hallberg wasn’t that much older than the students he was teaching and when the weather was nice, he was not adverse to a softball game or other outdoor activities instead of classroom work in the small, hot one room schoolhouse. At the farm, Peter and his eight brothers and sisters all had a full schedule of chores to complete every day. It was the depression era, but on the farm, the family always had plenty to eat and enjoyed some free time together playing ball, riding horses and get-togethers with family and neighbours. After completing his grade 9 at age 16, considered a basic education at the time, Peter worked on the family farm in the summer and worked as a hired man for Harold Jacobsen during several winters where he met his future wife, Laura Jacobsen. He took a job cleaning rail cars in Calgary, AB while Laura was attending teacher’s college before returning to Weyburn in 1958 with the goal of having his own farm. He and Laura were married in 1959 and resided in and near Midale for a couple of years and then near Hume. As the family was growing, they bought a half section in 1967 near Griffin Park and moved a house onto it in 1968 where they continued to raise their four children until the marriage ended. In those early years, he milked his own cows, raised beef cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, geese, even a few goats. Peter added numerous other parcels of land over the years and made the farm very successful. He was a proud full time farmer right up until he was 80 when he decided to sell his cattle and rented out the rest of his farmland. Retirement proved relaxing and allowed him to do many day or overnight trips to see many places of interest in and around the area, an opportunity that he did not have most of his life as it was hard to be away from the farm for too long. Peter played in a softball league and curled in league play and bonspiels well into his 50s. Other interests included history books, auction sales, many hours visiting with neighbours and friends, guessing nationalities of others, and later television, especially nature and game shows. He greatly enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren and on Father’s Day, birthdays, or other occasions when everyone would gather at the farm, it was always no holds barred fun; every garden tractor, motorcycle, quad or trike would be pressed into service by one grandchild or another. Often, repairs needed to be made after these outings, but he had great patience and tolerance when it came to his grandchildren. He was a good father, grandfather, uncle, neighbor, friend and person and he will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew him. Peter will be lovingly remembered by his son, Jeff Kwochka (Susan Nilsen) of Saskatoon, and children: Tony (Sujung) and family, Liam and Claire, Sarah Kwochka (Jay Pritchard) and family, Kaylanna and Rylan, Rochelle Kwochka, Jessica (Taylor) Watt and Kaitlin Kwochka; daughter, Pam Kwochka (Jaime Miller) of Weyburn, and children: Adrian Miller (Tonya Mokelki), Taylor Kwochka and Jaedon Miller; son, Daniel Kwochka of Regina, and children: Kayla Fister (Robbie Jenkins) and daughter, Paisley, and Alecia Kwochka and family, Kade and Taelynn; son, Dale Kwochka of Saskatoon, and children: Joshua and Dara Kwochka; brothers and sisters: John (Myrtle) Kwochka, Bill (Betty) Kwochka, Olga Osman, Ann (Floyd) Goertz, Helen (Marvin) Reiser, Dorothy Adasci, Steve (Gwen) Kwochka and Laura (Don) De Jong as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation was held Wednesday, April 5, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Fletcher Funeral Chapel, and the funeral service was held Thursday, April 6, at 2:00 p.m. from Grace United Church with Reverend M. Barnabas officiating. Interment followed at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weyburn. Pallbearers were Blaine Kwochka, Bruce Kwochka, Todd Geortz, Graham Reiser, Kevin Cooke and Patrick De Jong. Donations in memory of Peter may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapel, Weyburn, 306-842-5432.
