On behalf of the family, I would like to begin by thanking everyone for attending today; wherever you may have travelled from the family appreciates your support during this time. For those of you who don't know me, I am Cheryl Skiba, married to Simon's third son, Frank. Simon was born to Joseph and Josephine Skiba in Cupar on April 3, 1923. Simon was the middle child, having an older brother, Stanley, and a younger sister, Edith. In 1928 the family moved from Cupar to Tyvan, purchasing a half section of land now owned by the PFRA Community Pasture. During the depression, they were unable to maintain the payments on the land, and as a result lost the land, forcing a move in 1936. The family moved a few miles away, down the road to Osage and rented land from Porter Land Company. Today, this land is home to the Fred Paslawski family. In the early 1940's they purchased a section of land south west of Osage, which Simon took over when his parents moved off the farm in the fall of 1953. This same land is where Simon and Nellie farmed until their retirement. Simon married Nellie Bonk on August 29, 1953, and had five children; they started their family with a set of twins, Allen and Simon. Simon passed away shortly after birth. They continued to add to their family with the additions of Paul, Frank and Mary Anne. Simon and Nellie were further blessed with 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and now we will have a total of 34 of us at our family gatherings. Simon and Nellie farmed at Osage from the time Simon took over the farm in 1953. They ran a mixed farm, mainly sowing wheat, durum, barley and oats. They raised cows, pigs, chickens and laying hens, to add to the farm income when they sold the cream to the creamery, butchered and sold pigs and chickens and sold eggs. They also had a few horses - mainly Shetland ponies, and of course they always had dogs and cats on the farm. Simon and Nellie worked as a team on the farm - whether it was working with the animals, or during haying or harvest times, sometimes working around the clock to get all the work done. Simon and Johnny Schaeffer also helped each other out through their farming years, having bought various pieces of equipment on partnership, and helping with various jobs around the farm - whether it was putting a furnace in or bringing in running water for the first time, adding a porch or completing a renovation, Simon and Johnny were there for each other. Simon and Nellie retired to Weyburn in 1991 where they bought a house and grew a garden that made the neighbours jealous. They maintained their house and yard on their own until their move to Bison Manor in February of 2011. During their years on the farm or in town, Dad did many jobs and renovations on his own, but if Dad was in a bind, nephew Randy would always be there to lend a hand with any job. Dad also enjoyed the many times Randy would stop in for a visit and a coffee. Dad also took the time to enjoy a few hobbies - he especially enjoyed curling, belonging to the Osage Mixed Curling League and attending various community bonspiels. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a member of the West Osage Gun Club helping out whenever he was able. He also took the time to spend a few hours at the Fillmore bar. I can give you some history on Simon and how he made his life journey, but that doesn't describe who Simon really was, or how he lived his life. So I asked the grandkids for some help in describing Grandpa: Grandpa was creative - which was demonstrated on a regular basis - as he was a skilled handyman; he had no problem making his creative thoughts a reality. Whether it was organizing his extension cords for his Christmas decorations so that he could turn all lights on or off with one flip of a switch, or MacGyvering an interchangeable basket on his scooter, whatever he envisioned - he put his hands together and created. We aren't 100% sure his inventions always met code, but we do know they got the job done. He was full of life and energy - Grandpa took every opportunity to have fun, share a laugh and hopefully share a dance as well. When they had their accident back in 2010, while Dad was disappointed about the accident and the damage to the vehicle, he was more upset over the fact he didn't get to Osage to have a dance! He loved to dance, having danced at both of his granddaughters' weddings this past August and September. Dad loved his polka music, and never thought twice about hitting the dance floor. Grandpa was reflective - which can be interpreted in two ways - through his many stories he had to tell about what happened years or ago, or just a few days ago, or with his love for reflectors, which were attached to anything and everything - that moved, or didn't move. Grandpa enjoyed his beer - and would share a beer with you at every visit - and always had wine for his girls beer for the boys and wine for the girls. No one left Grandpa's home thirsty. Grandpa's little shuffle walk. As Dad got older, his strides became shorter and slowly became more of a shuffle. Now some may think that when you get to the state of shuffling, it would be a slow shuffle. Not Grandpa when he got up to move - you better get out of his way, as he was going I'm surprised that there weren't sparks coming off the back of his shoes as he shuffled along. Grandpa was always happy. He didn't need much to make him happy - but he was always happy. When his kids were young, the spent time picking berries together, and an annual beach day at Nickle Lake was always enjoyable. He also enjoyed all of his lawn ornaments when they lived on Hill Avenue, displaying them from spring through to fall, and ensuring that each of them had a proper winter home. His friends and coffee buddies at the various coffee shops made him happy, and I'm sure he brought a smile to their faces as well with his many stories. He made various coffee shops his home for his morning coffee - his ability to travel determining what coffee shop would be his stop - he frequented Pappa Jacks for many years and lately made the Co-op his second home. He was striving to get a set of keys from the Co-op - he was always the first one there - and felt he could open the store. Grandpa was fun loving and always enjoyed a good chuckle. He was very proud of the handmade crank he received from his nephew Ed that Uncle Simon was to use to crank start his Buick he had recently purchased. Ed and Dad had a special relationship - taking turns making their yearly birthday phone calls, and Ed and Audrey always taking the time for a yearly trip to stop in for a visit with Uncle Zigmond and Auntie Anetka, and their yearly fill of KFC - whether they needed it or not. Grandpa answered to many different names over the years - Simon, Dad, Grandpa and some more endearing ones - Poppa Bear, which stuck with him since the 1970's CB era. Grandpa enjoyed watching various sports on TV. Many times when we came to visit, the TV would be playing some sporting event. He especially enjoyed cheering on the Blue Jays. But most of all Grandpa had pride - he was proud of his accomplishments - which we reminisced each time they moved when we packed his various curling trophies. He was proud of his possessions - the latest being his scooter - no one could come to visit him without going and seeing his scooter or learning about his latest modification he made to his scooter. But most of all he was proud of his family - of each and every one of his children, and each and every one of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. We were very fortunate that Dad was not plagued with many illnesses or mishaps over the years. He had a heart attack in 1992, a stroke in 1999 and broke his hip in 2009. Dad took the opportunity to live every day to the fullest if he came upon an obstacle, he didn't let that stop him - he figured out how to overcome and carried on. Dad truly lived until he died. Dad and Mom came up to Regina on December 29, and we celebrated Christmas with as many of the Skiba clan that could join. We had lots of fun and laughs. Dad didn't complain about anything, besides the fact he needed two hands to drink his beer. But he was still able to enjoy his beer. So his sudden passing came as a surprise to all of us. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, January 8 10:30 AM from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Weyburn with Father Gerry Bauche celebrating. Interment was at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weyburn. Donations in memory of Simon may be made to The Heart & Stroke Foundation or to the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapels Ltd.,Weyburn, (306) 842-5432
