William Chalupiak, a long-time resident of Yorkton, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2014, at the age of 98, at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home in Yorkton, with his son Edwin at his side. William was born on September 20, 1916, to Dora Baron and Steve Chalupiak. Dora died in 1918 and Steve remarried a widow Stella Derin with two sons Billy and Walter. Four more siblings were born; Marie, Ann, Mike and Joe. William grew up in the Ketchen district and attended Netchie Hills School. On October 18, 1941, he married Pauline Romick at Chechow Church. William and Pauline began mixed farming about a mile east of Ketchen. Four children were born; Orest, Joan, Edwin and Sharon. In 1968 William and Pauline sold their farm and moved to Preeceville where they lived for four years. In 1972 they moved to Yorkton where William was employed with Morris Rodweeder until his retirement in 1981. While living in Yorkton, William and Pauline enjoyed attending dances and playing cards regularly at New Horizon's Senior Centre. They faithfully attended weekly services at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church. In October 2006, William and Pauline celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary. They enjoyed many happy years together until Pauline's sudden death the following year in 2007. Until the spring of 2014, William lived independently in his own home at Queen Elizabeth Court, where he moved after Pauline's passing. He drove his car twice a week to join a group of friends to play cards at the Army and Navy and went almost daily to McDonald's for coffee. Since the spring, a decline in his health made it necessary for him to spend time in hospital and then a nursing home. He was still able to keep in touch with family and friends until his passing. He enjoyed having visitors. He was a thoughtful, caring man with a quiet sense of humour. William expressed gratitude for family and friends who kept in touch with him and also for the dedicated staff at the Esterhazy and Yorkton nursing homes who cared for him. He also expressed appreciation for his sister-in-law's family, Bella Gulka and her daughters Valerie and Betty who generously included him in many of their holiday celebrations in Yorkton. William was predeceased by his wife Pauline, parents Dora and Steve Chalupiak, step-mother Stella Chalupiak; sisters Marie (Sawka), Ann (Sathestrom); brothers Billy, Walter, Mike and Joe. William leaves to cherish his memory his four children; son Orest (Diane) of Calgary and children Daren and Shannon; daughter Joan (Les) Galandy of Calgary and children Kevin, Shawn and Dion; son Ed (Christine) of Regina and children Mark, Kyle and Alison and daughter Sharon of Winnipeg. William is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; Daren (Shannon) Chalupiak and children Alex, Hayden and Langdon; Kevin (Mary) Galandy and children Jennifer and Rachel; Shawn Galandy and children Joshua and Paige; Dion (Karen) Galandy and children Jacob and Tessa; Mark (Rhonda) Chalupiak; Kyle (Carmen) Chalupiak and children Keagan and Kealie; Shannon (Dan) Federkeil and daughter Abigail and granddaughter Alison Chalupiak. William is also survived by many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. Prayers will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at Bailey's Funeral Home in Yorkton. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton. Interment will follow at Preeceville Town Cemetery. Memorials in memory of William may be made to the charity of one's choice.
