DATEMA - John Charles Datema, "Jock" as he was known to family and friends, was born on February 14, 1933 in Theodore, SK, the son of John and Mary (nee Stuart) Datema. He was raised on the farm near Theodore and started school there as well. During World War II Jock's father was conscripted into the Dutch army so his mother moved with the three oldest children into Theodore for the duration of the war. When his Dad returned home he bought land west of Saltcoats and in 1949 the family moved to that area and Jock went to Boakeview School. Jock quit school at an early age as his help was needed on the farm. The Datema farm continues to be in the family. Over the years it was operated by various combinations of Jock, his father, his brother, Jim and his sons, Dave and Greg - with Greg now grain farming on his own. On August 8, 1960 Jock married Ruth Torrie and the young couple made their home in a small apartment above the café in Saltcoats. In the fall of 1962 they moved into their own house and still call Montreal Avenue home. While Ruth worked as a nurse in Saltcoats and Yorkton, Jock supplemented his farming income by working various jobs, eventually making the transition to farming full time. Jock always liked sports. As a young man he played baseball, softball, broomball and hockey. As an adult Jock curled with brother Jim, Bruce Inglis and Ivan Inglis. It wasn't uncommon for them to be playing in two bonspiels at a time and winning at both. Eventually his love for sports morphed into watching curling and hockey on television and he was Sandra Schmirler's greatest fan. However, his all-time favourite sports were coffee row and having a beer at the bar! Jock enjoyed playing pool and cards, especially canasta, hand and foot and cribbage. The farm life isn't conducive to much holiday time but when the kids were little there were a couple of camping trips and a trip to Victoria for a family wedding. When the kids were more independent, there were trips to Phoenix, Las Vegas and to attend Grey Cup games in Montreal and Toronto. Despite the fact that he would, for the most part, attend only sporting events, Jock took great pride in all his children's and grandchildren's achievements. When his children were young he was often found on the sidelines, coaching, watching, pacing and offering advice. He was a member of the Saltcoats Minor Sports, Curling Club and Volunteer Firefighters and spent many hours ticket taking at hockey and ball games and helping out at the rink. Jock could listen to country classics for hours and Hank Snow, Marty Robbins, Nana Mouskouri and Rita McNeil were some artists he enjoyed. But by far, his favourite concert took place at Christmas the year his four children learned a few songs and played their guitars together. Rather than going out to visit, he always loved having the whole family home and enjoyed big celebrations for birthdays and anniversaries. He and Ruth took frequent car trips to check the crops, the progress of seeding or harvest or to provide meals-on-wheels to the field. He had an amazing memory, even for childhood years and family stories, and an excellent head for math. Both of Jock's parents were diabetics, so in the early 1980's when all medical signs pointed to that diagnosis for him, he was against going to the doctor. However, in 1985 he lost a toe as a result of diabetes and accepted that he needed to be on insulin and to make changes in his diet. He did well until 2010 when his circulation was deteriorating and necessitated double amputation. Once again, he rallied after he got his "wooden legs", only to face kidney failure and then dialysis. In the past year, his primary caregiver, Ruth, was also experiencing some health issues and Jock became a resident of Lakeside Manor Care Home. While he was resistant at first, he did enjoy kibitzing with staff and visiting with his table companions, Johnnie Schuster, Gerald Burman and Vern Borys. In August of 2017, access to dialysis made it necessary for Jock to move into the Yorkton & District Nursing Home. A medical emergency necessitated a transfer to the Regina General Hospital where, surrounded by the generations of his family, Jock passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2017. Jock was predeceased by parents, Mary and John; his stepmother, Agatha; his sister, Ruth and her husband, Walter Neumann; his brother, Jim; his sister-in-law, Shirley Torrie, his brothers-in-law, Bruce Inglis, Andy Nagy, Deryl Jarvis and Kenny Westman. He is survived by Ruth, his wife of 57 years; daughter, Linda and her daughter, Laura (Duncan and their children, Nicholas and Hugh); son, Greg (Dana) and their daughter, Tessa; son, Dave and his children, Sarah (and her son, Nixon), Mitchell (Shandrea) and Caeden; son, Kevin (Jill) and their children, Mathew and Taylor. He also leaves to mourn his passing, his sisters, Patsy Nagy, Margriet (Alex) Novak and Judy Westman (Bob); aunts, Minnie McTaggart, Margaret Esson, Ruby Tate; in-laws, Joyce Inglis, Don Torrie (Joan), Jean (Elmer) Leahy, Stewart (Heather) Torrie, Ken (Pearl) Torrie, Helen Jarvis, Doreen (Brent) Bradford and Auntie Is; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins and other extended family. Funeral Services were held on Saturday, September 9, 2017 from the Saltcoats Community Hall in Saltcoats, SK with Walter Farquharson officiating. Memories of Grampa were shared by Jock's grandchildren, led by Laura Cross. Gary, Teresa and Carla Laycock played a selection of Jock's favourite old country tunes as prelude music. They also led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Amazing Grace" and "Green, Green Grass of Home". Special taped music selections included, "The Cattle Call" by Eddie Arnold as the processional and "Go Rest High on That Mountain" by Vince Gill as the recessional. The Interment Service followed in the Saltcoats Town Cemetery with Alex Novak, Bob Leduc, Elmer Leahy, Brent Bradford, Ken Torrie, Stewart Torrie and Don Torrie serving as the casket bearers. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
