With sadness, the family of John Korol announces his passing at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre on August 19, 2014, at the age of 92 years. John was born on July 10, 1922, the fifth of twelve children born to Wasyl and Anastasia (Pozniak) Korol. He attended Mazeppa School. At a very young age, John became an orphan with his mother passing in 1935 and his father in 1937. Through many hardships, John remained on the family farm and assisted the rest of the siblings to go out into the world. Somehow he knew he would survive one day at a time. In 1949, he married Lena Bodnaryk and together they had three children: Gerald, Larry, and Russell. John's love for farming was precise. The land was not seeded until properly worked and the cattle were always fed before leaving home. The barns and chicken coops were always cleaned regularly. The bales had to be picked and hauled into the yard before snowfall. It has been said that he did not have cattle, he had pets. John was a very strong man in strength but yet a gentle man in character. He was sharp witted and enjoyed a good joke. John and his wife, Lena, just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on June 18, 2014. John was a community-minded individual. He was a member of the school trustees, the Donwell telephone company, the Mazeppa church, and was on the board of directors of the Canora Credit Union. John was not a lawyer, doctor, or a banker; he simply was a man that believed in God and loved his family. It is so hard to forget someone who gave so much to remember. John was predeceased by his parents: Wasyl and Anastasia; sons: Gerald (in infancy) and Larry; six sisters: Anna, Stephania, Pauline, Hilda, Evelyn, and Nell; and four brothers: Michael, Maurice, Steve, and Orest. He is survived by his loving wife, Lena; son, Russell; daughter-in-law Dianne; sister, Sally; three granddaughters: Krista (Tyler), Kimberly (Francis), and Heather (Ben); grandson, Jonathan; and his five great-grandchildren: Makayla, Kyle, Riley, Gavin, and Inara. A Prayer Service was held on Friday, August 22, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Leson's Funeral Home. The Funeral Service was held on Saturday, August 23, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. from the Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Mazeppa, with Rev. Fr. Michael Faryna officiating. Interment followed in the Sliding Hills Christian Cemetery. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan or to the Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Mazeppa, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of John Korol. Friends and family unable to attend are invited to sign an online guest book for John at www.lesonsfuneralhome.ca. Arrangements have been entrusted to LESON'S FUNERAL HOME, Canora.
