James Reginald Maslow, beloved husband of Annette Maslow of Yorkton passed away after a lengthy battle with COPD on Thursday May 16, 2013 at the age of 74. James was born in Winnipeg, MB on February 6, 1939, the fourth child of five born to Michael and Tillie (nee Olynyk) Maslow. James was raised on the family farm in Lac Du Bonnet, MB and he completed grade 11 in a small one room country school in Lac Du Bonnet and went on to take a bookkeeping course in Winnipeg. In 1962, James met Annette Boyer and on September 22, 1962 they were united in Holy Matrimony. The couple built their own home on the family farm in Landerville where they were blessed with 3 daughters. James was a man of many talents and worked hard to support himself and his young family. He helped on both is uncle's and father's farms, pitched pulp, hauled gravel, drove delivery truck, worked at a cement plant, and worked construction. James was a very smart man who was great with numbers and had a mind for business. At a young age, he bought a truck and started his own pulp business. So, in later years when a broken back resulted in a need for a career change, James and Annette decided to buy a gas station and move the family to Preeceville, SK in 1977. There they operated 9&49 Esso gas station and then in 1984 they purchased the business next door and started Smiley's Dairy Bar. They owned and operated these businesses until 1988 when James' lung condition determined that a change in career was necessary, so they sold the businesses and he became a car salesman for the Ortynski family at Canora Central Motors. Shortly afterwards, they moved to Yorkton and James continued to work until his health prevented him from doing so. James was an excellent carpenter and when his health would no longer allow him to do so he became the foreman teaching others to perform small jobs. James had a passion for the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, picking mushrooms and berries, snowmobiling and spending leisure time with his friends and family. He was known by many as the "Mayor of Landerville" and "Pa" to several honourary children and was known for his honesty, quick wit, sense of humour, and ready smile. James was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and although his health limited him in later years, he enjoyed the time spent with family. James was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Tillie, a twin sister at birth, and several other close family members. James will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his beloved wife of 50 years, Annette; his three daughters, Donna Maslow and her daughters Crystal Maslow (daughter Emilya) and Amanda (Matthew) Thomson (daughter Astrid) of Saskatoon, Colleen (Mike) Roddy (son Cole) of Regina and Cindy (Glen) Ford (sons Jordan and Cameron) of Yorkton and by his extended family and countless friends who had the pleasure of knowing him. Requiem Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Thursday May 23, 2013 from St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Yorkton with Reverend Father Raymond Lukie C.Ss.R. serving as the Celebrant with the Cantor, Mr. Edward Pindus assisted by the parish choir singing the responses. James' brother-in-law, Bobby Boyer served as the Crossbearer with Jason Kopan serving as the Reader of the Epistle and Sonia Pawliw serving as the Palamar. The interment followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Glen Ford, Mike Roddy, Jordan Ford, Cole Roddy, Matthew Thomson and Darwin Maslow serving as the Pallbearers. The family wishes to graciously thank the staff of the Yorkton Regional Health Centre for the kind and compassionate care they gave James during his time in hospital. As a charitable expression of sympathy those wishing to remember James Maslow may do so with a donation to the Yorkton Palliative Care Unit at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Kopan's Funeral Service, Yorkton.
