With grieving hearts, the family of Ronald James Popowich announce his sudden passing, at home, on July 19, 2016. He was 64 years of age. Ron was the youngest of twelve children born to Metro and Anne (nee Stelmack) Popowich on November 3, 1951 in Saltcoats, SK. Ron attended Llewelyn and Pearly elementary schools and Saltcoats and Yorkton high schools. He graduated from the Yorkton Regional High School in 1969 and then attended SIAST in Saskatoon for a two year training course in farm machinery mechanics. On July 14, 1973, Ron married Joylynn Jones. Ron worked at the mine in Esterhazy for two years and then began full time farming in 1975. He drove the school bus for the Yorkdale School Division for twenty years and enjoyed many fun times and great experiences with numerous bus students. Many of his bus students remember Ron as a kind, quiet person with a great sense of humour. Ron was predeceased by his parents, Metro and Ann; his father-in-law, Leonard Jones; his sister, Verna Kilburn; his brothers, Harry (in infancy), Bill and Peter and his nephew, Brian Popowich. Left to mourn his passing is his loving wife of 43 years, Joylynn; his mother-in-law, Peggy Jones of Melville, SK; his brothers, John (Verna) of Sarnia, ON and Ken (Karen) of Lambton, QC; his sisters, Olga Popowich of North Battleford, SK, Midge (Cliff) Dixon of North Battleford, SK, Rose (Bel) Jenson of Whiterock, BC, Pat Faubert of Calgary, AB and Marj (Glen) Brace of Moosomin, SK; sisters-in-law, Sheila Popowich of Esterhazy, SK and Faye Popowich of Outlook, SK and brother-in-law, Peter Kilburn of Saskatoon, SK. Ron will be fondly remembered as a special uncle to numerous Popowich and Jones nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held on Monday, July 25, 2016 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK with Shelly Morris officiating. The organist, Elinor Morris, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art". Special taped processional and recessional music pieces included "Morning Has Broken" by Daniel O'Donnell and "Green, Green Grass of Home" by Porter Wagoner. The Cremation Committal followed in the Llewelyn Cemetery, Llewelyn, SK. 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.
