John Prokopetz was born on January 17, 1930, on the family farm near Hamton, SK. He was the youngest son of Metro and Helen (nee Zaharia) Prokopetz. John attended Stawchan School (later in his life he supported the school as a trustee). In 1957, he obtained employment at the Caribou Gold Quartz mine in Wells, BC. However, the call of the prairies and the farm life was strong and John soon returned home to the family farm near Hamton. In 1958, he married Shirley (nee Matechuk) and they were blessed with four children, Darrell, Dwayne, Sharlene and Michelle. John was an active member of communities he lived in. He was a long time member of the Hamton Community Centre until its closure. He was a councillor for the R.M. of Sliding Hills Division II for six years and a Canadian Wheat Pool Member. John was on the executive of Palibrode Church, where his father, Metro was laid to rest. John was a life-long member of the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Yorkton and the Order of St. Andrew men's association. John continued to farm until 1996, when he retired and moved to Yorkton. When his health began to decline due to congestive heart failure, he moved to the Invermay Health Centre in September of 2014. On July 2, 2015, he relocated to the Yorkton Lodge at the Yorkton & District Nursing Home. On July 16, 2015, he passed away peacefully at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, surrounded by his loving family. John was predeceased by his parents, Metro and Helen; his sisters, Mary Chipel and Polly Rody; his brother, Peter and his nephews, Clifford Prokopetz and Leslie Rody. John leaves to mourn his passing and cherish his memory, his loving wife, Shirley and their children: son, Darrell (Lois) and his children, Ian (Lori) and their sons, Benson and Henry, Amy (Ugene) and their sons, Viktor and Maxim, Melissa (Will) and their son, Timothy and Kyle (Katherine) and her children, Saphira and Deagan; son, Dwayne (Brenda); daughter, Sharlene (Craig) Popoff and their children, Breanna (Tyler), Scott and Brett; daughter, Michelle (Rob) Resler; sister, Elsie (Joe); his sister-in-law, Mary as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. A Visitation for Family and Friends was held on Monday, July 20, 2015 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK. The Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 from Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yorkton, SK with the Very Reverend Mel Slashinsky officiating. The cantor, Gerald Yaholnitsky and members of the church choir led the responses. The Cross Bearer was Ernest Matechuk and the Banner Bearers were Kyle Prokopetz and Alexander Grywacheski. The Interment Service followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery, Yorkton, SK with Scott Popoff, Brett Popoff, Darcy Prokopetz, Darren Matechuk, Chad Grywacheski and Gregory Sturtz 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.
