Mr. John Surkan formerly of Yorkton, widower of Frances Surkan passed away peacefully in Calgary on December 26, 2013 at the age of 94 years. He is lovingly remembered by his four children, Larry (Janice) Surkan, Susan (George) Feswick, David (Michelle) Surkan, Grace (Edward) Maxwell, grandson, Brenden Maxwell, sister Doris Rusnack, brother Matt (Viola) Surkan and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Nick and Lena Surkan, his wife Frances and his sister Katherine Surkan. John was born in the Insinger District on August 7, 1919 and grew up on the family farm. He was the eldest of four children. He attended the Insinger Village School and later Aysgarth School. In 1940 he moved to Vancouver , BC and got a job on a coastal freighter hauling material between Tacoma, WA and Alaska. On October 2, 1941 he reported for basic training in the Army and was trained as a gunner. He was posted to the 85th Field Battery 24th Field Regiment RCA. In 1943 the Canadians agreed to assist the Americans to reclaim the Aleutian Islands from the Japanese and he was sent to Kiska as the 24th Regiment was part of the brigade. After his discharge in February, 1946 he enrolled in a Motor Mechanics course in Saskatoon. On March 31, 1951 he married Frances Halek from the Theodore area and they settled in Insinger and farmed there for 10 years. During this period they had four children. In 1961, John took a job as a steam boiler operator with the Radar Base in Orcadia and years later in the heating plant at the Yorkton Regional High School. After 14 years of shift work, he decided to go farming again and continued to farm into his early sixties. The Funeral Service was held on Saturday, January 4, 2014 Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Mr. Mel Keeble of Yorkton Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses officiating. The interment took place at Yorkton City Cemetery with Glen Bradshaw, Glen Brown, Horatio Gnyp, George Feswick, Brenden Maxwell and Ed Maxwell serving as the casket bearers. Tributes were conveyed by Larry Surkan and Brenden Maxwell. Memorials honouring John's life may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.baileysfuneralhome.com.
