John Peter (Jack) Zepp, April 5, 1926 - March 25, 2013. Jack Zepp, of Samaritan Place, Saskatoon passed away at St. Paul's Hospital on March 25, 2013, the same hospital where he was born nearly 87 years ago. Jack spent his early years on a farm near Kenaston, Saskatchewan. His earliest memories were of the severe drought during the "dirty thirties" and perhaps this was why he was a longtime supporter of the CCF party. He never forgot the ruined crops, the dust storms and the grasshopper plagues. These harsh realities led to his father abandoning the family farm, in 1937 and moving his wife and children, along with his machinery and their other possessions, to a section of land near Yorkton, where life became a little easier. Jack attended high school at St. Joseph's College, Yorkton. From the age of 16, he spent several winters at lumber camps in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. In 1948, Jack married Ahaphia Andrejchuk and they moved onto their own half-section. Three sons quickly followed and, ten years later, a daughter. In 1957 they bought the Zepp family section and farmed it until 1966, at which time the family moved into Yorkton. After working as a service manager for Carnduff Motors, Jack became the manager of the new Western Development Museum, a position he held until 1986. After a brief stint in Real Estate, he retired to Spitiwood Acres where he enjoyed golf, gardening and family visits. Jack was also a longtime member of the Lions Club and was known internationally as the "King Pin Trader". He designed many of the Club pins. In 2004, Jack and Ahaphia moved to Saskatoon. In the fall of 1995, Jack began painting. Like many other untutored "folk" artists, he drew subjects from his memory. He began by illustrating scenes and incidents from his early life, such as his parents' homestead, old threshing machines at work, ploughing with oxen, and (inevitably) grasshoppers and gophers. Accompanied by Ahaphia, he took to driving around the province photographing landscapes and buildings that appealed to him such as a round barn or an old farmhouse. These would often then be found placed in the middle of the Qu'Appelle valley, one of his favourite subjects. Jack was predeceased by his parents John (1960), Eva (1962) and his sister, Marjory Hoffman (2010). He is survived by Ahaphia, sons Jack (Joanne), Norman (Judith), James and daughter Anna Marie; grandchildren Julie Rutledge (Daniel), Ryan (Lyndsey Niddrie) , Jeffrey, Melissa (Kristian Watters); great grandchildren Liam, Avery, Madelyn, Shae. He is also survived by his sisters, Eugenia Wegner, Sr. Gertrude Zepp, Dorothy Zepp and his brother Lawrence Zepp as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the chapel of the Samaritan Place Nursing home, Saskatoon, where he lived contentedly for the past year. Also, a grave side interment will be held at the Yorkton City Cemetery in June. Date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations to Samaritan Place or a Care Home of your choice would be appreciated. Arrangements are entrusted to Prairie View Chapel and Crematorium. Ph 306-242-7884
