Dave Tkachuk

Dec 31, 1956-Jan 30, 2022

It is with profound grief that I announce the loss of my husband David in a tragic accident on January 30, 2022.   On Feb 13, 2022 A celebration of life was held at St Vital School (former Battleford Junior High) where David taught all but the first 3 yrs of his 33 year teaching career.  It was with much sadness that due to Covid 19 we were restricted to 100 guests. David touched so many lives that without doubt there were many who would have liked to attend and pay their respects.  While Dave’s Celebration was in February, I am only now able to lay him to rest.

On this day 26 years ago (July17, 1996) I vowed to love you for the rest of my life.  Now as I lay you to rest I’m honoured that you loved me for the rest of your life!

Over our nearly 30 years together we shared intimate love, soulful love, silly love and at times tough love and we were always each other’s chosen person.

Thank you for being you!  Every part of our journey taught me a lesson.  The one I will cherish forever is your unconditional love. Your love and support fostered courage and determination in me and made me brave enough to face my unsolicited journey.  When many would have ran you were my pillar and reassured me I was a blessing not a burden! Thank you for being a man that I am proud to call my friend, my soulmate, my husband.

You were so much more than my husband.

You were a loving father to all the kids and the best PAPA any child could ask for.  You were the playmate, protector, educator,  and caregiver.  All children gravitated to you and your playful nature. Be it relatives or friends to you it didn’t matter you loved them all and they loved you!  You were the Papa that made every yard we had a child’s playground that was enjoyed by so many children.  You will live on in the hearts of all the children that were lucky enough to have spent time with you!

You were the loving son who cared for your ailing father all while caring for me and others.  The coop cafeteria trips, cards games, haircuts, walks and drives were to you “cherished times spent with dad” and you didn’t want it any other way.  Even when you became “that guy” to dad it was ok because you knew he felt safe and cared for when with you and that was all that mattered to you.

Everyone who knew Dave admired his work ethic.  He was a talented man with many skills. Wether he was on the construction site or in the classroom he  gave it 150%.  His carpenter skills were second to none and always in demand!  He built everything from shelves (with his students) to homes to commercial buildings. His teaching career spanned over 3 decades.  He taught so long that he taught his former students children! It wasn’t uncommon to be out in the community and have a young man or woman come up to him and say

“hey Mr. T do you remember me?” He always remembered the face but sometimes the name would escape him.  At each of these encounters you could see the joy and pride in his grin. After retiring Dave subbed at various local schools including St. Vital where two of his granddaughters attended.  He lost the title Mr. T with this generation and was addressed as PAPA by the students in his granddaughter’s class and many on the playground…..he was honoured, and the grin grew  bigger.  Dave ran the Outdoor Ed Program for many years at BJHS.  These were some of his most cherished teaching memories.  He believed this program provided students with valuable life skills experiences that would serve them well in life.  Any student fortunate enough to have had Dave as a teacher had one of the best!

Dave was a true friend.  If someone needed a hand he was always there to help.  He helped those we knew and many we didn’t who were less fortunate or able.

He gave so much of himself to his me, family, friends, teaching, and carpentry there wasn’t often a lot left for himself,  yet he never complained.  He will be remembered by many family, friends, students and coworkers as he touched so many lives in such positive ways!

I know I would rather endure this inexplicable pain of outliving you than to have never held you in my arms…. regardless of the years I will roll this earth holding you not in my arms but in my heart. I am so thankful you chose me to love for the rest of your life, I can’t wait to see you again. RIP, Love Forever For Always.  Your wife❤️

For those wishing to make a donation in David’s honour please send to Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation 2217C Hanselman Ct, Saskatoon, SK S7L 6A8.

• Date : 2022-07-21
• Location : Battlefords