John Savostianik, age 96, of North Battleford, SK passed away May 15, 2025 at his home with his children by his side.

He was predeceased by Helen (Loadman) his wife of 68 years, his parents Thomas and Mary, and siblings Sybil, Susie, Albert, Sam, Annette, Mike, Jack, and Andrew.

John is survived by children Verda (Don Wildeman) parents of Jeremy (Mari) and Andrea (John Thomas) with children Madelyn and Jackson; Mervin (Marie) parents of Jeff McKay (Rebecca) with children Tyson, Carter, and Jaxon, and Aden; Lana (Barry Hicks); and Nancy (Al Hoffinger) parents of Amanda (Jesse McGonigle) and Derek.  He will also be lovingly remembered by his sister Marjory Watts.

John was born in Swaryn, Poland then moved to Canada in 1930 where his parents homesteaded in the Cando, SK area.  After helping with the farm and getting an elementary education as a child and young man, at age 18 he purchased some farmland nearby that he worked for a few years.  He also worked in the forestry sector in BC and Manitoba, and for the Canadian National Railway in Toronto.

In the summers of 1950 to 1955 John worked as an equipment operator for a Saskatchewan road-construction contractor.   Eventually purchasing the equipment, he formed his own contracting company, building many grid roads in the province over the following 12 years.

After winding down the construction company he worked for the RM of Round Valley as an equipment operator and earned a certificate in Local Government Administration by correspondence from the University of  Saskatchewan.  Then, starting in 1971, he continued and concluded his working career as Administrator of the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake after completing 22 years of service in 1993.

John met Helen in 1953 while he was building roads in the Unity area, and she was teaching at Rosebrier School.  They were married on her birthday the following year.  They owned mobile homes to allow them to live near road-building locales until they settled on an acreage near Unity, in 1963, where they remained (while also owning a cottage on Murray Lake) until moving to Saskatoon in 2008 then to North Battleford in 2022.

In his spare time, and throughout retirement, he was truly creative and found joy & satisfaction in woodworking, fishing and square-dancing.  John was a long-time participant in the Unity Lions Club and United Church.  He was known for his kindness and dry sense of humor.

Condolences for the family can be made at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium – Tim Scaife Funeral Director.

• Date : 2025-05-21
• Location : North Battleford, SK