At the age of 50, Darrell Tomanek passed away in the Nipawin Hospital after a brief battle with cancer. Darrell was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle, step grandpa and pet owner.

Darrell was born May 21^st, 1969 in North Battleford, SK. In Darrell’s youth, he spent the majority of his time on the Tomanek family farm, hanging out his Aunty Bernice rode caves, pigs, have bike races and numerous other things that they shouldn’t have been doing. When Baba thought Darrell was old enough to drive, she would get him to take her to pick saskatoons. Darrell learned a lot and was quite knowledgeable with horses and by the age of 12 he had a gray welsh pony named Cocoa. Cocoa was a small horse but able to keep up with the other horses and was the horse that would get the cows out of the bush weather they want to move or not. After Cocoa, Darrell had a sorrel Arabian named Rusty. As Darrell got older, he learned how to adjust or repair machinery, haul grain where ever needed, pretty much any task given on the farm he could do with ease.

Darrell’s family did a lot of camping and eventually settled and built a cabin at Turtle Lake. Between the Tomanek family farm, the lake and adding in a job Darrell kept quite busy. At the lake Darrell loved to hunt and scout around the area for other hunting spots. When Scouting Darrell would take his dog with him. There were a few Lady, Shadow, Dane, Jag, Meesha, Merlin and now Ares. Hunting was Darrell’s biggest passion and became vastly knowledgeable like it was second nature to him.

As soon as Darrell could start working, he got a job with the Co-op grocery in
North Battleford. With the Co-op Darrell held various positions including Dairy Manager, Grocery Manager, Manager of the Cut Knife store and later the Humbolt Co-op. in 2003 when Darrell moved to manage the Humbolt Co-op he met Alaine Edwards (Crozier). Darrell and Alaine both were new to Humbolt Co-op location and seemed to hit it off and started dating.

In 2005 Darrell moved to Whitecourt, AB and Alaine followed a few months later. While in Whitecourt Darrell worked for Trican as a Coil Tubing Operator with which he travelled all over SK, AB, and BC. In 2009 Darrell was laid off of Trican. Shortly after, Darrell started working for the Air Tanker Base as a supervisor. There he was recognized for his forethought and organizational abilities to plan ahead. While there Darrell diligently watched the weather to ensure the safety of the pilots along with filling them with fire retardant, suppling meals and beverages to the pilots. Darrell moved on to work for Cal Frac Well Service in Grande Prairie, AB. While working at Cal Frac Darrell and Alaine took over an outfitting camp, Delta Big Game Outfitters north of Nipawin, near Cumberland House, SK. While in Whitecourt, Darrell and Alaine had opened their home to travellers with Pineview Bed and Breakfast.

While still working with Cal Frac in 2012 Darrell and Alaine made the move to Nipawin to be closer to their outfitting Camp. Eventually Darrell was laid off from Cal Frac and was able to do what he loved most to do in life. With a lot of hard work, meeting new people, making great friends the couple had 5 fabulous years doing what Darrell loved with a passion of non other. With the camp running seasonally; Spring and fall bear hunts along with moose, deer hunts, and fishing they were kept quite busy and loved every minute of it.

The Spring of 2012 Darrell started working for Aylsham Agro, hauling anhydrous, fertilizers and other spraying products to the farmers in the area. Darrell learned quickly where the farmers lived and made many friends with them.

Darrell kept in touch will a lot of people; calling his mom everyday, old high school friend, past hunter, new friend or new farmer his heart was as big as he was, making sure his friends and family were “doing ok”.   Darrell also had the side of him that like to joke around and tell stories. But then again being an avid out doorman with the love of nature there is always a story to tell.

Darrell will be missed by his wife Alaine of 12 years (16 together), mother Margaret, Father Ed, sister Chantelle Moser (nieces Brandy and Ashley), Brother Jason (Tiny) Tomanek, cousin Chelsea Schmidt who was much like a sister to him and his dog Ares.

A celebration of life for Darrell will be held at Aylsham Agro , south of Nipawin and at Turtle Lake SK. at a later date pending the SK Covid-19 restriction regulations.

• Date : 2020-05-09
• Location : Nipawin, Saskatchewan