Anton Dziaduck

Anton A. Dziaduck of Yorkton and formerly of the Buchanan district, went home to his Lord after a brief illness, passing away in Yorkton Union Hospital in the early hours of Sunday, June 17, 2018.  Just as his devoted wife of 39 years, Pauline (Danyluk) cared for him until the end and ensured that he received the prayers and Christian sacraments in his last days, Anton lovingly looked after the needs of his wife until his departure.

Anton was born on October 27, 1927, on the family farm seven miles south of Buchanan, the eldest son of Lena (Wasylkiw) and Alex Dziaduck.  His father passed away in the middle of the Great Depression when Anton was only 8 years old and he had to assume many manly duties of farming and cattle-raising from this early age.  He remembered his father teaching him prayers in his native Polish language.

He stepped in to raise the family, which included sisters, Mary, Jean and Olga, and a younger brother, Steve.   His devotion to work and family led him to discontinue attending Vasiloutz School while still a young teenager and once family members reached adulthood, he continued to live with and care for his widowed mother.  He saved enough money to buy himself a Charles Atlas Body Building Course in the 1930s and set upon doing the exercises daily.  He gained some logging experience in the interior of British Columbia where he worked as a choke-setter, attaching cables to logs so they could be retrieved by skidders.

“Anton A” as local people knew him, was a dedicated farmer and good cattleman, raising cattle on the community pasture adjoining his land.   He had a keen practiced eye for buying cattle.  Many people valued his expert opinion, often asking that he accompany them to auctions.  He was also an excellent hunter and a bull’s eye marksman.  To his last day, he knew exactly when hunting seasons and draws would open.  He was an excellent neighbour and a loyal friend. 

A strong Christian believer, he regularly attended Ss. Constantine and Helena Ukrainian Catholic Church near Buchanan, and later St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish and St. Gerrard’s Roman Catholic Church in Yorkton.   Anton was quick to acknowledge God’s providential care, especially in two farm incidents.  The first was when his jacket was caught in a grain auger.  In that split second, he called the name of Christ. The machine stopped and he used his jack-knife to cut his jacket free.  The second time was when he was being tossed by a bull in his yard one hot summer day, and at that very moment, a neighbour came driving into his rather isolated yard.

Life’s new chapter for Anton began in the mid-1970s, with his decision to move to Yorkton after the passing of his mother.  He became acquainted with a girl from “the other side of the lake”, Pauline Danyluk, a teacher, whom he met at a local wedding.  The tanned, strong man wearing a Stetson won her heart and they were married on April 16, 1979 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Yorkton by Reverend Father Paul Maluga.  Together, Pauline and Anton engaged in many delightful, seasonal life activities that included picking mushrooms, spring and fall, gathering cranberries for juice, caring for gardens in town and on the farm, and attending old time dances.  They showed wonderful hospitality to family and friends.    They even took a turn at dance lessons and enjoyed learning the tango and cha-cha!  In the last few years, it wouldn’t be Saturday night without their tuning in to CJGX’s Saturday Night Get Together, and one week before Anton fell ill, they danced a fast polka in their kitchen.  In later years, Anton would listen attentively as Pauline read him the daily Scripture readings.    Although he was, by nature, quiet and reflective, he was quick to joke, especially in his Ukrainian language.

Their German Shephard was their beloved pet, and in the Ukrainian tradition, they shared bits of the Sviat Vecher with him after the meal.  Long walks on the northern edge of Yorkton to see the ducks and geese helped to keep Anton fit and he never, till his last days, neglected his physical exercises learned some seventy years earlier.   Anton was always keen on current events and could converse on international affairs.  He was able to do mental mathematical calculations faster than most using a pencil and paper.

Besides his wife, Pauline, Anton leaves to mourn his sister, Mary (Katchur) of Yorkton;  his brothers-in-law, Dan (Carol) Danyluk and Vasil (Kathy) Szalasznyj of Saskatoon, sister-in-law, Sandra Reimer of Saskatoon, together with many nephews and nieces in Saskatchewan and Alberta: Phyllis Lukey, Cornell (Marian) Haliuk, Kim (Debbie) Haliuk, Noel (Garth) Kowalchuk, Darcy  Moore, Sheldon (Karen) Dziaduck , Trent Dziaduck , Darla Dziaduck , Dee Dee (Gordon) Hannah,  Milton Powers, Stephanie (Colin Skrapek) Danyluk, Matthew (Teri) Danyluk, Victoria (Kyle Kitchen) Danyluk,  Bernadette (Kyle) Wylie, Cassandra Danyluk, Garry (Donna) Danyluk, Dean (Trish) Hrycyk, Daniel (Maureen) Hrycyk, Selina Hrycyk, Alexander Shalashniy and Anastasia Szalasznyj.  He also leaves behind many great-nieces and great-nephews.   Anton was predeceased by his sisters, Jean (Steve) Dennis, Olga (Morris) Haliuk, his brother, Steve (Elizabeth) Dziaduck Powers, his brother-in-law, Steve Dennis and also his niece, Sharon Dennis, and nephew, Garrett Dziaduck.

We bid farewell to a real prairie man.  Until we meet again in heaven.   Memory Eternal!   Vichnaya Pamyat’!

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