We are saddened by the passing of Bill on Tuesday August 6, 2019 at Samaritan Place in Saskatoon at the age of 89. He is survived by daughter Vicky Kuntz (Terry) of Humboldt and their sons, Curt (Shawna) and son Brady, Keith (Kimberly) and sons Cohen and Jace; daughter Lorain Resch (Dave) of Grande Prairie and their children Jaydean and Alex; son Mike of Yellow Creek; son Daniel (Stephen) of Yellow Creek; son Doug (Mandy) of Saskatoon and their son Masyn; sister Areta Plume (Ed) of Calgary; sister Victoria Billo of Whitecourt. Bill was predeceased by his wife Susan; his son Kenneth (infant); parents Mike and Nellie (Cherewyk) Gryba; his sister Mary Griffin (Fred); and his sister Hope Poncelet (Jack). Bill was born and raised on the Gryba family farm in the Yellow Creek district. Through high school and immediately after Bill helped on the family farm. In those early years his favorite horse power came by the names of Jim and Prince. Soon the draw of larger adventures lead him to the interior of BC where he tried his hand at cooking in lumber camps and working as an apprentice electrician. The Prairies called and Bill returned home to begin his farming career. In 1950 Bill purchased a McCormick L170 truck and supplemented his farming with hauling commodities such as gravel in Alberta and cord wood to local homes. Bill married Susan Stelmaschuk from Meskanaw on a particularly stormy November 8th in 1958. After a short stint of “town life” Bill and Susan established the homestead in 1963, a couple short miles from Yellow Creek. Both were true farmers and extremely hard workers, combined with progressive thinking and the willingness to take a risk, their family farm flourished. Being progressive showed in things like being the first area farmer to grow Rapeseed or hit the muddy fields with something as odd as a 4 wheel drive tractor, yes the Versatile D145 was a huge risk that paid dividends instantly in the wet years. Bill was very involved in volunteer activities in and around the Yellow Creek community. Organization’s that benefited from Bill’s willingness to help included the Orthodox Church Executive, local school board and he was instrumental in securing funding and construction of the gymnasium which still plays host to many a community event. Retirement never officially happened for Bill, he was always willing to get back into any tractor and Dads smile was broadest when he was in his beloved 145. February of 2012 Mom and Dad moved to Samaritan Place in Saskatoon. In 2014 when Mom passed away Dad stayed as a resident of Samaritan Place, known to all as Mr. Bill, Dad or Gido. Samaritan Place provided a home filled with care and compassion. From our families to all of Samaritan, we give our thanks to you for all that you have done over the last 7 years for our parents. The Prayer Service was held in the Chapel of Kushneryk Funeral Service in Wakaw on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. and the Funeral Service was held at the St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yellow Creek on Friday, August 9, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. with Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Lomaszkiewicz officiating. Interment followed in the St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery. Donations in memory of William may be directed to Heart & Stroke. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Marc Blondeau of Kushneryk Funeral Service, Wakaw, SK, 306-233-4403.

• Date : 2019-08-06