Dave Nakoneshny
December 4, 1933 – December 5, 2022
The family of Dave Nakoneshny is sad to announce his passing on Monday, December 5, 2022. He was 89 years of age. David Phillip Nakoneshny was born December 4, 1933, to Paul and Annie Nakoneshny. He was born and raised on the family farm by Elmsville, SK, 8 miles north of Lanigan, SK. As the second oldest of 9 children, from a young age he was helping his dad with manual labour. This included working the fields with the team of horses, tending to the livestock, and chopping and hauling wood. In his youth, he attended Elmsville school before finishing his high school education at St. Joseph’s Academy in Yorkton, SK.
Dave’s strong work ethic served him well as he worked on drilling rigs and various construction jobs around the area. Dave then spent many of his young adult years working in shipyards, sawmills, and logging out in British Columbia. He spent time in Kitimat, and Price Rupert before eventually moving and settling his family in Revelstoke for a number of years. Upon returning to the prairies in 1975, he started work with the Sask Wheat Pool. He worked his way to becoming a repair crew foreman and was able to happily retire as the self-declared mayor of Sinnett, SK, in 1994. Never one to have idle hands, he kept busy hunting, fishing, and tending to his livestock and yard. He grew a beautiful garden with plenty leftover to share with friends and family.
Always a great storyteller, he was happy to welcome visitors to share his stories and, if you stayed long enough, a coil of his homemade sausage. Some favorite topics of conversation were various hunting and fishing tales, card games with the Gerwing clan, and memories of his many beloved pets.
While his love of animals was evident and contagious, it was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren that were Dave’s pride and joy. Birthdays and anniversaries were special occasions not to be forgotten. He always kept his cookie jar full of his famous chocolate chip cookies, ready for a visit from his grandkids. For good measure, you could always count on grandpa to hand out a treat for the ride home.
Dave was a man of God. He attended Mass regularly and prayed the rosary daily. On the day before his passing, he celebrated his 89th birthday surround by his loved ones. Dave’s life was full of faith and many blessings. Dave will be lovingly remembered by his good friend Gladys McCarthy; sons: Joe (Gwen) Nakoneshny and family, Amy (Matthew Pearce) Nakoneshny [Grace and Remy], Daren (Caitlin) Nakoneshny [Nolan, Abigail, Lydia]; Gordon (Darlene) Nakoneshny and family, Levi; Jim Nakoneshny and family Tyler, Kayla (Ed). He is also survived by siblings: Amelia (Reg) Gerwing, Sylvia (John) Cook, Harvey (Cheryl) Nakonechny, Lawrence Nakoneshny, and many nieces and nephews. Dave was predeceased by his son, Brian; his parents, Paul and Annie Nakoneshny; brothers: Fred (Cis) Nakonechny, Joseph Nakoneshny; sisters: Marie (Fred) Gerwing, and Patricia Nakoneshny.
A Prayer Service was held for Dave at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday evening, December 9, 2022, at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Lanigan, and the Funeral Mass was celebrated there Friday, December 10, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., with both services offered by Fr. Gregory Smith-Windsor. Amy Nakoneshny presented the eulogy at the Prayer Service and at the memorial luncheon. Participants included: Eric Gerwing, cross bearer; Amilia Gerwing and Amy Nakoneshny, scripture readers; Sylvia Cook, intentions; Joe and Gwen Nakoneshny, gift bearers; William Dodd, (Prayer Service) and Patricia Joa (Funeral Mass), music; and Geraldine Paproski (Prayer Service), and Karen Senko and Geraldine Ehalt, (Funeral Mass), memorial table attendants The memorial luncheon was held in St. Mary’s Parish Hall. Interment followed at Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery in the Burr district, SK, assisted by active pallbearers: Joe Nakoneshny, Jim Nakoneshny, Gordon Nakoneshny, Daren Nakoneshny, Matthew Pearce, and Roger Gerwing; with “All those who shared in Dave’s life,” noted as honorary pallbearers. Memorial donations may be directed in memory of Dave to the Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Fund (c/o PO Box 674, Lanigan, SK, S0K 2M0).
This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)