Martin Spizawka
April 24, 1944 – August 28, 2023
Martin Spizawka passed away on Monday, August 28, at age of 79 years, at City Hospital in Saskatoon, SK.
Martin was born on April 24, 1944 to Waselka and Steve Spizawka at Buchanan, SK. He took his schooling at a country school in Spalding, SK. Persuading his teacher at a young age of 16 years, to take some tests ahead of schedule, so he could join “Milton Tyake’s Pineland Pioneers” to play accordion, which he learned to play at an early age. A natural talent. He started out working as a grain buyer when he met Audrey Heslip. They married in 1964. Martin and Audrey had three children: Bryon, Kim and Brent. Moving to three different locations before settling down in Wynyard, SK where Martin took maintenance job with the Uni Feed Mill and built them a beautiful family home. He continued his passion for music, playing with the Canadian Polka Kings, the Western Senators. More memorable moments on occasion playing with America’s Polka King, Frankie Yankovic. He acquired the stage name “Marty Vale” because an MC could not remember Spizawka, and the name Vale was popular at the time, so it stuck. He also started his own band, Canadian Polka Party, travelling three prairie provinces. Martin’s favourite jamming was with his son, Brent, whom also plays accordion. You could see the pride in his eyes. Nothing else existed when those two started playing. Life for this family changed in 1982 when Audrey passed away from cancer.
Martin met his new partner in life, Shirley Pich and her two children, Todd and Kim. Martin and Shirley stayed in Wynyard until everyone had graduated, then they moved to Balgonie, SK taking Shirley’s sister Betty with them. Martin worked in several different Feed Mills in the eighteen years they lived there before deciding to move back to his roots, purchasing an acreage outside of Spalding, SK in 2007. He worked at Doepker’s in Annaheim retiring in 2009. Not ready to give up an income he took on a caretaker’s job in Spalding at the low rentals for a while. They both worked endlessly making a beautiful yard. Cutting a lot of grass, planting large gardens and flowers. That was what they both loved.
Martin had a love for animals. He loved his miniature pinchers. They were his kids once his kids were out of the house and gone. He had a real soft spot for them. He had some hobbies too. Tractors! FORD TRACTORS! LOTS OF FORD TRACTORS! Then it was any tractor. He liked to go fishing, picking berries in some bush who knows where, auctioning for that treasure he can bring home to store alongside years of collecting these “treasures”, watching the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS games on tv, splitting wood in -30 weather, and stopping by with a coffee cup in hand, just for a visit.
Marty was a gentle soul. He will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his partner, Shirley; children: Byron (Lisa), Kim (Dean), Brent (Lonna) and Todd (Shelly); grandchildren: Cody (Shelby Shultz), Nicholas, Max, Jazmine, Brooklyn and Colton; sister, Sophie Tomchyschen; brothers: Peter (Fern) Spizawka and Orest (Audrey) Spizawka; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
Martin was predeceased by his parents: Waselka and Steve Spizawka; wife, Audrey Spizawka; brothers: Nick Spizawka, Bill Spizawka and John Spizawka; nephews: Barry Robblee, Ron Spizawka and Ken Spizawka; brothers-in-law: Ralph Robblee, Ed Heslip and Paul Tomchyschen; sisters-in-law, Olga Spizawka and Valerie Prosko.
A Funeral Service was held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. from Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium, presided by Bev Trach. Interment will take place at a later date at Pleasant View Cemetery, Wynyard. Memorial donations in Martin’s memory may be directed to ALS or Holy Ascension Orthodox Cemetery at Wimmer.
This notice placed courtesy of
Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium
Phone: 682-1622