Aaron Kowalchuk

Memorial Service

Sunday, July 12th

2:00 p.m.

Kelvington Senior Center

Aaron Lance Kowalchuk was born on May 22, 1960, in the Kelvington Union Hospital to Doris (nAC.e Svennes) and Raymond Kowalchuk. Aaron was the only child of Doris and Ray. On December 1, 2014, Aaron passed away with Charlaine at his side after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Unfortunately, Aaron's sons, Stephen and Kendell, did not get to his side in time, but spent nights and days with him prior to his passing. Aaron and his parents moved from Hudson Bay to Kelvington when Aaron was three years old. There he attended both elementary and high school. He left school in May 1977 to start working for Alpern Livestock as a truck driver, hauling livestock from western Canada to eastern Canada. His first boss was Allan Perron from Kelvington. In the fall of 1977, Aaron met Charlaine Prince from Kuroki and in January 1982, they were married. Two beautiful sons were born to them, Stephen Aaron Lance and Kendell William. Charlaine and Aaron made their home in Kelvington where their two sons were raised. Aaron continued to work as a long-haul trucker. In 1984, Aaron began to work at Wheatbelt Sales in Wadena and had the opportunity to go to Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon, where he obtained his first year of the heavy duty mechanics program. It was during this course that he met Duane Kirstein of Raymore. Duane and Aaron became good friends, and their friendship continued throughout the years and was true to the end until Aaron's passing. But, as it seems sometimes, with trucking "in Aaron's blood," shortly thereafter he returned to long-haul trucking, working for various companies throughout the years. His dedication to and love of this work took him all over Canada and the United States. Throughout the years, Charlaine and the boys spent many days and weeks with Aaron, trucking across Canada and the US. While on trucking trips, they were lucky to visit Niagara Falls, Disneyland, spend a day at the NASCAR track, California, Las Vegas, Texas, just to mention a few. Days at home away from trucking, Aaron, Charlaine and the boys especially loved sledding and spending time at various lakes, camping, fishing and boating. In 2001, following Aaron and Charlaine's separation, Aaron went on to make his home in Yorkton. He eventually settled in Ebenezer for the next ten years with his companion, Brenda Murray, and her three children, Shelby, Taylor and Shane. Throughout the years, Aaron and Brenda especially enjoyed taking their holidays on their motorcycles. Aaron truly loved the outdoors and the "wide open spaces," and being "on the road" was in his blood. Whether it was trucking for days or weeks on end, all-day sled rides, or vacations on his Harley Davidson - that was when he was in his element or most happy. Another of Aaron's loves was Jed, who was the family pet for about 16 years. Jed was his companion and spent countless hours on the road with Aaron and even accompanied him on bike trips. In 2007, Aaron was diagnosed with a form of cancer, and in the early years of his diagnosis was able to function and work well with a positive outlook. But as the years went on, his health began to fail. In 2012, he moved to Regina to be with special friend Fran Link and remained there until his illness forced him back to Yorkton to be close to his family and doctor. The last few years were stressful for Aaron, as his debilitating health condition left him helpless and dependent on his family, something that was very frustrating for him. Despite his frustration, he never gave up hope; and just months prior to his passing, he bought a fishing boat with all intentions to make the best of what he had left and do what he loved a lot, and that was fishing. Aaron was predeceased by his parents, Ray and Doris Kowalchuk; paternal grandparents, Dmytro and Nettie Kowalchuk; maternal grandparents, Severt and Ida Svennes; and by several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his sons, Stephen (Brandi) and Kendell (Brittany); granddaughter Savannah; Charlaine, Stephen and Kendell's mother; Bill and Phyllis Sowa, Stephen and Kendell's grandparents; special friends, Duane and Kim and Brenda and Fran; aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Aaron's laughter and uncanny, weird sense of humour will truly be missed.