1914
Ernest
2014
Ernest Schultz
March 18, 1914 — October 19, 2014
March 18, 1914- October 19, 2014
Memorial Service
Private Family Service
Ernest (Ernie) Schultz left this world on October 19, 2014.
He was born on March 18, 1914. His parents, Pauline and Walter, were newcomers to Canada at the time. Their home was a squatter's shack, situated on what was later named "Rainmaker's Corner,"six miles north of Kuroki, Sask.
Ernie managed to achieve a grade eight education and could read and write in German, taught by his father Walter, who had been born on the German-Polish border. Ernie also picked up a bit of a third language (Polish) from his parents.
As a young man of just 15 years of age, after quitting school, Ernie was given the very hard task of breaking new land for farming. Well, I'm sure he holds that record for breaking some 500 acres, at that young age of 15. For you young city people, breaking consisted of a steel-wheel, open tractor, no cab, no air conditioning, no stereo or radio, and no cell phones or smart phones. He spent 16-hour days, and while he sweat his day away, a welcome slough was his shower. In winter his job was hauling big sleigh racks of loose hay, forked on by hand, but from a frozen stack. He then would start the sometimes 5 or 6 mile journey with his horses, hay and young Ernie in the frosty, cold drive home. This would be repeated until the stack was finished, then onto the next. Sunday always was a day of somewhat rest, and the Bible was brought out. In 1936 Ernie married Agnes Slusarchuk of the Lintlaw area. Their new life started with a bit of land from his dad Walter, and a few cows from his father-in-law. They lived in a rat-infested log shack until 1944. That year a new home was built, followed by other farm buildings through the years. In 1974 Ernie and Agnes retired and decided to build a new house in Wadena. Kelvington was their town, but somehow they chose Wadena. They lived a comfortable life. Agnes had a big garden, and Ernie continued helping his son Doney with seeding and harvest. He loved combining, but refused to haul grain. Once onto the old "John Deere" he was welded there. The only stopping was every 10 hours for fuel. I would finish fueling and service, and say, "Take a break, Dad. I'll make a round."
"I'm all done eating," he would say, with a sandwich in one hand, and a donut in the other, scrambling up the steps. "You better go unload," he would say.
Once retired, fishing was his favourite enjoyment. Dad and Mom would troll for hours on many different surrounding lakes. In winter he would sit in his big chair, perhaps absorbed in the Kelvington Radio or the Wadena News, with one eye on the TV. "The weather should be on next, eh, ma?" he would say.
After breakfast he would sit by his radio, listening to his heroes, Fred and Willy's "Flea Market" on CKRM Regina. His famous "Big Grin" was always present as he listened to their jokes. Once in his 90s he decided it was time to quit driving and sell his beloved 1985 Ford Crown Victoria car. I think him coming home with a few pieces of chrome missing did help him to decide. With a tear in his eye he said, "Sure gonna miss that old boat," as he called it. We got him a scooter, his "Ukrainian Harley Davidson." This gave him freedom. He made many enjoyable miles driving around town. I do think the truckers did warn each other when Ernie was spotted on Highway 35 downtown.
In his later 90s the scooter also had to be parked because of his extreme arthritis throughout his body. Agnes took care of him as his sole caregiver until he was forced to enter a home. Now unable to any longer feed himself, Agnes would walk to the home, about a quarter of a mile one way every day, rain, wind, snow or cold. About a year ago, she took over riding the scooter which made her journey easier. The years he spent in the home and bed-ridden he was longing for peace which finally came.
Think of the changes Ernest witnessed in his one hundred years and seven months! From oxen and horses to machinery that is GPS-controlled and operate themselves!
What a long, prosperous life you lived, Dad. Rest in Peace.
a�"Your son, Doney
Ernest was predeceased by his parents, Pauline and Walter Schultz; brothers, Paul (Edda) and Verner (Emma); sister Clara (Ernest) Malischewski; five brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.
Left to mourn his passing are Agnes, his wife of nearly 78 years; daughter Phylis (Daryl); son Doney (Elly); granddaughter Tammy Schultz; grandsons, Kevin Doyle, Jason Doyle and Shayne Schultz; as well as seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was born on March 18, 1914. His parents, Pauline and Walter, were newcomers to Canada at the time. Their home was a squatter's shack, situated on what was later named "Rainmaker's Corner,"six miles north of Kuroki, Sask.
Ernie managed to achieve a grade eight education and could read and write in German, taught by his father Walter, who had been born on the German-Polish border. Ernie also picked up a bit of a third language (Polish) from his parents.
As a young man of just 15 years of age, after quitting school, Ernie was given the very hard task of breaking new land for farming. Well, I'm sure he holds that record for breaking some 500 acres, at that young age of 15. For you young city people, breaking consisted of a steel-wheel, open tractor, no cab, no air conditioning, no stereo or radio, and no cell phones or smart phones. He spent 16-hour days, and while he sweat his day away, a welcome slough was his shower. In winter his job was hauling big sleigh racks of loose hay, forked on by hand, but from a frozen stack. He then would start the sometimes 5 or 6 mile journey with his horses, hay and young Ernie in the frosty, cold drive home. This would be repeated until the stack was finished, then onto the next. Sunday always was a day of somewhat rest, and the Bible was brought out. In 1936 Ernie married Agnes Slusarchuk of the Lintlaw area. Their new life started with a bit of land from his dad Walter, and a few cows from his father-in-law. They lived in a rat-infested log shack until 1944. That year a new home was built, followed by other farm buildings through the years. In 1974 Ernie and Agnes retired and decided to build a new house in Wadena. Kelvington was their town, but somehow they chose Wadena. They lived a comfortable life. Agnes had a big garden, and Ernie continued helping his son Doney with seeding and harvest. He loved combining, but refused to haul grain. Once onto the old "John Deere" he was welded there. The only stopping was every 10 hours for fuel. I would finish fueling and service, and say, "Take a break, Dad. I'll make a round."
"I'm all done eating," he would say, with a sandwich in one hand, and a donut in the other, scrambling up the steps. "You better go unload," he would say.
Once retired, fishing was his favourite enjoyment. Dad and Mom would troll for hours on many different surrounding lakes. In winter he would sit in his big chair, perhaps absorbed in the Kelvington Radio or the Wadena News, with one eye on the TV. "The weather should be on next, eh, ma?" he would say.
After breakfast he would sit by his radio, listening to his heroes, Fred and Willy's "Flea Market" on CKRM Regina. His famous "Big Grin" was always present as he listened to their jokes. Once in his 90s he decided it was time to quit driving and sell his beloved 1985 Ford Crown Victoria car. I think him coming home with a few pieces of chrome missing did help him to decide. With a tear in his eye he said, "Sure gonna miss that old boat," as he called it. We got him a scooter, his "Ukrainian Harley Davidson." This gave him freedom. He made many enjoyable miles driving around town. I do think the truckers did warn each other when Ernie was spotted on Highway 35 downtown.
In his later 90s the scooter also had to be parked because of his extreme arthritis throughout his body. Agnes took care of him as his sole caregiver until he was forced to enter a home. Now unable to any longer feed himself, Agnes would walk to the home, about a quarter of a mile one way every day, rain, wind, snow or cold. About a year ago, she took over riding the scooter which made her journey easier. The years he spent in the home and bed-ridden he was longing for peace which finally came.
Think of the changes Ernest witnessed in his one hundred years and seven months! From oxen and horses to machinery that is GPS-controlled and operate themselves!
What a long, prosperous life you lived, Dad. Rest in Peace.
a�"Your son, Doney
Ernest was predeceased by his parents, Pauline and Walter Schultz; brothers, Paul (Edda) and Verner (Emma); sister Clara (Ernest) Malischewski; five brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.
Left to mourn his passing are Agnes, his wife of nearly 78 years; daughter Phylis (Daryl); son Doney (Elly); granddaughter Tammy Schultz; grandsons, Kevin Doyle, Jason Doyle and Shayne Schultz; as well as seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
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