Cruise
Edward Isaac (Ike) September 17, 1910 to May 22, 2012.
Born in Craik, Saskatchewan to Sam and Annie Cruise, Ike was the first in a family of four boys. After attending Cullyton school which was situated on the Cruise homestead quarter, Ike worked on the farm with his dad and on community threshing crews. He was interested in carpentry from an early age and his mother used her scarce resources to buy him tools. The combination of his enquiring mind and the resourcefulness required to survive early days on the prairies meant Ike could turn his hand to almost everything but he was attracted to carpentry. He farmed throughout the thirties working carpentry jobs during the off seasons. This trade took him to construction work on many local homes and businesses as well as projects like the Balcarres Hospital and the special needs Training School in Moose Jaw. The promise of long-term work on a large project took him to BC where he spent four years working on the construction of the hydro dam at Brilliant. Known widely for the quality of his work, the sharpness of his wit and his unbelievable memory, a visit with Ike always left you with some hearty chuckles, a fresh perspective on the world’s problems and, more than likely, a reminder of some foible in your past that you wish he had forgotten! He will be fondly remembered as he left a rich legacy of strong families, good work, favourite stories and many personal quips that never fail to bring a smile. Until his heart problems the first week of March, 2012, at the age of 101, Ike was living on his own in his home in Imperial, driving his truck (legally) and amazing everyone with his witty commentary and his genuine philosophy of life – genuine because he lived it. After 65 years of marriage, Ike was predeceased by his wife Lyda in 1996, two brothers George (2001) and Fred (2009) and sister-in-law Mildred (2010). He is lovingly remembered by his three children, son Larry (Elaine), daughters Anne (Terry) Harrison and Sharon (Bert) Reeves; ten grandchildren, Teresa (Melvin) Strachan, Les (Glenda) Reeves, Lori (Blair) Crawford, Rhonda (Steve) Petryk, Cheryl (Vern) Archibald, Myrna (Dean) Bittner, Michele (Dennis) Pratchler, Heather (Bill) Detwiller, Charles (Janelle) Cruise, Dwayne (Daphne) Cruise; twenty-four great-grandchildren, Tracy (Jason) Federspiel, Kathleen (Chad) MacLellan, Mitch Strachan, Zachary and Jared Reeves, Rylan, Tyler and Liam Crawford, Jordan and Nicholas Petryk, Deidre Harrison, Kemp Archibald, Rory and Emma Bittner, Bethany and Nathan Pratchler, Marci, Dawson, Daphne and Brayden Detwiller, Breanna and Tannis Cruise and three great-great-granddaughters, Chloe Federspiel and Siara and Paisley MacLellan. Also remembering Ike is his brother Ben and wife Isabel and sister-in-law Ruth Cruise, nieces, nephews and many cousins.
The funeral service for Edward Isaac (Ike) Cruise, aged 101, was held Saturday, May 26 at 2 p.m. at Imperial Community Centre, Imperial, Sask.
Officiant was Rev. Marilyn Keerak with Terry and Anne Harrison giving the eulogy. Pallbearers were Rylan Crawford, Tyler Crawford, Liam Crawford, Rory Bittner, Dawson Detwilller, Brayden Detwiller, Mitch Strachan and Jared Reeves. Ushers were Bill Lewis and Harvey McLane. Register attendants were Shirley Kelly and Cheryl Huebner. Sharon Crittenden was the pianist with the quartet of Mel McGifford, Craig Burgess, Ken Williams and Don Emde. Interment was at Imperial Cemetery.