Category Archives: Davidson

Davidson, Obituary

KASMAR, Leslie

May 11, 1931 – April 13, 2018

It is with great sadness our family announces the passing of Leslie Yvonne Kasmar (Logan) of Saskatoon, SK, on April 13, 2018, at the age of 86.

Leslie was born to Fraser and Alice Logan in Saskatoon along with her siblings Corinne, Blake, and Fraser (Berd). She attended Wilson, Caswell, and Bedford Road schools in Saskatoon, SK. In high school, she received awards for high academics and athletics, especially in basketball. She graduated from the Saskatoon City Hospital Nursing School with the highest grades in the 1952B class.

In 1952, Leslie and Dr. Jim Kasmar eloped and moved to Davidson where their medical practice was established and quickly became an integral part of the community for the next 12 years. They moved to Saskatoon in 1964 with their four daughters, Janet, Sydney, Susan, and Marian. Lynda, the youngest daughter was born shortly after settling into city life.

Leslie enjoyed her life as a nurse, homemaker, wife, Mom and Nana. She was an enthusiastic volunteer with many associations. She spent many hours volunteering for the Saskatoon City Hospital Nurses Alumni Executive and bookkeeping for the medical practice and family. She was an avid sports enthusiast, traveller, pianist, golfer, curler, reader, seamstress, needlepointer, swimmer, family lifeguard and enjoyed doing crosswords and Sudoku puzzles. Her memory was amazing to all! Leslie was educated in healing therapies such as Reiki and reflexology. She was also the “taxi driver” for her daughters while they were involved in dancing and activities, we could not count the driving times back and forth to the dance studio with her five daughters. She was also a very talented seamstress and created many costumes for dance, skating, and baton events.

Leslie and Jim enjoyed their time together with family and friends. They travelled extensively from Hawaii to Mexico, Bermuda, Barbados, US and Europe. There were many family road trips hauling the boat to many lakes (particularly Waskesiu lake) for water skiing and fishing, but the priority was the golf courses that each holiday adventure was based around. Many holidays included a round of golf in the morning, lake in the afternoon and another golf round at supper. We think the boat was really needed to haul the golf clubs! They were also members of the Riverside Country Club and they had many rounds of golf and fun with their friends there. Another sport they both enjoyed and took up was scuba diving, which took them to warm destinations to enjoy the undersea life together. It has been nearly 40 years without one another, and now they will be reunited.

In recent years, while living in special care homes, Leslie continued to show concern and compassion for her fellow residents. She adjusted to her new life style, made friends and as health permitted was involved in resident activities. Leslie struggled with rheumatoid arthritis throughout her life, and many times we called her the “Bionic Women” with all the joint replacements she encountered over the years, but that did not stop her in any way. Through this, she taught her family and friend’s determination, strength, and fortitude. Her grandchildren had a wonderful Nana to learn from and have fun with. One of our favorite childhood memories was playing Owly Owly Owly with her!

Mom and Nana/Granma will be remembered and missed so much by,

JANET Thomson; Jackie (Brodie Uprichard), Beth (André Lalonde), Paul (Cara

Baldwin), SYDNEY Kasmar, SUSAN and David Pezderic; Preston, Mitchell, Raisa Pezderic (Colin McGuirk McNeil), MARIAN and Rob Hoffos; Nicole Smith (Michael), Brooke, Rachel, LYNDA Kasmar; Richard, Ernie, Amanda, along with all her relatives in the Logan, Kasmar and Sim families.

Leslie was predeceased by her husband: Dr. James J. Kasmar (1978), parents: Fraser and Alice Logan, sister: Corinne Hollingshead, brother-in-law: Glen Hollingshead, grandson: Jim Thomson, and son-in-law: Mark Thomson.

On Saturday, April 21, 2018, a burial service took place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon, SK. Following, everyone was welcome to attend a Come and Go “Celebration of Life” for Leslie, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at  The Saskatoon Club.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Arthritis Society.

Davidson

Firefighters and pool committee team up for fundraiser

Glen Manz tracks the bids for a seat around a VIP table.

DAVIDSON—After working to raise more than $1.3 million to build a new $1.5 million swimming pool for the community, the volunteers behind the Davidson Pool Facility Committee are hanging up their blue pool committee T-shirts.

The Fire and Water Community Auction on April 8 marked the final official public appearance of those royal-blue T-shirts.

“These blue shirts,” committee member Crystal Johnson explained, “Represent passion for improving our community.”

Since 2012 the committee of community-minded individuals have worked diligently to raise money for the new swimming pool.

Johnson said the task came with a lot of risk and responsibility as they had to make difficult decisions regarding the design and scope of the project.

She added that the t-shirts represent “commitment to seeing this project to the very end.”

This year’s auction, she said, would be the committee’s last fund raiser. The pool committee partnered with Davidson Volunteer Fire Department to put on the event this year. The fire department will conduct the auction by itself when the time rolls around again, in two years’ time.

The 2018 auction, conducted by Manz Auctioneering Service, raised about $85,000 to $90,000 as people purchased a wide-array of items from eggs to farm inputs that were generously donated by Davidson and area businesses and individuals as wells as from companies in neighbouring communities.

Proceeds from the auction will be split 50/50 between the pool committee and the volunteer fire department.

Davidson Volunteer Fire Department had its turnout gear and a loaner MSA air pack on display at the Fire & Water Community Auction April 8. The department hopes to buy seven similar MSA self-contained breathing apparatus as it seeks to improve fire-fighting equipment.

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Davidson

Riverbend Co-op celebrates grand opening

A ribbon cutting officially opens Riverbend Co-op’s renovated Home, Agro and Liquor location in Davidson on Thursday, April 12. Pictured are (from left) Marv Dezotell, Riverbend board of director members Susan Kasper and Barb Cerniuk, operations manager Tim Broadis, Nikki Rohs, Morgan Sharron, Riverbend CEO and general manager Greg Sarvis, supervisor Larry Dueck and Jeff Willner.
Davidson

Firefighters service recognized

Deputy Fire Chief Don Willner presents Captain Jim Schmit, who joined the department in 1978, with a 40-year service pin and an engraved watch.

DAVIDSON—At the Fire and Water community auction Saturday, April 8 a crew of recent recruits received pins recognizing their one-year of service with Davidson Volunteer Fire Department.

But they’ll have to stick with it for 39 more years if they hope to match the ranks of fire department Captain Jim Schmit. He received a 40-year service pin acknowledging his longevity with the department. He also received an engraved watch for this distinguished service.

Schmit said the gesture was quite unexpected. He was happy to receive the watch.

“For 50 years, maybe I’ll get a walker with a red light and siren” he later joked.

He hasn’t any plans to give up firefighting. He enjoys the department and being part of the service it provides to the community.

“I’ll keep going until they tell me not to come,” he said.

He joined back in 1978, answering a call for volunteers because the department was short on personnel.

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Davidson

Doctor Rocky

Rocky, a King Charles cavalier spaniel, took good care of this sick calf, who was brought in to the farmhouse of Troy and Leanne Read to warm up. January-like temperatures this spring has been hard on calves this season. Some are finding temporary shelter in producers’ homes as they brought in from the cold. Thanks to Rocky’s tender care and having a chance to warm up, the calf made a full recovery.
(Leader photo by Leanne Read)
Davidson

Storm chaser shares tales of perilous profession

An example of

DAVIDSON—A person can be forgiven for casting a wary look to the sky after seeing Greg Johnson’s black and orange tornado hunting pickup truck cruise down main street and park in front of Davidson’s town hall.

Fortunately, the third day of April is still too early in this part of the world for the tornado season.

Instead of chasing storms, Johnson was in Davidson to address a crowd of Riverbend Co-op employees who were at the Davidson Community Centre for the Co-op’s Branding Day event. Johnson, who makes a living as a professional storm chaser and photographer, also pays the bills as a motivational speaker. He was the keynote speaker, an end-of-day treat for those in attendance, who got to go home with not only a better awareness of Co-op brands, but an inspirational message relayed in a humourous and entertaining way.

“I believe all the best stuff in life involves risk,” he said. “These are the good things in life…falling in love, starting a business….”

He said even buying a boat, putting it on the water and taking your kids fishing is a risky thing.

He took a big risk when he left a career in the communications and marketing industry to become a professional storm chaser.

When he started, Johnson said his business model was to go out, take pictures of storms and market them.

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