Sydney Read

It is with mixed emotions and sadness we announce the passing of Sydney Read, cherished father, grandfather, great-grandfather, papa and best friend! He passed away on December 12, 2017 at the young-looking age of, in his words, 95 1/2 years, having had a fulfilling and blessed life.

Syd was born on June 2, 1922 on the farm at Section 22, Township 19, Range 16, West of the 2nd to William and Edith Read, who had immigrated from England quite a few years prior to his arrival. Dad was the eighth of nine siblings and some time after this, his dad and oldest brother Harold each homesteaded a quarter of land in the Snowden or Choiceland area of northern Saskatchewan. Dad often said he was born into a family that didn’t have a lot of wealth but there was always enough food to eat and lots of love.

In November of 1942 at the age of 20 years, Dad went to Edmonton and on the 16th of the month enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. From Edmonton six weeks later he was sent to Lethbridge for further training. Then from there he was sent to the East Coast and to England on the QE Ship. He celebrated his 21st birthday near Southhampton where he was in the 6th Group Bomber Command. “D” Day took place on June 6, 1944 and on June 30th Dad’s unit went to Normandy and then on into France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. After the war ended he spent some time in Germany and then back to England where he sailed from Southhampton on the Ile-de-France to New York and then train to Halifax. Finally after two weeks in Halifax he headed back home to Saskatchewan and on the 31st day of May 1946 was formally discharged in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

On February 15, 1947 he married the sweetheart who waited for him to come home from overseas! Dad said his brother Stan came with them to Prince Albert to witness the wedding. They had very little cash and no job but the very next morning a stranger stopped Dad on the street and asked him if he was looking for work. In turn that job led to a career with the provincial and federal governments working in Natural Resources and Northern Development! There was never a doubt in Dad’s mind that God blessed him then and throughout his life.

In March of 1948 they were blessed with a son and again in 1954 with a daughter. Shortly after Arlene was born Dad tried his hand at farming for about three years, but with the persuasion of several Northern Development co-workers he returned to the federal government until retirement in 1979.

In 1979 they moved to the farm east of Davidson where they lived until 1995 when they moved to Regina. There Dad and Mom were blessed to spend time getting to know Arlene and Rick’s two children, Brittany and Aaron, plus we were blessed that our youngest daughter Chelsea lived with them for four years as she attended the U of R.

In 2000 they moved back to Davidson and Dad and Mom enjoyed 10 years travelling, camping and their favourite, fishing up north!

Then in February 2010 Mom had to move into the long-term care facility in Davidson and until her passing on December 20, 2013 Dad was still her constant companion. Dad was amazing as, although legally blind, he continued to live on his own in the Elks units by the Davidson hospital. He was so blessed by friends Art and Emma Shaw, Marcella Strange, Frances Haugerud, Francis and Valda Cool and many others who took time to touch his life!

Family was so important to Dad and he is survived by his son Dale (Ruth) Read of Davidson and daughter Arlene (Rick) Kyle of Cochrane, Alta.

He is also survived by his grandchildren Kimberly (Darren) Bull, Troy (Leanne) Read, Chelsea (Jason) Craig, Brittany and Joe Dijker (Kyle) and Aaron Kyle; great-grandchildren Courtney (Braeden Lang), Brooklyn, Andrew and Emily Read, Samuel, Tucker and Isabella Bull and River Craig; also step great-grandson, Tyler Bull.

Syd was predeceased by his parents, all of his siblings and his wife Helen.

The interment took place on January 4, 2018 at Family Plot, Crockin Hill Cemetery, Choiceland, Sask.

Arrangements entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson.

A celebration of Syd’s life was held on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 at 2 p.m. at New Life Pentecostal Assembly in Davidson with Rev. John Slemming and Rev. Scott Crawford officiating.

Joan Isabelle Manz
August 11, 1939 — November 23, 2017

It is with sadness the family of Joan Isabelle Manz announces her sudden passing on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017.

Joan was born to Dorothy and Vincent Weigel, the oldest of five children. She grew up in the Girvin and Davidson area. She married Eddy Manz in 1956 and they farmed and raised four children. Joan kept busy growing a big garden, raising her kids and many of the neighbour kids as well. Her door was always open and she’d have the coffee on. She loved music and even though she never had the opportunity to take music lessons, she could sit down at the piano and play almost anything! They went to many dances in the area and had many card parties through the years.

They retired from the farm in 1998 and moved to town where her door was still always open for meals, cards, coffee and visits. She loved nothing more than when her kids and grandkids came for visits, as well as her regular coffee drinkers who came most days for a quick visit.

Joan is survived by her children: Connie (Gary) Glines, Rod (Ann) Manz, Tim (Jan) Manz, Tory (Nikki) Manz, foster son Tim (Carolyn) Kamin and family; grandchildren Jody (Jamie) and Geoff (Jen) Glines; Kacie and Lindsay (Jesse) Manz; Ken (Renae), Jared (Beth) and Chad (Shantel) Manz; and Kelsey (Kyle) Manz as well as numerous great-grandchildren.

Also survived by brother Lorne (Nora) Weigel, sisters Judy (Wayne) Ryder and Sherry Parenteau and sisters-in-law Lori Weigel and Nola Manz.

Predeceased by her husband Eddy, grandson Zach Manz and brother Les Weigel.

As per Joan’s wishes, there will be a private family burial at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements in care of Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson.