It is with great sadness and regrets that we say farewell to our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, companion, and friend Arnold Frank Gyoerick, late of Humboldt, SK Arnie passed peacefully on December 30th, 2021, at the age of 83 years in the Humboldt hospital with his loved ones by his side.
Arnold was born on January 18th, 1938, in Humboldt, SK, to Alphonse and Veronica Gyoerick. Arnie was raised on the family farm in Cudworth, SK. Arnie attended St. Aloysius school, located on the Gyoerick’s family farm. Arnie along with his brothers and sisters spent numerous hours helping with daily chores on the farm. Then when the land was rented out, with minimal chores or help required at home, Arnie and his siblings ventured out finding work at various farms near and around Cudworth, SK. The family attended church in Leofeld, SK which was located 5 miles from the Gyoerick farm. The trip was traveled by horse and wagon in the summer months, then horse and sleigh in the winter. For winter months a cab was built on the front of the wagon and equipped with a wood stove to provide heat on the trip, something the same was done on the rear of wagon or caboose. There wasn’t much for services in Cudworth, SK so they had to make trips to Rosthern, SK which was 40 – 45 mins away, for a lot of required necessities. Rosthern had a lumber store, clothing store, grocery store, a hospital, and a post office, just to name a few. Today, we would think nothing about doing this trip however this 45-mile journey was usually a 3-day trip. It required getting up early to feed and water the horses, hooking up the team of horses with harnesses to the wagon to begin a full day’s journey. Once arriving they had to care for the horses, as well as unhook harnesses and the wagon for the night. The second day was spent picking up lumber, clothing, mail, and any other items required back at the farm. Day 3 was spent traveling home with a full wagon of supplies. It's hard to imagine the effort it took to simply pick up supplies needed for one’s family, crazier to think that nowadays, all of this could be done in an afternoon.
Arnie moved around from time to time and later settled in Prince Albert, SK, where he met Rosemary Helstrom, better known by all as Rose. Rose became Arnie’s best friend and later his wife. Rose had three children, a son Lorne, and two daughters Sherry and Pam. Arnie was a loving husband and father to the three children and Rose. Then together, Arnie and Rose had a daughter named Barbie. Later they moved to Cudworth, SK, and Arnie, Rose and the 4 kids spent several years living there. On October 14th, 1996, Rose passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer and on June 13th, 2013, Barbie lost her courageous battle to brain cancer. Cancer has not been kind to the Gyoerick’s, as Arnie battled and survived lung cancer. Doctors surgically removed half of one lung and then received numerous chemotherapy treatments.
In 2004, Arnie met Dorothy at a dance he attended in Prince Albert, SK. Dorothy was living in Humboldt, SK. The two of them began dating and were traveling back and forth to see each other. This ended when Arnie and Dorothy decided to move in together a few years later.
Arnie loved fishing, hunting, gardening, puttering around his garage, and playing card games, as long as he was winning. Kaiser was always a big hit. People always enjoyed spending time with Arnie because he always seemed to have a good joke or a fishing story on “The Big One That Got Away”. I think, NO I know that Arnie would be in the boat fishing every chance he could. He loved fishing so much that he went as far as trying to convince his brother Tony to go out fishing with him in his boat, but the skag on the leg of the boat motor had been broken, so Arnie clamped a pair of vice grips to the engine to hold it together. Arnie spent so much time trying to convince Tony it would be fine and there was nothing to worry about but let me tell you Tony didn’t go fishing with Arnie that day. Arnie also loved sport fishing with Dennis, who was like a brother to him. On one other occasion, while Arnie was on his way to the lake, only minutes way from getting there, the lock on the boat winch failed and the boat rolled right off the trailer landing it on the highway. A fish story that you would never want to tell.
Another hobby Arnie enjoyed was building Purple Martin birdhouses for the famous Purple Martins. Purple Martin’s are not only beautiful songbirds but also eat their weight in mosquitoes and flying insects daily. Arnie loved his gardens, and he had many. Arnie’s company on any trip from fishing, hunting, or family function was always something that you could look forward to. He was always kind, giving, and willing to lend a hand or help anyone in need. Arnie spent a lot of time teasing and spoiling his family, and he will be greatly missed.
Arnold will be remembered and dearly missed by his partner of 17 years Dorothy; his stepson Barry (Debbie) Salmond; his stepdaughter Cindy (Gary) Greiman; his children Lorne, Sherri & Pam (Dean); His grandchildren Kiana, Brayden, Zach, Samantha, Amber, Laura, & Natashia; his 10 great-grandchildren; his brothers Anthony (Tony) Gyoerick, Ed Gyoerick, Bernie (Yvonne) Gyoerick, George Gyoerick, Jerry and Jimmy; his sister Josephine Zinger; as well as numerous nieces, & nephews.
Arnold was predeceased by his wife Rosemary “Rose” Gyoerick (nee Helstrom); his daughter Barbara “Barbie” James (nee Gyoerick); his father Alphonse Gyoerick & his wife Evelyn; his mother Veronica Zeeben and her husband Peter; his sister Marie Fiddler (nee Gyoerick); his sisters-in-law Leona Gyoerick and Nadine Gyoerick; his brothers-in-law Lawrence Zinger and Ted Fiddler & his aunt Theresa Gyoerick.
A celebration of Arnie’s life will be held in the Spring of 2022 as this is the time he enjoyed gardening, fishing, and the return of the Purple Martins. Condolences can be sent to the family on our website at www.mackenziechapel.ca. Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium. Brian & Bev Stobbs, Mark Gyoerick - Matayah Loyst - Mel Curle. 306.763.8488.