Bernhard Sadowski was born February 28, 1931 on Section 4, Township 16, Range 4, West of the third Meridian. He was raised on his parent’s Homestead, South East Section 7, Township 16, Range 3.
He was predeceased by his wife Margaret, by parents John and Wilhelmine, sister-in-law Lori, brother Walter, brother-in-law Fred Schneider, daughter-in-law Heather and sister Erika.
Bernhard is survived by his wife Elizabeth (and her family), brother Albert, his children Daniel, Wayne (Debbie), Ivan (Anna), Calvin (Ida), Lynden (Cheryl) and Loreena (Paul). He was very proud of his grandchildren: Hannah (Cody), Monica (Curtis), Rebecca, Alaina, Jason (Kaila), Michael (Karlee), Eric, Andrea, Ethan and Abigail as well as great-grandson Bennett.
He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews. After completing Grade 10 at Thistledown school, he spent several years on the railroad as a telegraph operator. On February 27th, 1957 Bernhard married Margaret Dyck, later that same year they bought land in the Secretan area. They spent the next 59 years ranching and farming. The Sadowski farm was the site of many dinners with friends and neighbors after church on Sundays, and many visits by the grandkids who loved playing in the barn with the cats and climbing in the haybales. Margaret passed away in 2000 from complications related to rheumatoid arthritis. Following her death, Bernhard found solace in playing music especially with his good friend Archie Klassen and his group Archie and the Boys. It was through playing with this group that he met Elizabeth Wiebe. He and Elizabeth were married in 2003 and they spent many happy hours together playing music for seniors, family and at the church in Mortlach. In 2015, Bernhard sold the farm and moved to Moose Jaw where he resided with Elizabeth until the time of his passing. Outside of farming, he had many interests including reading and writing poetry….“if it doesn’t rhyme it isn’t a poem”.... He continued to play the violin throughout his life, and no visit would be complete without opening up the hymn book and playing a number of songs with anyone present who could play a musical instrument. He also loved to travel and made several trips to Germany to see relatives and to Poland where he visited the birthplaces of both his parents. Bernhard completed the third volume of his memoires earlier this year.
Bernhard wrote the following poem to tell part of his story:
My Life’s Story
By Bernhard Sadowski
I once was young but now I am old,
I have many a story that needs to be told,
My younger years when I looked up to peers,
I was quiet and shy and not so bold.
I left my home and went out to work,
Working for a farmer, it was hard work,
Lugging and ranch - work in B.C.
Finally ending up with Rail CP.
From station to station on the spare board,
Relieving agents for holidays they deserved,
Wilkie, Senlac, Provost, Primate,
Fosston, Colonsay, Fairy Glen, Leipzig,
Sutherland, Lanigan and Wynyard.
Terminals where we all worked hard.
Soon I tired of the roaming life,
I bought me a farm and got me a wife,
The work I loved, God’s gift from above,
We toiled and slaved till we were old and ripe.
The Lord gave us five healthy boys,
And later a daughter that brought much joy,
They all have grown and then left home,
To acquire a trade they could call their own.
As I look back over the years,
Life was good, but there were some tears,
I have many good memories I must say,
How quickly time has passed away.
Now that I am old and at the end of my rope,
Only this one thing that I pray and hope,
That family and friends come to know the Lord,
Nothing else matters He says in his word,
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God,
Jesus paid for our sins by shedding his blood,
Simply trust in the Lord’s finished work.
The Funeral Service will be held at Parkview Funeral Chapel, 474 Hochelaga St W, Moose Jaw on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, 200-4545 Parliament Ave, Regina, SK, S4W 0G3. In living
memory of Bernhard a memorial tree planting will be made by Jones-Parkview Funeral Services. Please see our online book of condolences at www.parkviewfuneralchapel.ca and www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries). Dayna Chamberlain, Funeral Director.
