Wayne Katerynych was a well-known and important figure in this community.
Wayne was a farmer who spent much of his life helping others and working in the public service.
He was born in North Battleford on Feb. 9, 1953. His father was William Katerynych and his mother was Florence Joyce Steele. His parents were kind and gentle people who were also raised on farmssouth of Whitkow. Wayne grew up in a tiny house on the old Steele farm nestled in the beautiful hills of the Whitewood Lake area. He had a much older half sister named Rhoda and a younger sister, Wendy.
Wayne attended Ranger School until he was in Grade 7. He was a bright and well behaved student with many friends. Remembered best from those early days are Lorne Kulyk, Calvin Asplund, Roy Carnahan and David Sharpe. For Grade 8 and up Wayne and the other studentsrode the school bus intothe Battlefords.
Wayne married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Stade, on July 7, 1973. They had five children. Their first son was Gilbert who was born in 1976. A baby boy named Paul was borntwo years later and died the same year from childhood Leukemia. Three fabulous daughters followed - Erin, Rachel and Kateryna. Their first home was a trailer in Bill and Joyce's yard. But after a few years they made their permanent home at the old Stade farmin the Mount Hope district.
In 1982, Wayne served as chairman of the Saskatchewan Committee on RuralArea Development. He was also on the BattlefordBoard of Local School Trustees from 1986-1994, serving two terms. He was chairman for the second term. Around the same time, he was on the Lakeland Libraryregional board from 1983-1991.
At the age of 34, Wayne chaired the Provincial Farm Finance Crisis Committee that was created by the National Farmers Union. Hetravelled around the province to counsel thefarmers who were struggling during the subsidy wars. In 1991, Wayne was appointed to the Farm Debt Advisory Committee as farmers were still in the throes of the worst farm debt crisis that began in the 1980s. He was chosen for the position because of hisreputation for integrity and dedication tothe farmers' plight.
This committeecreated The Farm Tenure Arbitration Board and Wayne was named vice-chair. Their job was to settle disputes betweencreditors and farm families.Wayne also served on the Battlefords Credit Union board from 2001-05 where hewas a loud voice for farmers. He also chaired the Development Assessment Appeal Board from 2003-04.
While making so many contributions to public service, Wayne was a successful farmer. He spent a lot of time with Bill and Joyce as well. They worked together on his parent's farm where the cattle were and the base of the farming operation. Both Bill and Wayne would often help the neighbours with combining or whatever they needed, after their own harvest was complete. Even though Wayne was away from his wife and children frequently, he loved them and provided for them well.
In December of 2004, Wayne was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer with no cure. His father had the same cancer and passed away shortly before. Wayne endured numerous chemotherapy treatments, radiation sessions and a stem cell transplant. He stepped back from everything to heal himself and the cancer went into remission.
After he recovered he felt like a new man. Wayne and Eleanor separated in May of 2006. He moved in with his special friend and neighbour Elaine Ste. Marie. Wayne and Elaine were married on Dec. 11, 2009. They continued to enjoy farming. Unfortunately, the cancer returned like he knew it would.
Wayne underwent many more treatments, but on Nov. 15, 2011 Wayne Katerynych passed away. Wayne may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
