George Shukin

SHUKIN, George Nikifor born January 23, 1938 – November 7, 2017 aged 79 years.  George was born at home at the family farm.  He was the youngest and only boy born to Nikifor and Vera Shukin.  He had 3 older sisters: Laura, Florence and Violet who truly adored and doted on him. He came from a Doukhobor family and practiced in the TOIL AND PEACEFUL LIFE belief.  George met the love of his life, Sonia when he was 10 years old and she was 5.  She would be making mud pies on the veranda of her house and would see George every Friday walking to the brick school.  Sonia told her mom at the age of 5 that someday she was going to marry George Shukin and have 6 children with him.  This is where their love story began.  They married in February of 1960, and started their family that year on the original “The Little House on the Prairie”.  After the arrival of their 3 sons, Wayne, George Jr, and Curtis their first daughter Sharon was born.  Sonia called George that evening and excitedly told him to call her parents in Winnipeg and tell them that they finally had a girl.  Still in disbelief that it wasn’t another boy, George said “I will call in the morning after you double check to see if its still a girl”.  They completed their family with the arrival of the last 2 girls Kim and Susi.

In 1958-59 he worked in Saskatoon and help build the 25th street bridge but then farm life beckoned him back.  George was a farmer but his primary career was with the Coop.  George started his career at the age of 16 where he was a director of the Veregin Coop.  He was employed there for many years before he became manager. After one year in management he realized a desk job wasn’t for him and wanted to be amongst the public again, and so started his truck driving career for the rest of his working life where his friendly personality and talkative nature was enjoyed by all.

Shortly after his retirement when health issues arose George faced them head on and took them in stride.  In 2015, he became a resident of the Kamsack Nursing Home where he became friends to many residents and was loved by all the staff. 

Even with the passing of our beloved George he will be remembered for many different things.  He was a generous and kind hearted man. For example he was known to buy ice cream for kids after baseball games who didn’t have enough money.  If you visited him at the Coop he would often buy you a chocolate bar and pop.  Everyone that met him became an instant friend and nobody remained a stranger.  His daughter Kim will always remember the time when he picked up a hitchhiker and within 10 minutes of the conversation he discovered he knew the hitchhiker’s uncle from past days.

George was thrilled to become Deda to granddaughters Natalia, Jordan and Kendra and his only grandson Josh and Great Deda to Beau and Cadence.  Josh still speaks of the memories of the times they spent on the tractor, golf cart and the riding lawn mower.  George will always be known as the Veregin “grass cutter”; you could always see him on the John Deere riding mower beautifying the metropolis of Veregin.  George was a very hard worker who enjoyed the simple things in life.  His favorite flowers were dandelions because they were plentiful and free.  He enjoyed crop tours with his kids and could name every farmer in the immediate area.  George’s kids will never forget his love of thick cut fried bologna and making his famous Denver sandwiches. 

He was an avid supporter of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Blue Jays as anyone could tell by his attire of mostly blue and green.  He also enjoyed watching curling and playing in his younger days before arthritis curtailed that.  George loved John Deere and had many discussions with family members with which was better – John Deere or Massey Ferguson?  George inherited his dads 1953 Olds ’98 car and the angels must have been talking recently as only a month ago he was able to take his final ride in this car due to the efforts of his sons.

As we say our final farewell to George or otherwise known as” Perkins,”” Georgie Peorgie” and” Greg” we hope you will remember him as the fun loving jokester he was.  Why, we bet he’s up there now, making jokes and laughing with the angels…and making heaven just a little better place for us all. 

George is survived by his wife of 57 years Sonia; three sons, Wayne (Claire) of Kamsack; George Jr (Cristy) of Kamsack; Curtis (Deidre) of Redcliff AB; three daughters, Sharon (Travis) Froess of Regina, SK; Kim (Carl) Cassel of Glassboro NJ; Susi (Jason) Rose of Collingswood NJ; Grandchildren Natalia (Josh), Josh, Jordan, Kendra and great grandchildren Beau, Cadence; sister Florence Kazakoff of Veregin, SK.

George is predeceased by his parents Nikifor and Vera; sisters Laura (Sam) Kazakoff and Violet (Mike) Nemanishen.

Funeral Service was held on November 11, 2017 at the O.C.C. Hall Kamsack, SK., with Nadia Reibin officiating.  Interment followed at Veregin Cemetery, Veregin, SK.  Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to Veregin Community Hall, Veregin Horizons, Box 96, Veregin, SK, S0A 4H0.  To leave a note of condolence for the family please visit Wolkowski.ca