Edward M. Kabanuk

With gratitude for a long life well lived and a race well run, Edward Milton Kabanuk was called home to be with his Lord and Saviour after a very brief illness.  Ed leaves behind his wife of 68 years, Joy (Joyce) Kabanuk (Kulyk), daughter Gaylene Rode (Wilf) and daughters, Joyanna and Grace; son, Gordon Kabanuk (Heidi) and daughters Alayna and Annalise; and other treasured family members and friends.

Born in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan to Peter (farmer/grain buyer) and Alexandria (Sanny) Kabanuk on January 30, 1932 and raised as an only child in the surrounding area (Petrofka, Tallman, Marcelin, and Blaine Lake), Ed graduated from Blaine Lake High School in 1949 and went on to Saskatoon Normal School to pursue his dream of being an educator.  He returned to teach at Slavanka, a small one- room country schoolhouse and often spoke fondly of his solitary yet full life in the teacherage he shared with his faithful dog, Butch. 

During his first year of teaching, and following a significant and life transforming faith experience, Ed attended Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alta. and Canadian Theological Seminary in Regina, Sask.  He resumed teaching just east of Blaine Lake (Balmoral) from 1953 to 1956. 

After being swept off his feet by a beautiful young woman in his hometown, Ed married Joy Kulyk in 1956 and the two of them moved to Saskatoon where Ed worked at Safeway and completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at the University of Saskatchewan.  He completed his Master of Education in 1976 at the U of S.

Ed’s career with the Saskatoon School Board spanned 32 years where he was honoured to serve as Vice-Principal at Mayfair, Churchill, and Caswell schools and Principal at Vincent Massey, Albert, Montgomery, Caswell, North Park, Thornton and W.P. Bate schools.  In addition, he participated in many education- related boards and committees including the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation and Provincial and Local Negotiation Teams. 

Ed loved teaching and connecting with the students, families, and staff in each community. His students will remember him for his compassionate and caring approach and his competitive spirit at lunch hour floor hockey.  His favourite novel to teach in English was Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables - the resonating redemption story of Jean Valjean.  Ed often spoke warmly of the many friends and colleagues he garnered through his vocation and when he retired in 1989, reiterated that he felt it a “distinct privilege to have served with so many deeply committed people from the Directors, the Superintendents, consultants, teachers, principal colleagues and board members”.

Ed was also honoured to work with the Saskatoon Prairieland Exhibition “Ex” for over 40 years, the last 25 as Admissions Manager overseeing the cashiers, security, barrier people and others working the Ex “gates”.  In an age before computers, Ed thrived at organizing the many working parts of the gates cast and crew on giant paper spreadsheets.  Those who faithfully returned to work at the Ex over the years will remember Ed’s radio sign off at close of each evening when the park had gone dark and quiet, as… “the Shadow”.

Generous to a fault, Ed loved sharing his time, resources, and faith, and helping others in need.  Over the years he was often called to itinerate preaching and serving in various capacities with faith- based organizations (ie churches, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, Gideons International/ ShareWord Global and Canadian Bible College and Theological Seminary).

As a voracious reader and history buff with an impeccable memory, Ed was always ready to engage in informed lively conversation over current events, politics, geopolitics and faith topics.

Ed’s priority was always his family and friends with his love for hockey (playing well into his 70s and following his beloved Maple Leafs), a close second.   The cottage at Martin’s Lake holds special memories of close family times and of Ed chopping wood, feeding the squirrels and birds, stargazing, napping on his favourite couch, reading and more reading, and stoking the fireplace well into the night. Many great conversations and laughs were shared around the bonfires and coffee times with close friends.   We all learned from Ed that duct tape could fix pretty much anything around the cottage!

The Saskatchewan Prairies always held a special place in Ed’s heart.   He loved the outdoors and walking through fields of gold on crisp autumn days pursuing his passion for hunting waterfowl and upland gamebird in and around his hometown with his dad Peter, his son Gord, and close friends. 

In more recent years, Ed and Joy relocated to White Rock, BC to be near their children. While Ed enjoyed the West Coast and settled in, he would often keep a pulse on the Prairies and we are not sure if he ever set his watch from central standard time.

As “the best grandpa ever”, Ed continually loved and doted on his four amazing granddaughters, driving them to and from school with Joy, and showering them with gifts of the heart, treats from the school vending machine, and little cards covered in a seemingly endless supply of stickers. 

Ed will be greatly missed by his wife Joy, children, grandchildren, family and friends.

A small close family service was held at Surrey, BC on August 8, 2024.