John Redekop

John Walter Redekop, age 85, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 9, 2019 with his wife, children, and other family by his side at the Cypress Regional Hospital, Swift Current, SK. Johnny was born on March 28, 1933 to Peter & Justina Redekop on their family farm about six miles east of Main Centre, SK. He is the fifth of seven children in a family of three boys and four girls.

As a boy, Johnny loved to play with a set of toy animals. He even made another set out of wood to make his herd larger and then he built a corral for all of them (shades of things to come). Johnny learned to ride a horse almost before he could walk. The farm had a lot of land and they spent the summer months putting up hay for the winter. When he was old enough to drive horses – about age eight or nine – Johnny harrowed the land during seeding and had to walk behind the harrow all day. At this time, Main Centre had a population of 200 and had four stores.

Johnny went to Los Angeles school for grades one to six and his favorite subject was recess. During high school, he sang in the glee club, played basketball, and participated in a lot of chess tournaments, which he often won. Johnny loved playing all kinds of board games, and nothing pleased him more than defeating a worthy opponent.

In 1948, when Johnny was fifteen years old, his father passed away from a brain tumor. Johnny took over managing the farm at this young age while he continued to attend school. He proudly graduated from high school two years later under these difficult circumstances.

Johnny went to school with Selma Block from grade seven on, and they started dating in 1952. In his own words, Selma was very popular, intelligent, beautiful, and hardworking. They were married on April 26, 1953 in Main Centre. Later that year, the newlyweds moved into the house on the Redekop family farm where they lived, laughed, worked, and played for the next 46 years. John & Selma rented the land and moved into Pioneer Estates in 1999, however Johnny continued to work with cattle on the farm for another 15 years until it was sold in 2014. In 2016, they moved into a suite in Riverview Estates with a beautiful view of the rolling hills and the Swift Current creek.

Throughout his life, Johnny was dedicated to the church. He was baptized at the age of 16 in the South Saskatchewan River where Herbert Ferry Park is now located. Johnny loved to sing and had a beautiful tenor voice. He sang in church choirs, male choirs, trios, and duets with various family and friends, and often led the congregational singing. One of our favorite memories is listening to Dad and his family sing Christmas carols together at our family gatherings. Their four-part harmony was breathtaking!

Johnny also served the church through volunteer service. He spent over ten years at West Bank Bible Camp building cabins, roofing, cementing, and of course gardening. Gardening was another big passion in Johnny’s life. He planted and nurtured beautiful flower gardens on the farm, at West Bank, at Pioneer Estates, and finally, Riverview. He won prizes for the cattle and bulls he raised on the farm, but he’s also very deserving of recognition as a master gardener, especially for his favorite, roses. Johnny served on the board of Mennonite Mutual Fire Insurance for 12 years, which gave him and Selma the opportunity of traveling across Canada together.

John was predeceased by his father; Peter Redekop; his mother, Justina Goertzen; his step-father, Peter Goertzen; his brother; Arthur Redekop; and by his sisters, Olga Penner and Blondina Redekop. John is survived by his wife of 65 years, Selma Redekop; his children, Yvonne (Jack) Friesen, Debby (Terry Baczuk) Furman, Darcy (Bruce) Duggan, Marcel (Connie) Redekop, and Terry (Brenda) Redekop; his grandchildren, Rachelle (Cameron), Tammy, Theresa (Danny), Jillian (Steve), David (Jennifer), Sandra (Nick), Michael (Katelynn), Justin (Alicia), Cody, Jessica (Ward), Michaela (Mitch), Demi, and Kyle; his great-grandchildren, Rylee, Reece, Caleb, Matt, Tyrus, Finlay, Timothy, Joseph, Autumn, Jace, Victoria, Lucy, John, Winifred, Thomas, and Hunter; his siblings, Alvina Unger, Hulda Braun, and Leo (Helen) Redekop; and by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The Funeral Service for John Redekop was held on Friday, March 15, 2019 at 2:00 pm from Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, SK with Pastor Nick Kimpinski and Pastor Darren Kennedy officiating. “What a Day that Will Be” was sung by the congregation. Special music was brought by Kerry & Sheila Braun, Leanne McConnell, and Barb Derksen, who sang “I Come to the Garden,” Leo Redekop and Gwen Andres, who sang “Until Then,” and Rylee Gitzel, who sang “It is Well.” Tributes were given by Jerry Dennill and John’s grandchildren. The Private Interment Service was held prior to the Funeral Service from Hillcrest Cemetery, Swift Current, SK with John’s grandchildren serving as Pallbearers.

In memory of John Redekop, donations made to West Bank Bible Camp would be appreciated by the family. 

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