John R. Reban

John R. Reban

September 23, 1939 – December 9, 2020

On the evening of December 9, 2020 at Rosthern, Saskatchewan, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Ronald Reban peacefully left us for his Heavenly Home as Josephine, his wife of 56 years sat by his side.  He celebrated his 81st birthday this past fall while residing at the Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home.

John was born on September 23, 1939 to Paul and Mildred Reban (nee Postnikoff) on the family homestead at Petrofka, Saskatchewan close to where his parents were born.  He was the fourth of six siblings and the oldest son.  John spent his early childhood years on the family farm at Petrofka, happily occupied and often in the company of the family farmhand, Stanislaw Branecki who would remain a lifetime friend; it was here that he developed a lifelong love of farming.  John’s early school education began at the Petrofka schoolhouse under the tutelage of his cousin, Pauline Cheveldayoff (nee Reban) and continued at the Blaine Lake Composite High School after his family moved to Blaine Lake in 1953.  John worked in various occupations throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta, often in construction including building the Petrofka bridge, before returning to farm full time in 1963.

It was at Blaine Lake shortly thereafter that he met and married a young schoolteacher named Josephine Fox.  On Christmas Eve 1970, they moved out to their home overlooking the North Saskatchewan River valley at beautiful Petrofka where together they would raise a family of five children and continue to build their farming life.  John was a conscientious husband and father who with Josephine provided a lovely home for his family, made time for family vacations, and always made sure there were horses, motorbikes, and snowmobiles to entertain his children.  Together they provided a wonderful farm life for their family.

Throughout his farming career, John kept up with land sustaining practices in grain farming and rotational grazing pastures for the beef production, recognizing early on the importance of preserving the land to sustain a legacy farm.  The mid-1980s saw John diversify as he started a wood slashing business and developed the Reban Wood Products company.  He also had an interest in local politics and spent a term as Reeve for the R.M. of Blaine Lake.

Central to John’s life was his faith in the Lord and his fellowship at the Gruenthal Church from which he gleaned many dear friends.  Busy harvests on the Reban farm were often made lighter as there was a regular contingent of retirees eager to try their hand at the harvest once again; these were some of John’s favourite times.  He loved to sing his Lord’s praises and often had a word of encouragement to offer before he led the congregation in prayer.  John served as a deacon, was an elder for many years, and it was John’s faith that carried him as his health began to fail him this last while.

Several years ago, the family began to notice changes in John’s habits and health leading him to be diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy in early 2019.  Many changes came with the decline of John’s condition and he transitioned to nursing care, first at the Hafford Special Care Home and then at the Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home where he spent most of the last two years.  Following a recent sharp decline, John went to be with his Lord and Saviour the evening of Wednesday, December 9, 2020.

Remaining here to celebrate John’s life are his wife of 56 years Josephine Reban (nee Fox); his children Maria (Keith) Dawson, Byron (Terry) Reban, Marcia (Moe) Norsten, Rebecca (Aaron) Oakes, and Aubrey (Elise) Reban; his grand children Anna-Lilja (Jordy Richard), Mackenzie (Megan Zong), Parker and Frazer Dawson; Natawni Codd (Jeff Nathe) and Shenoah Reban; Christina, Carissa and Moe Norsten; Ashton, Jaxon, Emerson and Dexson Oakes; Natalie, Dominic, Alexander and Victoria Reban; great-granddaughter Remi Nathe; sisters Agnes Reban-Murphy, Marion Pawlovich, Catherine (Fred) Williams, and Barbara Mascho; sister-in-law Irene Moreau; and many cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws.

John was predeceased by his parents Paul and Mildred Reban, his brother Paul Reban, brothers-in-law Jerry Mascho and James Murphy.

A come and go viewing for extended family and friends will be held at the Dalmeny Funeral Home on Thursday, December 17, 2020 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  A private family interment will take place at the Petrofka Cemetery on Friday, December 18.  Following at 2:00 p.m. there will be a private (immediate family) Memorial Service held at Gruenthal Church.

The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the staff at the Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home for the loving and compassionate care they provided to John while he resided there this past while.  To share memories and express condolences, please visit www.dalmenyfuneralhome.ca.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made in John’s name to the charity of your choice.  Arrangements entrusted to Stefan Funk, Dalmeny Funeral Home, 306-254-2022.