It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Fred Jaskiw, Saturday, May 15, 2021, longtime resident of Sexsmith, AB, at the age of 89 years.

Fred was born on October 13, 1931, to Mike and Pearl Jaskiw.

Fred was proud to be called Uncle and spent many hours with his nieces and nephews. He was the uncle that bought you candy and took you places when your parents were busy, or if he just wanted to go somewhere. In the early years, every Saturday he bought a lot of comic books which were read and passed on to family and friends. Sunday was his day to visit family and was up early to start his day, sometimes arriving before you were up for the day. As we grew older, the family introduced Uncle Fred to the 9 o’clock rule.

Fred was regular at the Gulf service station for breakfast every morning and when that closed, he would meet his friends at the mall for coffee and spend the morning with them. Another one of his favourites was the York Hotel, but he was a non-drinker and was there to catch up on the happenings of the day.

Fred received his education at a one room school called Mount Star. They lived about 5 miles away and rode horseback or sleigh in the winter. Fred quit school at about age 15.

Fred left home around the age of 15 and went to live with his sister Anne and family. Over the years he would return to the farm from time to time; mainly to help his brother with the farming but always showed up at the Housman’s again. Later moving to Grande Prairie, where he met Gloria and the cutest little girl named Amanda who would think of him as Dad. She grew to play an important part in his life until his passing.

Later on, he acquired a homestead in the Webster, AB, area which his skills as a Cat Skinner came in handy to clear this land and farm for some time. He later sold it and worked for several Road Building Contractors, such as: Raymond Lee, Smashnik, Transportation Department for the Alberta Government, and Walter Kosik before retiring. If you wanted cat work and owned a Cat, he would gladly come and operate it.

One day Fred brought a small sawmill home to Anne and William Housman. Every spring people would gather to have a lumber sawing bee. After they sold it, he would go help his friend, Sam Rycroft, to saw logs. I think it was more the social gathering of friends than the work.

Fred called the Heritage Lodge his home since July, 2007. The people of the Lodge became his extended family.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his nephew and nieces: Randy Housman (sons Jeff (Angie), and Dave (Candace); Darlene Arndt (Paul) and son Ken); Paulette (Larry) Larka and family; Marie (Bill) Chascha and her family; Brenda (Darrell) Jerome and family; Sandra Sparling and family; sister in-law Sonya, and Amanda who was like a daughter.

Fred was predeceased by his parents Mike and Pearl; siblings Johnny, Benny, Anne, Mary and Victoria; brothers in-law William and Walter; nephews Trevor and Lawrence; and Randy’s wife, Cheryl Housman.

The family would like to thank the staff of Heritage Lodge for their friendship and care of their Uncle Fred.

Rest in Peace. May all the Cats in heaven have cabs.

An Interment will be held at the Emerson Trail Cemetery, on Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 11:00am.