Obituary of John Stephen Soron

John Stephen Soron passed away on February 17, 2019 at Extended Care Veterans Wing of the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre, after a spell of declining health.  John was predeceased by his wife Evelyn; four sisters, Anne Pankewich, Marcella Beaudette, Tilley Petrosky and Nellie Vinnick; and three brothers, Michael, Walter and Steve.  John is survived by his four children, Paul, Rodney, Stephanie and Colleen Soron; and numerous nephews and nieces.

John was born on December 27, 1924 in Krydor, SK to Paul and Mary (Yaworsky) Soron, who emigrated from Poland in 1907.  John attended Oukrainia country school and graduated from high school in Hafford in 1942.  He enlisted with the Canadian Armed Forces in April, 1944 at Regina and received training with the army at CFB Shilo, CFB Suffield and in England. As his regiment was deployed as World War II ended, John was part of the occupational forces in Europe, including Germany and Poland.  

Returning to Canada, John received job placement on British Columbia's west coast in the mid to late 1940's before returning to Saskatchewan where he found employment in Prince Albert including a job as parts manager for Cockshutt Plow Company.  John enrolled in a psychiatric nurses' course in North Battleford and a lab and Xray course at Regina College in the mid 1950's.  He landed employment at Wolseley Memorial Union Hospital in 1956 where he met Evelyn Adams, an RN. They were married on July 6, 1957 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Regina.  John retained the lab and Xray technician position in Wolseley for the next 37 years.  

During those years John was active with the Knights of Columbus, as school trustee, treasurer of the Ste. Anne's School, and as a member of the hospital board.  He excelled as pitcher for the Wolseley Eagles baseball team.  John loved listening to and watching Saskatchewan Roughrider football games, and also enjoyed tinkering with automobile and small engines and yardcare work.

John moved to Regina in 1993 into the Cornwall Village Co-op highrise apartments where he resided for 25 years.  During this chapter of his life he was a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, and served with the Commissionaires, holding security positions at several locations including RCMP Museum and night shifts at Speers Funeral Chapel.

John's next door neighbour Josephine Hislop was his close friend in his years at Cornwall Village, until her passing in February, 2011.  They enjoyed playing cribbage, watching TV and dancing at Regina Senior Citizens' Centre.  John took pleasure in dancing throughout his life, singing in church choirs and playing the harmonica.

John moved to Joyti Care Home in March, 2018 and to Wascana Rehab Centre in September.  He was able to celebrate his 94th birthday with some family, friends and staff at Veterans' wing before his health declined in the new year.

John's family is ever grateful to the staff at Regina General Hospital, Joyti and Unit 3-5 at Wascana Rehab Centre for their incredible love and care for John.

Since John donated to various charities in his later life, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Funeral Mass will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church, 2049 Scarth Street, Regina, SK on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 12:00 p.m.  Interment will take place at Ste. Anne's Parish Cemetery, Wolseley, SK at a later date.