The Russell family of Castlegar, BC wish to remember and celebrate the life of their relative, John Victor Sample who passed away on February 2, 2016 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, Yorkton, SK. John was born during a snowstorm on October 16, 1930 on the family farm in the Good Hope District, South of Yorkton, SK, the son of William "Cyril" and Esther (nee Ward) Sample, a brother for Monica Mary Sample (born May 18, 1922 in Melville, SK). John received his education at Good Hope School and achieved Grade 10 by correspondence. He spent his working life farming the home quarter section and was successful at raising turkeys. John's hobby was reading and he liked westerns by Zane Grey and Max Brand. John's middle name was Victor, named after his mother's brother, George Victor Ward who was killed in France in 1918 during the First World War. John recalled hearing the news of Adolf Hitler's invasion of Russia on June 22, 1941 and hearing Winston Churchill speak on the radio. He was at the Bert and Lil Cook farm near Binscarth, MB where his sister, Monica was working. The events of World War II and the Holocaust made a lasting impression on John. John's father, known as Cyril, was born on August 17, 1888 in Whitby, Yorkshire, England with a twin sister, Norah and was trained as a Pharmacist before immigrating to Saskatchewan in 1909. Cyril married Esther Ward in St. Henry's Church in Melville, SK on August 14, 1921 and they began their life farming. Cyril's father, William Samuel Sample, had been a master mariner out of Whitby but was accidentally drowned in the harbour of Marseille, France at the age of 40 years. John had strong moral values and he didn't drink or smoke. He read the Bible but had no preference for church attendance. He looked after his parents on the farm and in their home at 77 Laurier Avenue in Yorkton, where they moved in 1958. John was a good uncle to his nephews, John and Bill Russell and a life long friend of the Cooper family who farmed in the Good Hope District and also the James Richards family. John was predeceased by his father, Cyril (1965) and his mother, Esther (1979) and his brother-in-law, Frank Russell (2001) of Castlegar, BC. The Frank and Mary Russell family wishes to acknowledge the friendship of John and Viola Stricker formerly of Laurier Avenue in Yorkton for the help they gave John for many years, especially during medical treatment. We also want to thank neighbour Janet Sharp and her son, Scott, as well as Glen Brown for the help that they gave John throughout the years. We owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Choi who treated John for a prostate problem, his dentist, Dr. Bode and Dr. Smith who performed his cataract surgery. Our appreciation also goes to the staff of Sacred Heart Assisted Living as well as Dr. Oduntan and the nursing staff at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre for their care in the final days of John's life. John is fondly remembered by his relatives and all who knew him. Donations in John's memory may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation as tokens of remembrance. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, SK.
