Obituary of Mark Crooks

Mark Gilbert Crooks passed away on Tuesday, October 29, 2016, at the age of 62 years. Mark was born on July 20, 1954, the seventh child of George and Nellie Crooks of Lafleche. He spent his youth on the family farm south of Lafleche, attended Woodale School, Mathieu School and graduated from Lafleche Central High in 1973. Mark’s summers were spent custom harvesting in the U.S.A. and Saskatchewan. During the winter of 1973/74 he was a brakeman with CPR in Regina, followed by winters with Graham Construction on projects throughout Saskatchewan. On May 20, 1978 Mark married Doreen Packet of Lafleche and they made their home in Fife Lake as Mark was employed on the construction of the Poplar River Power Station in Coronach. On July 3, 1979 Mark joined SaskPower for a 36-year career in Power Production. He operated the dragline Great Gus and handled coal at Boundary Dam in Estevan, attended Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon and completed his millwright apprenticeship at Poplar River. He worked as a journeyman mechanic, foreman, oil analyst and finally a training coordinator until his retirement on July 3, 2015. Mark achieved his greatest goal in life when he was able to buy a farm northwest of Fife Lake and move his family there in August of 1992. Life was very busy with raising a growing family, working, farming organic grain and tending a flock of sheep. He and the entire family worked hard to make their farm thrive and become the family home that it was. Mark enjoyed leisure time as well and spent hours with the family – hiking in the hills, star gazing, metal detecting, swimming, sledding, skating, curling, playing cards and reading. His Catholic faith was a major part of Mark’s life. Family prayer time, Sunday Mass and keeping holy the Lord’s Day were of utmost importance. In September of 2015 Mark and Doreen moved to their retirement home in Lafleche. Mark is survived by his loving family, wife Doreen (nee Packet); son Slade, son Cole (Tristen), Clare, daughter Jennifer (Mark) Fedorychka, Seth, Anthony and Victoria, daughter Sarah, daughter Mary (Nikolay) Grishchenko, Therese and Pio, son Lincoln, son Eli (Heather) Easton and Dallas, son Miles (Shannon), Jack, son Basil, daughter Vera and daughter Bridget; siblings Laurina (Dennis) Ghiglione, Gloria (Sterling) McIvor, Valerie (Eric) Kolish, Colleen (Jerry) Andries, Richard, Elaine (John) Garies; sisters-in-law Marilyn and Cheryl. Predeceased by his son Joshua (2011); parents George (2005) and Mary Ellen (2004) (nee Morin) Crooks; brothers Lloyd (2015) and Clinton (2012); sisters Elnora (1952) and Glenda (2016). Prayer Service was held on Monday, October 31, 2016, at 7:30 p.m., and Funeral Mass on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., both at Ste Radegonde Roman Catholic Church, Lafleche, SK. Celebrants were Father Hope Klutsey, Father Juanito Vargas, and Father Joy Montiague. Crossbearer was Mark Fedorychka. Active pallbearers were Cole Crooks, Lincoln Crooks, Eli Crooks, Miles Crooks, Basil Crooks, and Nikolay Grishchenko. Honorary pallbearers were Emile Lalonde, Henry Martens, Cliff Petersen, Ron Reiman, Ed Rigetti, and Charles Whiteside. Interment took place at the Lafleche Roman Catholic Cemetery. Masses in memory of Mark were greatly appreciated.