William (Bill) Antonow

WILLIAM (BILL) ANTONOW

November 15, 1937 - January 15, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Bill Antonow on Friday, January 15, 2021 at the Russell Health Centre.

Bill is lovingly remembered by his wife Jean (nee Skavinsky-Dnistransky) of 36 years, stepchildren; Joann (Brian Jepson); Lorraine; Betty (Lyle Salmon) and their children Colin (Glynis) and Brendon (Shaylin); Alex (Ronalda Sawatzky); Eleanor (Dale Zurbyk) and their children Kyran and Joziah.

Bill was predeceased by his father Michael in 1974, mother Helen (Didych) in 2004 and brother Ernie in 2018.

Raised on the family farm north of Rossburn, Bill attended a country school (Hranko) and completed grade 10, then attended a mechanic's school in Edmonton.  He returned to the farm and continued to work with his mom and dad.  In his younger years, Bill managed The Hornets Hockey team, and coached the Rossman Lakers fast ball team.  In the 1960's, he played back catcher for the Marco Ukes baseball team. In 1975 Bill was elected as Councillor in ward 3 in the RM of Rossburn, where he served 14 consecutive years.  He retired from that, and in 2010 was asked to run again and served till 2018.

In 1978, Bill joined the Parkland Ukrainian Association and served as the secretary where he helped in the restoration of two churches (St. Mary's Seech and St. Peter and Paul - Rossburn Farms), erection of three cairns; (St. Mary's church - Seech, St. John Cantius Church, Oakburn Farms, and at the Mass grave.) During this time, Bill also served as a volunteer fireman in the local fire Brigade.  In 1984 he also volunteered his services as an ambulance driver/attendant, completing his first responders course.  He served on several committees, including the Seniors Resource Council of Rossburn, and the Handivan board.  Bill also served as a Director for the Vanguard Credit Union.  He was on the Olha cemetery committee and was the current President of the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Church in Rossburn.  In 1985 Bill Married Jean Dnistransky (nee Skavinsky) and they combined their farms and farmed in the Olha, Rossman Lake area.  Bill continued farming till 2019 when he sold off the last of his cows and spent the majority of the summer months of 2020 hauling water for the gardens they had on both farms.  Bill was always willing to lend a helping hand to neighbors and friends.  I am sure at times he felt unappreciated coming into a family of 5 step-children - but we knew he had a heart of gold and would give the shirt off of his back to help any of us out, and especially our mother, and for that we owe our greatest gratitude.

God saw you getting tired.

And a cure was not to be.

So He put his arms around you and whispered,

"come with Me”.

With tearful eyes we watched you

and saw you slip away.

And although we loved you dearly

we could not make you stay.

A Golden heart stopped beating

hard working hands at rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.