Stan Turk
January 23, 2022
As published in the January 31, 2022 World-Spectator
Stan Turk was an adventurous man was who left us unexpectedly on January 23, 2022. Stan passed away in his home, near his wife Muriel, at the age of 85.
Stan was born as Stanislaus Valentino Turk in Kuželj, Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia), to parents Ivan and Ivka Turk. Stan had one sister, Danića Turk. His parents were both unfortunately killed in 1942 as innocent victims of World War 2. Stan, with his sister, continued to be raised by an uncle and wife, on their family’s farm, with three other children, Vlado, Mićika and Ivanka.
Stan’s childhood was spent attending school and grazing the family’s livestock in the nearby Gorski Kotor mountain pastures with his two pets for companionship (a sheppard and an ox). Unwilling to pursue farming and to give up on his education, Stan ran away from home to continue school at a government institution for boys (trade school) in Čabar, Croatia.
Following graduation, Stan worked as a welder in Slovenia for nearly three years and served a compulsory year of military service in the heavy artillery division of the Yugoslavia Socialist Army driving a tank. Still dissatisfied with circumstance, Stan and three close friends slipped across the Austrian border in 1957 and found work in the sheet metal industry.
Stan and his friends eventually made contact with influential people and raised enough money to buy safe train passage into Germany. Through their chain of contacts, they were able to subsequently smuggle themselves from the train on the German coast onto a cargo transport ship bound for England, and finally for Montreal, as arranged.
Using his last reserves of money, Stan boarded a Canadian passenger train from Montreal to Nanaimo, B.C., primarily where he had heard it was a warm spot in Canada, but also where he settled with a known Croatian community to start learning English.
After spending several months working labour jobs in Nanaimo, and not quite satisfied with the rainy west-coast climate, Stan used his welding skills to work and travel into Mexico, then up to the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Lines in the Arctic, and finally back to Nanaimo. In 1960, Stan started travelling back to Montreal, with stop-overs for work and adventures in Vancouver, Edmonton, Uranium City and Regina.
However, Stan’s car broke down near Esterhazy, Sask., so he took a job at the potash mine to build back his reserves. Eventually, Stan started his own plumbing and heating business in Rocanville where he met his wife, Muriel (Stevenson) and got his Canadian citizenship in 1964.
Stan and Muriel had three sons: Gary Turk (August 27, 1963–June 2, 2000), Daniel Turk (February 17, 1965–March 8, 2021) and Paul Turk (1972, presently in Okotoks, Alta.). Stan and his family built a cottage at Round Lake, and eventually moved to Moosomin. Stan has been back to Croatia to visit family several times and celebrated his 50th year in Canada in 2007.
Stan loved gardening, fishing, dancing and living the cottage life. As many are familiar, Stan had a great aptitude for carpentry, woodworking, and all things mechanical. He greatly appreciated all the friends he made in Rocanville, Esterhazy, Wawota and Moosomin.
Stan believed in strong family values and taught his family how to be adventurous too. He loved and cared for his family very deeply. Stan is survived by his loving wife of almost 60 years, Muriel, his son Paul, and his grandkids Nolan Christopher Turk, Samantha Elizabeth Turk, Bryna Elizabeth Turk, Milan Andreas Turk and Sofia Mary Ivka Turk.
A Celebration of Life is anticipated in Moosomin at a later date when warmer climate and circumstances allow all of us to be together.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Stan’s name to the Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada https://aamac.ca/.
Please contact Carscadden Funeral Chapel for details regarding the livestream service, to view a recorded memorial service and tribute video, and to sign the online book of condolences, at www.carscaddenfuneralchapel.com.
Indian Head RCMP investigating fatal collision
On May 2, 2024 at approximately 4 p.m., Indian Head RCMP received a report of a collision at the intersection of Highway #1 and Highway #606. Inve...
Fundraiser planned for Sam Burroughs
A fundraiser is being planned for June 1 in Moosomin to help out Sam Burroughs, who lost almost everything in a recent house fire. Ed Blondeau and ...
Moosomin Dam project complete
The $8.8 million upgrade to the Moosomin Dam that began last fall is officially complete—on time and within budget. “As of April, the installation...
-
Two charged in connection with murder of Brianna Hayes
-
Two arrested in connection with murder in RM of Moose Mountain
-
Loan guarantees in budget will create opportunities
-
Sask Volunteer Medal presented to Suzanne Eisler
-
Local delegates said lots of good info at SUMA convention
-
Fairness questioned in federal budget
-
700 attend grand opening for new Redvers Ag Kubota dealership
-
Legacy Pharmacies purchases Moosomin Pharmasave
-
Annual Fleming Pie Auction raises $8,700
-
Mayors weigh in on fall election
-
Age Friendly partnering with Moosomin & District Seniors Club on transportation project
-
Alex Bruce leaves $170,000 in bequests to local charities
-
Pharmasave donates $100,000 to Moosomin Airport Expansion
-
Family that helped many Ukrainians settle in Canada now needs help themselves
-
Out of $2,650,000 to be raised: fourth stage of airport fundraising at $ 1,746,514
-
RCMP take questions on recruitment, amalgamation, drugs and missing people
-
Megan Kelly pursuing her love of music
-
Saskatchewan growing at fastest rate ever
-
Teachers working to rule starting today
-
Rocanville pool refurbishment on track for summer construction
-
I’ve never been more proud of our little corner of the world
-
Skout Brewing ready to open this week
-
Town paving plan includes arena parking lot
-
IJACK gives $500,000 to airport project