August James Hoeft

Grandpa dropped out of school when he was 15 and worked for the summer at his Uncle’s farm. He then worked for CM Miners Construction before at age 16 going to work for Boding and Associates out of Saskatoon. This is where he apprenticed for his plumbing certificate.

In June of 1969 he joined The Canadian Armed Forces. He did 6 weeks of basic training in Nova Scotia then went to Borden, Ontario for a while then transferred to Kananaskis Alberta. He got a release from the army November 30, 1970. He was able to start his job at the La Ronge Hospital in December of 1970 where he worked as a maintenance engineer for 32 and a half years.

In the fall of 1968 he met my grandma Joanne Grace Dyck who would become his wife. They were married on April 17th, 1971 in the Lutheran Church in Rosthern, SK. Their first child my dad Dean James Hoeft was born September 28th, 1971 and Tessa Lynn Hoeft was born March 11th, 1973.

The family spent quite a few years camping before the cabin was built in 1977. This became our families favorite retreat. He was so happy to be able to spend time out there with family and friends and when the five grandchildren arrived into the mix it gave him such joy. Brianna, Robin, Brittany, Savannah and Sierra were well loved by their grandfather. Robin got to go with him on many fishing trips which both of them cherished. He could always count on Cory Haberman and his son Harley to accompany them. The girls would play cards, checkers and other games with him. Savannah and Sierra’s favorite game was “Grandpa May I” He would sit on the deck and grandpa would tell them how many steps they could take. I was his Sue Chef prepping vegetables for a Chinese meal or other family suppers, this is when grandpa would laugh at my left handed ways and never missed the opportunity to tell me I was cutting something wrong but doing a good job.

Along with grandpas love of fishing he loved to hunt. His good friend Tony Kuchapski was his usual side kick for those expeditions.

The first year of his retirement he did some plumbing work and also drove for JP Enterprises. Then he drove school bus for North Winds Bus Lines for 6 years. Before retiring grandma and grandpa made a couple of trips to Mexico and a trip to Costa Rica. After grandma retired they travelled to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Belize and again to Mexico.

2019 started the run of the great grandchildren. Emery, Hunter, Colt and Arlo all had a special place in great grandpa’s heart.

Grandpa’s health had not been good for a number of years. In the last couple of years his diabetes got the better of him and his mobility became compromised. Along with other health issues his health kept declining, in October of 2022 he went into a care home. On December 7, 2022 he was taken to the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert where he remained until his passing on February 22, 2023.

In their 50’s to early 60’s our grandparents took on the responsibility of helping raise two more children they did not make that was me and Robin. This gave us more bonding time, more love and more support because let’s face it I was kind of a handful; but grandpa never discouraged my behaviour he would always see the best in me and would be sure to point it out Right or wrong, he was always on my side. Troy proposed in may of 2022, I was so excited to tell grandpa since I was a little girl I would always talk about how my wedding would be. When the time came,I didn’t have a chance to talk, grandpa put his hand on my shoulder and said “I’m sorry I won’t make it to your wedding” that’s when I knew my papa wouldn’t make it through the winter. Grandpa asked for two things, one don’t cancel or reschedule because we need happiness second was to get married in a church.

Grandpa was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be deeply missed.