Ivan J. ChurchIvan Joney Church died in Regina on August 5, 2012. He was born on January 27, 1924, in Star City SK, the third child of four born to Irish immigrants William Thomas Church and Sarah Kathleen Church (Smyth). He attended Normal School in Regina and taught in rural schools until he joined the Royal Canadian Navy. While he was in the service, stops in the British Isles gave him an opportunity to meet his Irish cousins – a relationship that was fostered by later visits. After the war, Ivan had the chance to attend the University of Saskatchewan. While in Saskatoon he got his degree in education but, more importantly, he met Doreen Thomas. Doreen and Ivan were married in 1951 and started their life together in Creighton, SK where Ivan was the first principal of Creighton School. Ivan joined the Saskatchewan Department of Education in 1957 and his career took him to Prince Albert, Canora, Hudson Bay and Tisdale. During that time, most summers took Doreen, Ivan and the girls to the cabin at Denare Beach, near Creighton. Doreen and Ivan loved the lake and the north, so when Ivan retired in 1980 they moved to Denare Beach. They did love the lake, but they also liked to travel. Their last trip was to Italy, the year Ivan turned 80. Ivan had an interest in religion, so he took theology at Trinity College in Toronto during the 1980's. He was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church in 1987, a priest in 1991 and made an honorary canon in 1996. Doreen and Ivan moved to Regina for the winters during the 1990's and full time in 2004. Three of the girls were there and the Hanson Lake Road is very long in the winter. Doreen and Ivan lived in Broadway Terrace until Doreen's death in 2011. Ivan spent his last year in Solace Care Home, where he was very comfortable. We already miss joining him for a beer on the deck. Ivan had an abiding faith in his God, his Church and in all people. He was a wise man who expected good things of people and usually got it. Ivan was predeceased by Doreen, his daughter Eileen Lewis, his parents, his brother Leonard and his sisters Olga Headrick and Dorothy Barclay. He will be missed by his family, Margaret, Gary and Jon Johannsson; Don Lewis; Pat Nicolychuk; Mona Church; Debbie, Tracy and Darcy Will; Dianne and Chris Nicolychuk; Megan, Isaac, Elijah and Savannah Owens; and Gordon and Mary Thomas and their family. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 o'clock on Monday, August 13, 2012 at St. Paul's Cathedral, 1861 McIntyre St, Regina. Donations may be made to The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, 80 Hayden St, Toronto ON, M4Y 3G2.

• Date : 2012-08-05 06:00:00
• Location : Regina, SK