Obituary of Wayne Bassendowski

Wayne Edward Bassendowski passed away on April 27, 2024 at the Regina General Hospital at the age of 75 years.  He was born on May 28, 1948 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Gravelbourg to Wilfred and Frieda Bassendowski, a brother to Garry, Judy and Joyce. As all farm boys do, he grew up participating in all aspects of farm life - fieldwork, cattle and always repairs to whatever implement needed fixing at the time. In that, he had a learned and experienced mentor in his Dad. After school in Shamrock and Hodgeville, he bought the original Bassendowski homestead land and farmed with his Dad until Wilfred retired. He loved farming, especially harvest, but his passion was engineering He loved dreaming up new inventions that would make farm work easier or more efficient. His ultimate achievement in this was building his own header for the combine.

In 1972 he married the love of his life, Daphne Busch, daughter of Ernest and Winnie Busch. After three years of living in the two-room "honeymoon cottage" in Shamrock, he built a house on the farm with help from numerous friends and neighbours. They welcomed Brendan Edward and Reilly Erin into their lives and their family was complete. It is impossible to express the joy they brought into his life.

It is hard to list his interests because he was interested in everything, He loved sports - playing ball and hockey himself and later coaching his kids He golfed, he fished, he skied. He was an ardent Blue Jays fan.

He loved playing cards. Every occasion at his Mom and Dad's or with the Arnolds or the Busch's included some very competitive card games. These last few years it was his delight to teach his grandchildren how to play and nothing pleased them more than to beat Papa at his own game!

He was dedicated to the Shamrock community. He sat on several boards; Co-op, hall, rink, RM council, and United Church at various times but found he would rather do the work than go to meetings. As a teenager, he worked on building the rink and later remodelled the kitchen. He helped build the addition to the hall and built all the cupboards. He made a metal bridge to cross the river at the golf course in Shamrock Park. Finally, he built the gates to the cemetery where he will be laid to rest.

He loved going on holidays. He had so much fun with the kids going on trips together. When he retired, he and Daphne went on innumerable holidays in Canada and internationally.

He had such a deep love for his family - Daphne, his wife of almost 52 years; his children Brendan and Reilly, and his "favourite son-in-law" Levis Lavoie. He was so proud of his grandchildren: Emery, Kieran, and Easton Bassendowski, Lucy Lavoie, and Ryann and Roman Remple.

He loved his extended family: brother Garry (Sharon), nieces Carol (Don) and Darcie; sister Judy (Jake) Hort, nephews Todd (Sandra), Trevor (Charlene), Trent, John, and niece Pattie; sister Joyce (Robert) Berge, nephew Caldon (Brandy) and niece Lexi (Patrick); brother-in-law Don Osicki, nephew Ryan (Ashley), and niece Tenile (Douglas); brother-in-law Kim (Penni) Busch, niece Janaya (Al), and nephew Tyler (Malia); mother-in-law Winnie Busch. He had a special attachment to the great nieces and nephews and his cousins always played a special role in his life.

He was predeceased by his parents: Wilfred and Frieda Bassendowski, his father-in-law Ernest Busch and his beloved sister-in-law Dale Osicki. 

He will be missed by everyone who came into contact with him. His smile, his warm personality, and his kindness drew people to him and he was their friend for life.

We cannot say thank you enough to Drs. Pillay and Ramlakhan and the staff at St. Joseph's Hospital for their care and compassion when treating Wayne. Between his accidents and various illnesses, they got to know him very well.

A Celebration of Wayne’s Life will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m. at the Shamrock Community Hall. Memorial donations in Wayne’s memory can be given to the Shamrock Community Hall, Box 8 Shamrock, SK S0H 3W0 or St. Joseph Hospital/ Foyer’d Youville Foundation, Box 810 Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0.