George Joseph Melchior

George was born on the farm near Freemont, SK to Joseph and Annie Melchior. He was the youngest of his siblings – Katherine, Edward, Rosalina and Lenora. George attended the Flat Lake and Neilburg schools. He remembered riding horseback with his sister Lenora to school and carrying a shovel after a big snowstorm so they could shovel their horse out of the snowbanks. After quitting school George farmed his mother's farm. He enjoyed local curling and community dances for recreation.

George married Roselyn Ezie on June 6, 1964 and they bought her mother's farm, also in the Freemont district, and resided there until his death. It was on their honeymoon that Roselyn realized what a homebody George was. A few days into their trip to Jasper and Banff, George decided to cut the honeymoon short, and they headed home as it was time to get back to farming.

George was a very resourceful and hard working man. He never let anything go to waste. His passion was farming and he took great pride in raising Charolais/Red Angus cattle and growing good crops. George loved checking cattle and crops on a saddle horse, quad or in a half-ton and always had a faithful German Shepherd dog by his side. In winter he cross-country skied and took snowmobile rides across his fields and pastures. He always appreciated a good strong cup of coffee with a cigarette, and discussing farming with the neighbors.

Son Dan was born April 20, 1967 and grew up being an immense help with the farm work. True to his homebody nature, George was always difficult to get off the farm. In the early years there were a few family day fishing trips, and a few day trips to the Wainwright Stampede for the rodeo and especially the chuckwagon races. After college, Dan moved out to Drayton Valley and Lloydminster for six years but came home to help out on the farm when he had days off. During those summers Roselyn and Dan were able to talk George into five-day road trips touring Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and North Dakota. Also out to Vancouver Island and back through Washington. He did enjoy seeing Yellowstone, taking in the Cody Stampede, and horseback trail rides in the Teton Mountains and North Dakota badlands. Returning home was always a rush as once the truck was pointing north, it was day and night driving to get back to the farm. 

Dan moved home while working at a thermal project near Senlac. He married Sharon Prokop from Saskatoon in 2003. They built their home on the next quarter section and George enjoyed helping them build up their place. Their close proximity gave George and Roselyn the opportunity to fly out to Mesa, Arizona in 2007 for five days, and in 2009 for ten days, to visit snowbird friends George and Bendaline Brown, as Dan could feed the cattle. They were super tour guides and the Grand Canyon trip was a cherished memory for him. He also enjoyed the San Diego USS Midway Museum tour. He couldn't cut these trips short as the flights back were pre-booked.

George always had a great rapport with kids. He was thrilled to be a grandpa when grandchildren Garner (2007) and Calla (2011) joined the family circle. Garner was still in diapers but perched proudly on the old JD tractor seat with his “Tractor Grandpa.” They visited him regularly as they got older and he loved their visits. Garner would take photos of his crops while out on the quad so George could inspect them. Calla would fill him in on her daily activities and was a ray of sunshine. Everything was usually discussed over a glass of Pepsi. George was very proud of their accomplishments.

George passed away at the Battlefords Union Hospital on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at the age of 81 years. He is survived by his loving wife, Roselyn, son, Dan (Sharon) and grandchildren: Garner and Calla.

At George’s wish there will be no funeral service. Donations in memory of George can be made to the Battlefords Union Hospital or the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan.  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Vanessa Macnab of Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium.