Obituary of Walter Burka

Walter Burka was born in April 1936 on the homestead near Snowden. He passed away October 8, 2023 at Pineview Lodge in Nipawin at the age of 87. He attended school at Justamere until the end of Grade 8. He started farming with his dad at a young age, first with horses and later with their first tractor, a Gibson. He worked at several jobs during the winters—in the bush, at a cotton mill in Ontario, at EB Campbell (Squaw Rapids) Dam and hauling logs in B.C. He continued farming in the summer.

Walter met Arleen at a dance and they soon became a family, with the addition of Arleen’s daughter Cindy and her son Darrin and her four grandchildren. Walter and Arleen spent time travelling. They also enjoyed camping and fishing. Walter enjoyed coffee time in Snowden and spent a lot of time volunteering as a handyman at the hall.

Walter was predeceased by his parents, Alex and Lena Burka; his siblings: Mary (Arnold) Serfas, Sophie (Mike) Lazowski, Helen Burka, Billy Burka, Carol Mardell and Sylvia Burka; his brothers-in-law: Bert Shymanski and Vindlan Pistun; and his    sister-in-law, Violet Burka.

He is survived by his wife, Arleen Sten; her daughter, Cindy (Ray) Rota and her grandchildren Becky and Ben; her son, Darrin (Diane) Sten and her grandchildren Ami and Staci; his siblings: Stella Shymanski, Annie Pistun, Eddy Burka, Rosie (Ted) Slonski, Jim (Gail) Burka, Judy (Ralph) Pistun, Richard (Debbie) Burka; sister-in-law, Jean Burka; brother-in-law, Richard Mardell; his aunt, Sylvia Palibroda; and many nieces and nephews and cousins.