Obituary of John Alfred Heyden

Heyden, John Alfred 1926 – 2014 John Alfred Heyden was born March 25, 1926 at Prince, Sk. the eldest son of Adrian (Jack) and Mary Heyden. He attended school at Fitzgerald until 1934 when the family moved to the Belbutte district, then attending Lockside school, but many of his youthful days were spent on the farm helping his dad do the many things required to make the farm run efficiently. As a young lad the farm and home didn’t have many luxuries, so to help out, he and his brothers, Donald and Norman, cut firewood and sold it so the family could enjoy a radio. In the winter of 1948 John and his Uncle John Heyden went to the coast of BC and loaded ships with flour. Returning in the spring of 1949 and purchased the home quarter. On November 14th, 1950 he married Elva Gatzke. Many a winter was spent in the bush once the grain was harvested and in the bin. Logging, sawing lumber and brush cutting with the cat made winter pass quickly. In 1960 Randy was born and in 1962 Laurie was born. When Fort Carlton was being rebuilt John hauled the logs to the site with his truck. Randy and Laurie were usually in the truck with him. Randy and Laurie remember the long trips, the crossing of the ferry with the planks being put down from the shore to the ferry so the truck could be driven on. When Medstead arena was planned, John was in the bush cutting trees down and sawing them up into lumber, also helping with the many work bees required to build such a structure. John was one of the first members of MADRA and remained active for numerous years, also serving as a director for the Witchekan Wildlife Federation for a number of years. While still on the farm John & Elva remained active by old time dancing. This led to teaching it and entertaining in many lodges in North Battleford and area. John and Elva moved to an acreage and built a new home by North Battleford and continued to farm. In 1995 they sold the farm equipment and rented the land. John became involved with the Western Development Museum, it had a sawmill that needed repair. Many a demonstration was performed at Those Were the Days, with John as sawyer and a team of men for canters and tail sawyers. He also decided he must manufacture a sawmill, selling it at their auction sale in 2007. Continuing to old time dance, a group of followers joined them to become the North Country Dancers, thus continuing to entertain. They then moved to a townhouse in North Battleford and remained there until their health required them to move closer to their children. They had a house built and moved to Spiritwood in December of 2012. Moving to Spiritwood put John closer to the many surrounding lakes, he could enjoy his passion of camping , giving boat rides, fishing with his wife, children, grandchildren and great granddaughters. He leaves to cherish his memories: His wife of 63 years Elva Heyden, a son Randy Heyden, a daughter Laurie (Larry) Ledinski, his grandchildren: Brandy (Chad) Magnus, Mason (Hao Pen) Ledinski, Reva (Ian) Booker and his great grandchildren Shyanne & Jeynessa Magnus, His brothers and sisters: Norman (Ida) Heyden, Nora Starling, Raymond (Willa) Heyden, Doris (Norman) Colley, Irene (Albert) Fee and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is predeceased by: an infant son Ronald, His parents: Adrian (Jack) & Mary Heyden, His brothers: Donald & Ralph, His parents in law: Edward & Elsie Gatzke, His sisters in law: Lorraine, Rita & Mary Heyden and Elaine Gatzke, A brother in law Jim Starling The funeral service for John was held on Saturday, January 11th, 2014 from the Community Hall in Medstead, SK. Memorial Donations can be made in John’s honor to the Saskatoon Renal Unit or the Spiritwood Health Complex. Friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com The family has entrusted arrangements to Lori Saam and Brenda Beaulac of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home, Spiritwood, SK 306-883-3500