Alex was born on the family farm, just south of Lancer, Sk. on Nov. 10, 1929, a son to Jacob and Philomena Resch.
Alex was one of the many children: Jack, Charlie, Jean, Sam, Tillie, Patricia, Rose, Emily, Mary and Elizabeth.
Coming from a large family, Alex grew up working, helping where needed, making do with the graces given and using the knowledge he had to better himself to make a go of life.
Alex met and married Elizabeth “Betty” Resling. They wed at the Bloomfelt Church, Prelate, Sk. in September 1952.
They were blessed with three daughters: Dianna, Theresa and Yvonne, two sons Gordon and Larry. Shortly after the girls were born Alex and Betty moved from Saskatchewan to two miles south of Hemaruka to work together and begin to build their own family farm.
Alex usually was a man of few words, unless it was with good friends or at family gatherings where he shared a few stories and whole-hearted laughter.
Alex was always ready to help a neighbour with any task needing to be done. Into his favourite brown truck and away he’d go!
He loved to bug and josh his grandkids over the antics they would get into. He also ensured that they knew where he stood, for or against the issue. Reminding them that he cared and was aware of the happenings.
Once most all of the grandchildren grew old enough, the “karma” of most situations Alex would find himself in would be heard as well.
There was never any doubt that farming and ranching was Alex. Organizing spring seeding started early February, after the calves were sold and before the first new calf crop arrived.
Daily conversations about what, or if or when you fed cows, bedded bulls, chopped water holes, fixed equipment, cut off twines or checked fluid levels on tractors. If you remembered to check on the mineral tubs and salt blocks, check the content on those mineral tubs and get the right ones for the cows on hand, for after they calve.
Don’t forget the tags and buttons! Shopping for fencing supplies and posts in the weekly flyers was a priority. Keeping a keen eye on the inventory of certain items was a habit.
Talking to his children was his way of checking in and reminding them that he cared for all of them and that they were his pride and joy.
Growing older and retirement wasn’t given much thought. Home was where he loved to be, on the farm, phone calls to his neighbours in the evening and living the dream, he created.
“So God made a farmer….
And on the eighth day God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker!” So, God made a farmer!
God said I need somebody to get up before dawn and milk cows and work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board.
So, God made a farmer!
I need somebody with strong arms. Strong enough to rustle a calf, yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry and have to wait for lunch until his wife is done feeding and visiting with the ladies and telling them to be sure to come back real soon…and mean it.
So, God made a farmer!
God said “I need somebody that can shape an ax handle, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire make a harness out of hay wire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And…who, at planting time and harvest season, will finish his 40 hour week by Tuesday noon. Then, pain’n from “tractor back,” put in another 72 hours. So, God made a farmer!
God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop on mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbour’s place.
So, God made a farmer!
God said, “I need somebody strong enough to clear trees, heave bales and yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink combed pullets…and who will stop his mower for an hour to mend the broken leg of a meadow lark.
So, God made a farmer!
It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight…and not cut corners. Somebody to seed and weed, feed and breed…and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk. Somebody to replenish the self feeder and then finish a hard days work with a five mile drive to church. Somebody who’d bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who’d laugh and then sigh…and then respond with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life “doing what dad does.”
So, God made a farmer!
Alex is survived by his loving family: Dianna and Cliff Smith, Lisa and Andy Demchuk (Evan and Carolyn Demchuk); Theresa and David Wakefield, Gavin and Roxanne Wakefield (Shayla, Kaden and Kaci), Jeadene and Grant Gregory (Grace and Rhett), Gordon and Janet Resch, Chris & Lynsay Resch (Hadley and Bentley), Martin and Rachel Resch (Estelle), Brad and Cassie Resch (Paisley and Cooper), Larry and Dawn Resch, Eric, Morgan and Mikayla Resch;
Also siblings: Sam (Marion), Jack (Betty), Patricia Resch, Charlie Resch, Jean Smith, Tillie (Bill) Groves, Mary Harris; nephew Gary (Jeanne) and niece Wendy Wagner; other family and many dear friends.
Alex was predeceased by parents Jack and Philomena Resch, his wife Betty, daughter Yvonne, sisters Emily Ericksen, Rose (Johnny) Meyer, Elizabeth (Tony) Tuchscherer, sister-in-law Cathleen Resch, brothers-in-law Norman Smith and Jerry Harris.
Funeral services were held at Veteran Community Hall on Thurs. Jan. 26, 2017 at 1 p.m. with Father Leonard Gartner officiating.
Musician Marilyn Long presented her gift of music and Dan Gorcak gave words of remembrance. Rachel, Lynsay and Cassandra Resch were the readers for the service.
Interment will take place at a later date in Youngstown Cemetery where Alex will be interred with his wife Betty and daughter Yvonne.
Family and friends remained in the hall for a time of fellowship and a luncheon by the Veteran United Church Women.
Memorial donations may be made to Youngstown Cemetery or the Coronation Hospital Foundation -Long Term Care.
Sympathies may be forwarded to the family by signing the guestbook at www.parkviewfuneralchapels.com
Parkview Funeral Chapels & Crematorium, 403-882-3141, entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements.
Card of Thanks
The family of Alex Resch would like to extend their heartfelt thank you to Parkview Funeral Chapels, Dean, Verna and staff for your compassion and support.
To Father Leonard Gartner, who travelled from Edmonton to preside over the service. Father Len made sure he knew a personal note about Dad prior and met each family member with kindness and grace.
To all who attended the service, thank you, truly. Special note of thanks to Marilyn Long for her time and gifts of song and music throughout the service.
Dan Gorcak was so kind to read the words of remembrance. Dan, also was reader at Mom’s (Betty’s) service in 1988.
We the family are especially grateful for his steadfastness and friendship for many years. Lynsay, Cassie and Rachel for doing the readings at the service, well done. All the Grandchildren for being pallbearers thank you for your strength and love.
To Dr. Lynne McKenzie and Dr. Noelle O’Riordan for their care and support of Dad, as well as all the nursing and care giving staff at the Coronation Hospital Assisted Living and Extended Care.
We are so lucky to have that standard of care, for all the time Dad spent there.
A gracious thank you to the Veteran United Church Ladies and community for the bountiful luncheon served.
To all our neighbours, friends and family who took time over the years to go and visit Dad, while he was in Coronation, thank you. It takes a village to raise a child they say and also one, to love them through the latter years of their life. Reminding them and us that we are lucky to be living where we are.
Thank you for all for the phone calls, support and prayers. We are so very grateful.
Dianne and Clifford Smith
Terry and Dave Wakefield
Gordon and Janet Resch
Larry and Dawn Resch and Families
