Obituary of Vladislav Hart

Vladislav Hart (Van) was born July 31, 1926 in Bohemka, a Czech community in Southern Ukraine. Van, together with his mother, father and older brother arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1928 aboard a ship called the Minnedosa. They travelled west and settled in Hanley, Saskatchewan where they became sharecroppers. It was in Hanley where Van’s father, Ferdinand, lost his life in a train accident at the age of 27. After Ferdinand’s death, the family relocated to Glenside, Saskatchewan to be nearer to Van’s mother’s family. They had a very hard time during the depression with 5 children and no father to help support them. When Van was in his early teens, his mother, Emily, was introduced to a man from Minneapolis, whom she later married. Van was not interested in moving to the USA with his mother and younger siblings. He was very young to be on his own, but decided to stay home and work for a family in the Glenside area as a farm hand. He later moved with that family to Zehner, Saskatchewan, just outside of Regina. Van joined the Army in 1941 and served until 1945. After the war, Van came back to Zehner to work and met his life partner, Edith May Hunker, at a dance in Regina. They married in 1948, and were together for 66 years. In his younger years, Van worked for a Texaco carwash. By observing and conversing with the men in the mechanics shop, he found he was very handy with cars. He became an auto mechanic apprentice there, and when he was ready, wrote the auto mechanics exam. He was successful and found a job with the Government of Saskatchewan maintaining and repairing the vehicles in their fleet. When the provincial garage closed many years later, Van was out of a job.  He took a chance and transferred to a position as a Correctional Officer at the Regina Jail. It took some getting used to, but he adjusted and grew to enjoy the job. He worked there until his retirement in 1980. Van loved to garden and grew a variety of vegetables, which he was happy to share with family and his neighbours. In his younger years, he loved to help family with farming and driving the grain truck. He was a very hard worker with impeccable work ethic. Van was a very generous man, he loved his family and did everything he could for them. We will miss you dad, grampa, Uncle Van. Van was predeceased by his loving wife Edith May Hart, father Ferdinand, mother Emily, brothers Karl, Stanley and Arthur. Van had a sister, Jenny, whose location is unknown. He is survived by his daughter, Judi Lukey, and son in law Dale Lukey (Regina), grandchildren Dana Lukey (Vancouver), Kristina Lukey (Regina) and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and in laws. Thank you to the nurses and staff on 5A at the Regina General Hospital for our expert and compassionate care. We are eternally grateful. At Van’s request no services will be held. Flowers gratefully declined, donations in Van’s memory may be made to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan.