Obituary of Samuel (Sam) Alexander Hulkovich
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, teacher and friend, Sam passed away on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at the age of 78.
Samuel (Sam) Alexander Hulkovich II was born in Nordegg, Alberta in 1943. Sam spent his childhood in Nordegg and then rural Stettler as the family relocated. Sam received his Bachelor of Education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and began his long career as an educator. Teaching at several locations across Alberta, including Alderflats, Boyle, Bonnyville, Byemoor, Cold Lake, and Frog Lake, Sam spent the majority of his teaching years at Tofield School.
Sam shared his love of sport with the many school teams that he devoted his time to coaching, as well as the camaraderie playing with the Tofield Old Timers hockey team. He had many fond memories and stories, and when he wasn’t reminiscing you could hear the melodious tunes coming from his saxophone. Several colleagues became lifelong friends; some he saw more often than others, but the appreciation was the same. As most can attest to, Sam had a quirky sense of humour and was quick to read someone else’s sense of humour, which usually led to striking up conversations with friends he hadn’t met yet.
Sam had a great love of the outdoors and enjoyed annual camping trips with his family to Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont Hot Springs. He also shared his passion for the outdoors with his Outdoor Education classes by taking them on campouts. He encouraged his woodworking students to become entrepreneurs as they created “kingly” chairs from pieces of lumber; the students used skill-saws and propane torches. Sam had a unique way of teaching, and believed instilling creativity and “thinking outside the box” was imperative.
Sam was not one to sit still long and even kept busy during his summer breaks from school operating a dozer and dump truck, etc. These activities would transition into hobbies and then into another career after his retirement from teaching. Sam and Margaret made their home of 32 years in rural Penhold, which is where Sam peacefully passed in his sleep.
Sam will be greatly missed by his wife of 32 years Margaret; his daughters Naola (Roger) Patrie of Sherwood Park and Marcia Airth of Red Deer; his step-children Greg Goulet of Hinton, Darren Goulet of Peachland, BC, and Deanne (Troy) McCallum of Barrie, ON; his grandchildren Marcel (Dee) Patrie, Tammy Nicholson, Ryan (Brandy) Patrie, Matthew Patrie, and Hannah Patrie; his step-grandchildren Johanna (Roy) Goulet, Andre Goulet, Farrah Goulet, Jared Goulet, Reese Eveneshen, Ayla McCallum; great-grandchildren Katayla, Darian, Jackson, Jeremy, Mason, Hayle, Evan, and Chloe; his step-great grandchildren Blair, Blake, Damion, Max, Diesel, Hailey, Riley, Dominik, and Justice; his great-great-grandson Theodore; his siblings Anne (Harve) Brockway of Carstairs, Tim (Brenda) Hulkovich of Red Deer, Shirley (Sam) Church of Red Deer; sister-in-laws Bernice Hulkovich of Calmar, Donna Hulkovich of Stettler and Elaine (Gordon) Long of Penticton, BC; brother-in-law Walt Zuiches of Gresham, OR; his half-siblings-in-law Eldon (Tracy) Ludwig, their children Tianna and Trista of Estavan, SK, Sally (Don) Wilson of Sylvan Lake, and Wendy Morrison of Medicine Hat; many nieces and nephews; and other family and friends.
Sam was preceded in death by his father Samuel Sr. in September 1975 and his mother Helen (Duda) Hulkovich in March 1995; his father-in-law Clifford (Cliff) Elder in 2002 and mother-in-law Theresa (Terry) Elder in 2016; his sister Vera Zuiches in 2021; his brothers John Hulkovich in 2000, William Sr. (Bill) Hulkovich in 1996 and James (Jim) Hulkovich in 2018; his sister-in-law Carol (Untch) Hulkovich in 2019; his former wife Faye Jamieson (mother of his children Naola and Marcia) in 2007.
Sam’s friends and family are invited to a memorial gathering at his house on Thursday, September 9, 2021 from 12-4 pm.
It’s faith that lifts us up, love that brings us comfort and strength that allows us to move on.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, tributes may be made to STARS air ambulance at STARS Donations, 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary AB, T2E 8M7, or online here; or you may also perform an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for some poor soul in Sam’s name. Condolences may also be emailed to meaningfulmemorials@yahoo.ca.
Arrangements in care of
Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service
A locally owned cremation and funeral provider
serving Red Deer and all of Central Alberta
587-876-4944