After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Eugene passed away on Monday, October 24, 2016 in Swift Current, SK at 65 years of age.
Eugene (Gene) Lawrence Prokop was born on March 25th, 1951 in Canora, SK to Wasyl (Bill) and Annie Prokop. He was the youngest of nine children. He attended school in Buchanan and then Yorkton, graduating from St. Joseph's College there. As a youth he was very active in the Ukrainian Catholic Church serving as an altar boy, was part of the Youth Club and did yard work around St. Mary's Church. He was united in marriage to Judy Maduck on July 4th, 1969 in Yorkton, where their first son Cory was born. In pursuit of career opportunities he moved his family to St. Paul, AB in 1970, where he and Judy were blessed with their second son, Stacey. A few months after the addition of their second child, Gene and Judy packed up their young family and made a move to Fort St. John, BC for a period of six months before ending up in Edmonton. While there, his prayers were answered and he and Judy welcomed their beautiful daughter, Leanne. Opportunities in the car industry took Gene and his family to Calgary for a few years. In 1978 he returned to his roots in Saskatchewan by making a move to Regina. He was very happy to be back in his home province and closer to his family. He ultimately went on to own and operate his own Hyundai dealership for a number of years. Following this venture he switched gears and went on to a career as a financial advisor with Sun life Financial, where he built many close relationships with his clients and co-workers. In 2010, he was forced to leave the workforce to take up his health battles full time. His greatest joy was in being able to spend time with his seven grandchildren: Jessica, Mason, Jaren, Brittany, Taylan, Christopher and Sarah. He was a great role model, mentor, confidant and friend to each of them and he loved his grandchildren with all of his heart.
Gene loved to travel, especially cruising at sea, and was able to enjoy many of these vacations with Judy, with his family, and with friends. He was always at his happiest when he and Judy were together travelling or when they were planning their next adventure. Anyone that knew him knows that Gene was a great handyman, developing basements in several homes, renovating others, and always able and willing to help his children with any projects they needed to have done. He always came up with ingenious ways to solve renovation related problems when they popped up.
Gene was predeceased by both his parents; a brother Joey (age 3); his eldest brother Steve; his sisters Pauline, Natalie and Mary; and by his brothers-in-law Jim, Frank and Henry.
He is survived by his wife Judy; sons Cory (Michella) and their sons Mason (Katie), Jaren and Taylan of Estevan; Stacey (Tammy) and their daughters Jessica (Cody) and Brittany of Calgary; and his daughter Leanne (Craig Hilts) and their children Christopher and Sarah of Swift Current; his sisters Heleria, Leona and Sister Laura; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family would like to recognize the efforts of the doctors and nursing staff at the Swift Current Regional Hospital. Their caring and compassion over the past seven weeks helped make Gene's final days much more comfortable. We also wish to acknowledge the wonderful care he received over the years from Dr. Zarkovich and the staff in the chemo department at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre. Gene will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed.
PRAYERS were held at Regina Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4001 East Victoria Avenue, Regina, SK on Friday, October 28, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. A FUNERAL MASS was celebrated at Holy Child Roman Catholic Church, 2636 7 Avenue East, Regina, SK on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Donations in memory of Gene may be made to the Allan Blair Cancer Centre, 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina, SK S4T 7T1 or Canadian Cancer Society, 1910 McIntyre Street, Regina, SK S4P 2R3. Family and friends are invited to sign the online obituary and tributes page at www.reginafuneralhome.ca.
Arrangements entrusted to Regina Funeral Home and Cemetery (306) 789-8850.
