Alan Psutka

Alan was born in Esterhazy, SK, on May 11, 1962. He was the oldest of 5 children born to Carl and Dolores (nee  Hruska) Psutka. Alan grew up on the family farm by Yarbo where his love of farming began. He helped his dad with the grain and cattle farming operations and did so while attending school in Esterhazy, SK. In his teenage years, he played many organized sports including hockey, fastball, volleyball and football. After graduating high school, Alan studied Instrumentation Engineering Technology at NAIT in Edmonton, AB, and graduated in 1984.

On August 31, 1985, Alan married Lorianne (nee Blerot). They resided in Gerald, SK. Their marriage was blessed with four children. Alan was employed at the Esterhazy potash mine as an Instrumentation Technologist, and was later promoted to a supervisor. He retired from potash mining in 2012. Alan remained a farmer at heart. He assisted his father with the family farm as well as farmed his own land north of Gerald. In 1997, he moved his wife and children to the family homestead. Life on the farm was never dull. Alan and Lorianne ran in two separate directions to get their four children to their extracurricular activities including hockey, gymnastics, ball, soccer, catechism, and  piano, all while maintaining a gorgeously maintained yard and home. 

Alan was a real outdoorsman, enjoying fastball, fishing, skidooing and hunting in his leisure time. He was a talented ball player and played on many fastball teams during high school, post-secondary school and as a young father. He had a passion for   hunting; teaching Firearm Safety courses, taking yearly hunting trips up north with his buddies, as well as hunting on his own land. This passion was extended on to all of his children. There were many hunting stories to be told over a whiskey with his good friends. The big game meat never went to waste. Alan annually made delicious sausage and jerky to share with friends and family.

In 2010, Alan and Lorianne took on the monumental project of relocating and rebuilding the family farm. Alan headed this overwhelming project. His high quality work ethic was the perfect match for the job. When Alan and Lorianne moved to the new farm yard in the fall of 2011, Alan officially took over the family grain and cattle farming responsibilities and continued farming until present. 

Alan was a very hard working, intelligent, caring, generous, and honest person. He was a take charge kind of guy; he took the lead on every task that came his way. He had an infectious laugh that will be remembered by many.

Alan will forever be loved and missed by his wife, Lorianne; their children, son Chris (Lisa), daughter Carolyne (Clayton), son Michael (Veronique) and son Jason (Courtney); his grandchildren Talyceeya, Jacob, Sam, Weston, Ava, Tristan, and his newest grandson born June 6th; his parents, Carl and Dolores; his mother-in-law, Jeanne; his siblings, Steven (Linda) and Kim (Dave); as well as numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Alan was predeceased by his sister, Coreen, his brother, Greg, his father-in-law, Fernand Blerot, and his brother-in-law, Lucien Chicoine.