Obituaries

Robert Craig Woods passed away peacefully on his own terms in Regina, Saskatchewan on August 1, 2023. He was born in 1927 in Pathlow, Saskatchewan, the second son of William and Margaret Woods. One of the biggest controversies Dad ever caused was with his name. His parents had argued prior to his birth about whether to call him Robert (favoured by Bill) or Craig (Margaret’s choice). Bill thought he won when he completed the birth certificate with Robert only. Margaret insisted on calling the baby only Craig. So, officially it was Robert but everyone who knew him called him Craig – even his Dad. Dad was in his 50s when he officially added Craig to his legal name. His grandson Evan and his great-grandson Cohen, proudly carry Craig as their middle name.

Craig was predeceased by his parents William and Margaret Woods; his brother Stuart; sister-in-law Willa; and his wife Irene. He is survived by his daughters Lynn Woods (Des Plewman), Lisa Woods and Ann Ozipko (Grant); his grandchildren Micheal Huber, Jenna Labelle (Nathan), Evan Ozipko and Claire Ozipko; his great-grandson Cohen; his nephew Jim Woods (Maureen) and niece Marianne Whitten (Al); and many beloved nieces and nephews on the Orr side.

Dad graduated from high school in Pathlow in 1945. He then moved with his parents to the home site two miles south of Kinistino, Saskatchewan and started farming, opting not to go to university to study engineering as he had planned. He initially had a mixed grain and beef operation, but in 1966 he switched to strictly grain farming and was an early adopter of canola and peas, along with the traditional wheat and barley. There truly was nothing else that Dad loved more than the farm. Harvest was an especially enjoyable time. He loved it like Christmas and was never happier than being able to take off a good crop.

Dad was a devoted member of the Masonic Lodge, fulfilling many roles in the local Lodge and on a provincial level as well. He served as Grand Master for Saskatchewan in 1970-1971 and at the time he was one of the youngest Grand Masters ever in the province. He remained active in the Lodge, attending provincial meetings, Grand Lodge and many other events. Not many things could get him away from the farm, but his Masonic duties and the fraternity that he felt for the organization and its members had a special meaning to him.

Dad was fiercely independent and hated to ask for help when he knew he could do something for himself. He once moved a piano out of the basement in the house at the farm, loaded it into his truck on his own and transported it to Lynn in Regina. He was only found out and forced to confess when Don Skene passed him on the highway on his way to the Rider game that weekend. Dad knew the story would get out and called his daughters to tell them what he’d done.

Dad remained on the farm for as long as he could, moving to Regina only when his eyesight failed, forcing him to give up driving. One of the last times Dad drove to Regina for a Lodge meeting, he had the misfortune to hit a deer with his car fairly early in his journey. He was determined to get to the meeting. Undeterred, he wrapped the air bag - which had gone off during the accident - around the steering wheel and just kept driving. He intended to report the accident in Kenaston but the RCMP detachment wasn’t open so he continued to Regina, drinking ginger ale to help his throat which was sore from the air bag dust. Dad encountered an RCMP officer who assisted in leaving the car in a Lumsden compound and then giving him a lift to Regina. You can imagine the look on Lynn’s face when the RCMP showed up and dropped Dad off at her doorstep.

Dad was always busy and always moving quickly. He rarely walked anywhere and if he did, he walked fast. One of the local boys told the girls that his Dad admired our Dad’s work ethic, noting that if you watched Craig Woods go from the tractor to the truck, he didn’t walk – he ran. Dad continued to exert his independence well into his 80s and 90s, shoveling the snow off the roof of the house at the farm and shoveling most of the block after any snow storm hit Regina.

Dad made a point to come in every morning from wherever he was working before we went to school and wish us a good day. It was really only as adults that we came to appreciate the effort that took. He always made us feel safe and secure, most often through his actions and deeds - checking our oil, filling our vehicles with fuel, washing our windshields, driving us to and from events, pulling us out of the ditch and just always being there, a strong and steady presence. It was easier to take risks, to take that leap to achieve our dreams when we knew he would always be there to rescue us if necessary, and to celebrate our eventual successes. He was a wonderful father.

Dad always hid from the spotlight. He was always quick to quietly help someone in need or give someone a hand up. He was never one to complain, and when faced with macular degeneration which left him legally blind, Dad’s observation was he had enjoyed “… a pretty good run.” His deteriorating vision spurred his move from his beloved farm to Regina, where he kept in excellent condition by walking everywhere – often kilometers in a day.

Right to the end, Dad remained a strong presence in the lives of his family and he could be counted on for solid advice, unwavering support and a soft place to land. He will be missed greatly.

A Memorial Service will be held in Kinistino, Saskatchewan in the Summer of 2024.

Flowers gratefully declined.