Jan. 11, 1930 – March 11, 2026
It is with great sadness that we announce that Sylvester John Shantz passed away, in the early morning of March 11, 2026 at the age of 96 years, in High Prairie, AB.
Sylvester was the only child born to John and Mary Shantz, who were immigrants in 1926 from Ridzvyany, Ukraine. Sylvester was born on a cold winter day of Jan. 11, 1930 on the same homestead that was settled by his father John in 1927 and is still in the family today.
Sylvester obtained his schooling in High Prairie, graduating with Grade 12. During his school years he mentioned he had many nicknames but the one that brought a smile to his face was “Sunshine”. One might try to tease him with the same, but he would just offer a quiet laugh and smile as it was really so fitting for his personality throughout his life.
After high school, Sylvester enrolled into heavy duty mechanics at SAIT where he later received his diploma. Declining to take a job after his graduation in 1952 with a Massey-Harris dealership located in Blackie, AB, he moved back home for a period of time but soon after moved to Vancouver to work in the burgeoning lumber industry. Stories of him dancing on the floating logs in the water was easily accomplished, as like his father John, Sylvester was an excellent dancer. As farming would have it, John and Mary called him back to help harvest a bumper 40 acres of oats and so he returned to stay in High Prairie for the remainder of his life.
Sylvester’s next employment was with the High Prairie Co-op store and this would be the beginning of a significantly long career in retail. While learning the retail trade, Sylvester married Anne Lytwyn on July 28, 1956. Their first child and only son, Derek, was born in early summer of 1960. As the retail trade seemed to agree with Sylvester he was asked to manage the McLennan Co-op store. Travelling between High Prairie to McLennan began to take its toll, he chose to take a retail position with the Hudson Bay Northern store located in High Prairie, managing the clothing department.
It was about this time that their second child and only daughter, Patricia, was born in the early spring of 1962. Sylvester continued his employment with The Bay until a new opportunity presented itself. In March of 1965, Sylvester obtained his license to open Syl’s Confectionary, which would be the first of its kind in High Prairie and perhaps his most enduring definition. He enjoyed seeing his many customers and once young customers yet fondly remember the highly anticipated penny candy selections with a nickel or dime in their hand. Sylvester and Anne would successfully operate the business for some 12 years. After the sale of the business in 1976, the business remained in High Prairie for a few years until being relocated to Clairmont.
After the sale of the confectionery, Sylvester took some time off from business and work, except for farming, which he only had a brief break during his time while at SAIT and Vancouver.
Farming was his greatest labour of love. Farming started at a young age helping his father clear land, drive teams of horses to work the land and harvest grain with both family and neighbours in threshing crews in the days before combines. At his farming peak, he cultivated almost 1,000 acres with Derek able to farm with Sylvester for his last 10 years.
In 1991, Sylvester suffered health issues and reduced his acreage and subsequently sold off most of the large farm equipment in 1994.
In the years 1976-91, Sylvester had several occupations, but more notably, with the Town of High Prairie working in both the water plant and natural gas divisions and as an ambulance driver where eventually in 1988 he became an EMT-First Responder.
Sylvester’s personal life centered around serving his family and a few hobbies. He loved his family dearly and looked forward to family visits, celebrations and reunions. Sylvester loved music. He could spend hours listening and enjoying the taped music of Johnny Cash, Wilf Carter, Charlie Pride and many other country artists but would be most enamored with any small live band as he played guitar in his younger years for many weddings and celebrations in and around the High Prairie area.
Sylvester’s retirement period, post 1994, allowed him and Anne to travel. A 5th-wheel trailer served to take them to far away points of continental United States and Canada. International trips had Sylvester and Anne travel to Mexico, Hawaii, Brazil, India, Australia, Asia, Turkey and Europe. Then, in both 2010 and 2013, the most memorable trips were to Sylvester’s ancestral homeland of Ukraine where he was warmly greeted by relatives and was even able to overnight in the house that his mother was born and raised in the village of Rizdvyany. Strolling the village and driving in the area, Sylvester mentioned, “how beautiful the country is and why would anyone want to leave”.
It’s worth noting that Sylvester was named in memory after his cousin Sylvester, who was killed by the Russian NKVD during the First World War.
The farm was Sylvester’s sanctuary. He would lovingly provide care to the farm yard with a manicure so it looked like a golf course. Sylvester’s obsession with almost any kind of wood reached a peak in retirement, but was most focused on the wood for the fireplace. He split firewood by axe until his mid- 70s when he was then offered the use of a log splitter. The fireplace in the house would be lit and warm for family, friends or just himself, but especially during the winter while cheering on the Oilers or just a good sleep if the game got away from them.
Great times were had on the farm. Whatever the activity, be it goose hunting to family reunions, many cherished memories were made on the farm. He ensured his children and grandchildren had what they needed to enjoy the farm. He moved a barn onto the farm so Patricia could ride horses and made room in a garage for Derek to modify his first car. His grandchildren were able to have cam-overs with bonfires, snowmobiling, quadding, motorbiking, cross country skiing and all included coffee breaks and snacks provided by Anne whether summer or winter.
As Sylvester’s eyesight and mobility diminished, his farm activity did as well, but to his great enjoyment, he was able to attend a few times in the twilight of his years.
Sylvester is now at peace in heaven with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He was predeceased by his father John and mother Mary. He leaves to mourn his wife Anne of almost 70 years of marriage, his son Derek (Maxine) and grandchildren Nathaniel and Christina Reimer (Preston), his daughter Patricia and grandchildren Travis Alexander, Jacob Alexander, Cameron (Britney) Alexander and great-grandchildren Arrow and Barrett.