JOe AND SUSAN ZAGRODNEY

Joseph Christopher Zagrodney was born on Jan. 1, 1921 in Dauphin, MB. He had a sister and three brothers. His parents were John Zagrodney and Elizabeth Demchuk, who emigrated from Austria with their parents when they were young children. They first came to Dauphin in 189 where they gave birth to their children.

When the 30’s rolled around everything started dying, so they moved to Fosston where there were still some trees and grass. Joe helped his parents farm until he enlisted in the army in 1942. He was in the infantry as a signaler and carried an 18 set radio. He was wounded in battle, receiving shrapnel to his right shoulder, and was in the hospital for three weeks. He then resumed his service until he was discharged in 1946 as Sergeant. Later he received a Groningen scroll for his help in the liberation of Groningen, Holland from the people who lived there.

            He married Susan Ellen Plaksy on July 15, 1947. Susan was born on Nov. 2, 1923 near Ponass Lake, SK. She had one brother and three sisters. Her parents Alex Plaksy and Helen Zazula immigrated to Canada with their parents when they were young from Ukraine in 1904.

They first lived 10 miles west of Fosston, which Susan describes as being “nothing but trees, grass, mosquitoes, and sloughs.” She went to the Sigstad District School and helped her parents because her mother was not well.

            When Joe and Susan married they started their own farm near Fosston, which they farmed for 23 years. They had thousands of cattle and poultry, and they have shipped livestock and produce throughout Canada, United States, Europe and even Japan. Susan has also worked as a clerk in Rose Valley and at the hospital in Wadena. In 1984 they stopped farming and “retired peacefully to Wadena”.

They had three children, Dwight, Eugene and Trudy. Now they have eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and one on the way.

When asked what they like to do, they said they enjoyed taking care of all their animals and love to help their neighbours. They love it when others do well for themselves and are pleased to hear of other’s good fortune. 

Congratulations to you, Joe and Susan, for your nearly 60 years of marriage. We hope that every year of it has been a good one.