Date of Birth: April 11, 1925
Date of Death: September 26, 2014
Carlyle Edwin Santo passed away on September 26, 2014 at the Southeast Integrated Care Facility in Moosomin, SK, at the age of 89 after a short illness. Carlyle and his twin brother Calvin were born on April 11, 1925 in the little town of Bender, Saskatchewan, just east of current-day Kipling. The twins were very tiny when born, weighing only about 3 pounds, and sadly Calvin contracted whooping cough and died. Carlyle was kept warm in a shoe box sitting on the oven door of the wood stove.
Carlyle grew up working on the family farm with his 9 brothers and sisters. He attended school at Bender to Grade 11 and in November 1943, at the age of 18, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, joining his siblings to fight in World War II.
In 1948, Carlyle married his sweetheart, a local school teacher, Lenora Walyor. In 1949, they moved to Whitewood, bought a farm south of town and began a mixed farming operation while they raised their two sons, Robert and Patrick.
Farming was not easy in those years, both physically and financially. Carlyle earned extra income working for the RM of Silverwood as a grader operator for 3 years and then as a school bus driver for another 12 years. Carlyle suffered an eye injury during those early years of farming and although he struggled with his eyesight, it did not deter him from continuing to fix machines, farm and do carpentry. By 1965, the couple had saved enough to build a new house, which he constructed mostly by himself, and he and Lenora enjoyed it until his death.
Carlyle had a natural talent for fixing things and making them work, enjoyed working with his sons and teaching them and later on teaching his grandchildren. Carlyle was very family orientated and was happy to host many family events on their farm, including a huge gathering for their 50th wedding anniversary. Carlyle and Lenora also enjoyed travelling and visited family and friends from Vancouver to PEI and toured the United States on many jaunts. Carlyle enjoyed fishing and has a 28-pound trout mounted in his entranceway, caught while fishing with his brother in northern Saskatchewan. He also enjoyed riding snow machines, cross-country skiing, hunting, gun club and playing cards with friends and family.
Carlyle was very proud of his and his family’s military service, his oldest brothers who died in action overseas, his mother being honoured as the Silver Cross mother in 1973 and his membership in the Legion for 45 years.
Carlyle slowly withdrew from farming when Patrick moved home to take over the farm in 1983. In 2001 he and Lenora moved their house to Whitewood. Carlyle’s later years were a struggle with crippling arthritis and blindness, but he passed the time listening to news, weather, and visiting with company, especially his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was able to stay in his own home due to the loving care provided by Doris Logrono for the last two years.
Carlyle was predeceased by his mother Margaret, his father Alex, his sisters Jean, Phyllis, and Edith, his brothers Calvin, Robert, John, David, and Edward
Carlyle leaves to remember and celebrate his life his loving wife of 65 years Lenora; brother Richard (Dick) Santo (Trish) of Saskatoon; son Robert (Cyd), their children Vaughn (Danielle), Raeanne (Mike) Leskiw; son Patrick (Darlene), their children Tracey and Robin (Kelli); and great- grandchildren Seneca, Janae and Alexis Santo.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date in the Whitewood Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Whitewood.
