Obituary of Loyal John Sannachan

Loyal John Sannachan, lovingly known to all as Butch, was born on May 15, 1941, in Consort, Alberta. At just two and a half years old, he and his siblings—George, Bud, Ken, and Sally—went to live with their grandmother, Sarah Shafer, in the Neutral Hills area.

At the age of 15, Butch left school and began a life of hard work and hands-on experience. He worked in the Neutral Hills and Czar area, beginning with Roworth & Cameron Ranches, and later found his way into road construction, oil rigs, logging camps, and railway construction. Eventually, he purchased a gravel truck and spent years hauling gravel, saving every penny until he could pursue his dream of farming. In 1971, he bought a small farm south of Metiskow from his grandmother Shafer, followed by another farm north of Metiskow in 1972. There, he built a life with his wife of 60 years, Judy, and raised three children: Wanda, Wendy, and Robert.

Butch had a passion for life and a love of community. His hobbies were many: stock car racing, gymkhanas, pony chuckwagon and chariot racing, fishing with his brother Vic, playing cards with friends and neighbors, and discing in Metiskow. He never turned down a coffee or a good BS session with anyone who dropped by.

A true jack of all trades, Butch was a skilled welder, a gifted mechanic, and a talented builder—especially of chuckwagons and chariots, which he proudly crafted and raced over the years. He was also a longtime member of the Metiskow Agricultural Society and a dependable neighbor, always willing to lend a hand with cattle, seeding, or harvest. If someone needed help, Butch showed up.

After a short but courageous battle with cancer, Butch passed away in the early hours of June 29, 2025, at the Provost Health Centre, with his daughter Wendy by his side.

He will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his wife Judy; children Wanda Sannachan (Morris), Wendy Lang (Jim), and Rob Sannachan (Audrey); grandchildren Wacey Hogg (Amanda), Dione Kristel (Bryce), Ryelee Lang (Justin), Taylor Hogg (Brad), Clay Lang (Ali), Corbin, Patience, and Ryder Sannachan; step-great-grandchildren Paisley and Emersyn; and many extended family members and dear friends.

Butch’s legacy lives on in the community he loved, the family he cherished, and the countless lives he touched with his kindness, humor, and helping hands.

A life well lived, a man well loved.

.A funeral service will be held for Butch on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Metiskow Hall. Private Family Interment will follow at the Metiskow Cemetery.