Obituary of Michael Joseph Yakielashek

MICHAEL (MIKE) YAKIELASHEK

June 12, 1955 – March 24, 2025

With deep sadness we are announcing that Michael passed away on March 24^th, 2025, at the Castor Hospital, Castor Alberta, at the age of 69 years.

Michael is survived by his loving wife Debbie (Deb) of 48 years; brother Sylvester and sister-in-law (Hazel); sisters-in-law Nettie Yakielashek and Phyllis Yakielashek; brothers-in-law Ed (Erna) and Jim (Tina); as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

He was predeceased by his parents Mike and Cassie Yakielashek; mother-in-law Dorothy Roszell; father-in-law Mel Roszell; brother Henry; sister-in-law Mary; brothers Chris and Alfred.

Mike was born on June 12^th, 1955, in Winnipegosis, Manitoba. While attending high school, Mike and a few school buddies formed a musical band. However, after high school the buddies went their separate ways. Mike dearly loved playing his guitar, which he continued to jam from his basement home in Castor.

Shortly after high school Mike enlisted and served with “The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry” for a few years. Subsequently he met Deb, the love of his life, and on May 22^nd, 1976, they got married in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Later Mike decided to embark on a career in municipal government and obtained his first appointment as the Assistant C.A.O. of the R.M. of Morris in Morris, Manitoba. On December 1, 1980, he was appointed as the C.A.O. of the Town of Castor, Alberta. He remained as their C.A.O. until his retirement on December 31^st, 2010. After retirement he wanted to keep busy at something and spent 9 years as the supervisor of, “The PaintEarth Regional Waste Management”.

While in Castor, Mike spent 32 years on the Castor Volunteer Fire Department. He also loved baseball and curling, with a strong passion for an early 5:30 A.M. game of golf.

In honoring Michael’s wishes no

formal funeral service will be held

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital Foundation, Box 329, Castor, Alberta T0C 0X0 or to a charity of your choice. 

Castor’s ‘Best Dressed Firefighter’ Retires

By Kevin J Sabo For the Stettler Independent on April 8, 2019

The Castor Volunteer Fire Department lost a legend when Fire Captain Mike Yakielashek decided to call it a career, and the department has not let him forget it.

Known as Castor’s “Best Dressed Firefighter,” Mike was honoured in the fall of 2018 by the Fire Department team to thank him for his service to the department and to the community.

However, his fellow firefighters were not the only ones to honour him, though. With over 1250 recorded calls during his over three decades of service, Mike received the Governor General’s Fire Services Exemplary Service Award with the 22- and 32-year bars in the fall of 2017.

“Mike took all the courses and was willing to take the training,” said Castor Fire Chief Patrick Kelly. “He was always willing to lend a hand, and the first one to volunteer for things.”

Mikes commitment to the residents of Castor did not start and stop with the fire department – though that is where he spent countless hours training and on calls – he also spent years working for the Town as it’s CAO until his retirement in 2010.

It was his days as CAO of the Town that earned him the “Best Dressed Firefighter” moniker, where he would show up at the fire hall for calls wearing his shirt and tie, some of which allegedly didn’t survive the callout.

“He ruined quite a few shirts,” laughed Chief Kelly while talking about Mike’s retirement.

Mike couldn’t have spent the time he did on the Fire Department without the support of his wife, Debbie.

“You worried, but it never bothered me,” said Debbie when talking about Mike’s days on the department. “You never knew what he was going to. The other wives would look after each other for the 12 to 14 hours the guys would be out on a call. It was what he wanted to do.”

“He’s taking retirement very well,” she added. “He misses the guys. He misses seeing them every second and fourth Tuesday of the month when they train. They are the most amazing group of people. He trusted them with his life.”

Not content to get bored in retirement, Mike works four days a week for the Paintearth Regional Waste Management as the Transfer Station Supervisor for the County of Paintearth.

The Castor Volunteer Fire Department trains twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m. In contrast to many volunteer departments across the province that struggle to maintain member, Castor’s department is currently fully staffed with volunteers and has a positive outlook for the next few years.

“We’re set for the next 5 years,” said Chief Kelly. “We have a core group that’s been together for twenty-plus years.”

For more information related to the Castor Volunteer Fire Department, contact Fire Chief Kelly to inquire about any potential volunteer opportunities.