Mike Tluchak was born on May 8, 1937 in Baliol, Saskatchewan in the CPR station house. The family moved soon after to Daphne and in 1943 they settled on the farm at Gronlid when his dad quit work for the railway due to illness. Mike first attended school in Gronlid then Ridgedale when his parents purchased the Ridgedale Hotel in 1948. In 1951 they returned to the farm. Mike left school before completing his grade eight and took up farming to help his dad. He remained on the farm until his passing although he was not actively involved after 2012. He felt computerized technology was not for him so he resigned himself to small odd jobs wherever he was needed. His pride and joy was his John Deere 325 lawn mower where he logged many hundreds of hours and kept the yard very neatly maintained. The only “toy” he ever owned was a John Deere gator which gave him mobility around the yard when he could no longer walk any distance. He even shared it with Verna so she could haul in her garden produce. His right hand on the farm was the 2010 John Deere tractor with front end loader and the wish that it never leave the farm. Mike married Verna Walcer, his wife of 56 years. They raised a family of six children, Marilyn (Jerry Kindrat), Marty (Jackie Desrosiers), Tim (Barb Jansen), Bob, Dennis (Lori Nehaj), Murray (Kerri Maheux). There are 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren and another coming in March 2015. Mike not only farmed but played with various polka bands for over 32 years. He looked forward eagerly to weekends when he was booked to play somewhere for a dance, wedding or an event to earn a few dollars. At home he loved to play polka music- his favourite was Frankie Yankovic. Sometimes the music got a little louder than Verna liked. He was quite proud of his successes yet humble at the same time. He could chuckle good naturedly at a wall plaque he bought that reads “I started with nothing and still have most of it left”. He was also proud of his Slovak heritage. Mike enjoyed cooking, camping, visiting, reading real life stories especially of trappers, miners, and everyday life of the common man. He and Verna enjoyed a Caribbean cruise, a 17 day bus tour to the United States, visiting his family in Michigan and Ohio; three trips to Hawaii, several to Bakersfield California, Mexico, Arizona, Toronto, and Vancouver. Mike was predeceased by his parents John and Mary, his sister Mary, and his brother John and sister-in-law Vicki, his father and mother-in-law John and Katherine Walcer and many other family members. With his family at his side, Mike peacefully passed away in Melfort Union Hospital on October 23, 2014. Vigil of Prayer was held on Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Both services were held at Our Lady of Consolation Roman Catholic Church, Melfort, SK. Rite of Committal followed at St. Helen's Cemetery. Memorial contributions, in memory of Mike, may be directed to North Central Health District Foundation designated to Melfort Hospital Palliative Care Unit and /or Gronlid Hall.