Chad passed away unexpectedly November 19, 2014 at the age of 38 years old. He was predeceased by his grandparents Mac and Doris Johnstone, Harold Jennings and Verna and Russ Gordon. Chad is survived by his wife Marla, Weyburn; mother Bev Johnstone, Weyburn; father Keith (Janice) Johnstone, Yellow Grass; father and mother-in-law Roger (Joanne) Holdstock, Weyburn; sister Charla (Darren) Moore, Trossachs, and their children: Shayla and Kaylan; brother Devin Johnstone, Weyburn; stepbrothers; Shaun Mus, Yellow Grass, and Trevor Mus, Cedoux; brother-in-law Ryan (Kali) Holdstock, Weyburn and their children: William, Hadley and Rhea; grandparents : Ruth Schultz, Weyburn, and Wayne (Darlene) Holdstock, Weyburn, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Chad was born to Bev and Keith Johnstone September 6, 1976 in Weyburn. Chad was the middle brother of three siblings. Chad attended school in Weyburn until 1990, then finished his schooling in Yellow Grass where he graduated in 1994. Chad was a true farm kid. He was active in everything. He enjoyed the cubs program in Weyburn, played hockey for many years (including many hours of playing street hockey with friends), delivered papers, and rode horses (4-H, showing, team roping). He was a 4-H Light horse member in Lomond and Brokenshell clubs. Chad was always using his hands. Growing up on the farm he could fix anything. His strong work ethic gave him these huge, scarred up hands, hands of a man. The summer he graduated from high school he worked for a carpenter, adding more character to his hands and money in his pocket so he could pursue his passion, which led Chad to Olds College. He enrolled in the Farrier course and apprenticed under his instructor for a month in Alberta that summer, then he came home to help finish harvest on the family farm. Chad was well liked and respected by his classmates and instructors at Olds College. He graduated top of his Farrier class in the spring of 1996. He then came home and worked for a cattle, elk and bison farmer during the day and built his farrier business on evenings and weekends. Chad was an amazing farrier, he knew horses feet and quickly built up a huge clientele and many friends through this business. He was passionate about being a farrier. He continued to learn by attending as many clinics and competitions as he could, even going so far as taking the pre-certification clinic through the American Farrier Association. He was willing to share his knowledge with others, including Charla. Chad and Charla had many conversations discussing horses’ feet or just horses in general. Chad decided to venture out and buy cows and bison in 2000, and moved to the family farm at Yellow grass. In 2002 he became an uncle for the first time to Shayla, followed by Kaylan, William, Hadley and Rhea. He loved his nieces and nephews and would do anything for them (from babysitting, to helping them get their first horse, to snowball fights and wrestling with them). In 2007 with the help of Charla and brother-in-law Darren, he started working in the oilfield doing spraying, mowing, snow blowing, operating and trenching. Darren was more like a brother to Chad, and together with Charla, they would help Chad with any venture he wanted to take on as he valued their opinion. They worked together, but also had fun. It didn’t seem to matter when or where Chad was, he always wanted to give Darren a hand and would give him a hard time if he wasn’t asked for his help. Darren will miss his presence every day, as he relied on Chad more than he realized. Chad enjoyed travelling, even though he didn’t get the opportunity to travel as often as he would have liked. In 2008 he took a trip to Nicaragua with Charla, Darren and friends. Chad and Marla travelled to Las Vegas with Ryan and Kali in December of 2013. He was planning a fly in fishing trip with friends and family for the summer of 2015. Chad and Marla met as kids when they were members of the Brokenshell Light Horse 4-H Club. When Chad returned from farrier school in 1996, he became Marla’s farrier. They spent hours talking in the barn while Chad shod her horses. In 2010, Chad called Marla at work, and asked if she would like to go to Moose Jaw to a cowboy poetry reading. The rest was history. Following a round up in October 2011, Chad decided he would take Marla to Cypress Hills. Up on the highest lookout point Chad proposed. Being the man of honor that he was, he had already asked Roger for her hand in marriage. With Darren and Devin as Chad’s groomsmen, they were married September 8, 2012 on a beautiful fall day in their yard under an archway of horseshoes that Chad had made. Their new ranch home, which they had custom designed together had arrived just weeks before the wedding. Chad fit in with the Holdstocks from the start. He became an integral part of the ranching operation NE of Weyburn. They were proud to have him as a son, brother and grandson. With Ryan and Kali living within walking distance, the four of them became best friends. They were always looking out for each other, and spent many hours together barbecuing, deep frying, boating, or just having drinks. Ryan and Chad worked well together. Most recently this fall, the two of them coordinated the building of a new barn and corrals for use in this spring’s calving operation. Chad was honored when Ryan had asked him to be a groomsman in his upcoming wedding in July 2015. Chad was passionate about the Ag Society and following in his father’s footsteps, was chosen to be President in December 2013. Chad spent many hours fixing and preparing for events. His leadership skills and new ideas were instrumental in helping the Weyburn Ag society renew their activities for the future. Chad brought a new way of thinking and had big plans. He also brought Devin and other new faces to the Ag Society. Between the two brothers and other committee members, many improvements were made to the grounds. Devin plans to remain a member of the Ag Society and continue what Chad had started. Chad enjoyed hunting. In the winter of 2014, he decided to join the Weyburn Wildlife club (archery club) at Goodwater. He came home so excited that he got to shoot a bow. He decided to roll his coins, went to Regina and bought himself a bow. Chad loved to cook and was always trying new recipes. He was the “batterman” at the deep fry nights. He enjoyed making Sunday brunches. He had the perfect pancake recipe, and he would also cook eggs, bacon and lots of coffee for all who came. He also loved to eat, his plate was always piled high. Chad was never one to miss an invitation for a meal or a visit, especially with family. Gardening was also a passion of Chad’s. He even tried to grow brussel sprouts, watermelon, and celery. When he invited Charla, Shayla and Kaylan to pick apples from their farm they found a nest of wasps. They all were swarmed and a few got bit by those little critters, but of course he still had a smile on his face and a big laugh about it. When we think of Chad, we will remember his smile and his infectious laugh. Chad loved to shop. He had more of a wardrobe than his wife and sister. He had a big collection of hats, knives, boots and jeans, and he would not part with any of them. He spoiled his nieces and nephews every Christmas and birthday. If Chad had drawn your name for Christmas you knew it was going to be a good present and well thought out. As a big brother to Devin, Chad was the one he went to for help. Devin knew that Chad would always be there for him. Whenever the two of them would try something, it was always with a “Well, let’s try it and see what happens” attitude. With their similar ways of thinking, they could usually make quick work out of any project that they took on. Chad did many other things in his life but his passion was being a farrier. In it he found what he loved to do. He did some other things that he didn’t love so that he could continue to do what he loved. When you were around Chad he gave you a sense of calmness. He was there for you, for anything you needed, whether it was to build or fix something or to just talk and listen. He didn’t just listen he paid attention. He wasn’t looking at his watch worrying about the fact he was already late for something else he had to do, he was there for you. And that is the big reason why he will be missed. His willingness to help people and try to please others never stopped. Because people who are prepared to do what it takes are valued. They are the ones neighbours rely on, family depends on, the ones nieces and nephews adore, and the ones that leave huge holes when they are taken away. Chad was one of those people. A service of Remembrance was held November 25 at the Grace United Church, Weyburn with Rev. M. Barnabas officiating. Words of Remembrance were given by Allen Whitrow. A Tribute to my Brother was given by Devin Johnstone. Memories of uncle Chad were shared by Shayla Moore. Cowboy Poetry was read by Ryan Holdstock. Interment will follow at a later date. Honorary Pallbearers were Devin Johnstone, Darren Moore, Ryan Holdstock, and Garnet Long.Donations in memory of Chad may be made to the Weyburn Agriculture Society Box 699, Weyburn, SK S4H 2K8 or to the Olds College Farrier Bursary Fund, Box 1505, Weyburn, SK S4H 3N8. Condolences may be left at RD Family Funeral Chapel. Arrangements were entrusted to RD Family Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Weyburn (306-848-0333 ~ 1-888-848-0333). Expressions of sympathy to the family may be sent to our website at www.rdfamilymemorialchapel.com “Our family serving your family”