It is with great sadness that the family of Martin Cherkowski, resident of Grande Prairie, AB, announces his passing on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the age of 63, after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer.

Martin was born on June 6, 1962, in Hinton, AB. He was the youngest of ten children to parents Mike and Grace Cherkowski. He grew up on the family farm in the Barrhead area, where he developed his strong work ethic and lifelong love of the outdoors.

After completing his GED, Martin pursued his studies in Instrumentation at NAIT, graduating in 1989. He went on to build a long and successful career in the oil and gas industry, where he not only honed his technical skills, but also formed many lifelong friendships.

Martin loved farm life and spent 17 years raising his family on an acreage. A man who could never sit idle, he was always eager to take on a new project or solve a problem. Whether it was programming, electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, or countless household repairs for his daughters, Martin was the one everyone could count on for help.

He was happiest outdoors, camping, river boating, hunting, fishing, and enjoying countless other recreational activities. He loved cooking for his family, gathering loved ones around the table, and later in life, he found his greatest joy in spending time with his cherished grandchildren. Martin was deeply proud of his sobriety in his final years, a source of comfort and happiness to both himself and his family.

Martin will be dearly missed by his daughters, Sam (Patrick) and Kaylee (Jaret); his grandchildren, Ellie and Miles; as well as his siblings, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, Mike and Grace Cherkowski, brothers Rudy and George, and sister Debbie.

A memorial service will be held for Martin on Friday, September 19, at 3:00 pm at Oliver’s Funeral Home (10005 107 Ave.) in Grande Prairie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (https://cancer.ca/en) or to the Alberta Northwest Palliative Care Society (https://www.abnwpalliative.ca/).