Morris Bodnar

The Livestream Link will be available HERE on the day of the service and will go live approximately 5 minutes before the event.

Morris Peter Bodnar passed away in Saskatoon on Friday, 16 January 2026, at the age of 77.

Born on 4 September 1948 in Saskatoon to Millie (née Bilinski) and Peter Bodnar, Morris was raised in Prud'homme, Saskatchewan, where he attended school and graduated in 1966. He came of age during a period of nation-building that shaped his enduring belief in public service and in a society where everyone could succeed.

While attending the University of Saskatchewan, Morris met the love of his life, Joyce (née Stephenson). They were married in 1972 and shared more than 53 years together, raising three children and building a life rooted in friendship, curiosity, and shared purpose. Many of the friendships formed during their university years endured throughout their lives.

Morris earned an Arts degree before entering law school and graduated with a law degree in 1972. He practiced criminal law in Saskatoon for five decades, most of that time in partnership with Jerry Wanhella and with the valued support of Linda Hamre. His career was grounded in a deeply held conviction that a society based on the rule of law only works when everyone has access to legal defense. He believed that fairness, dignity, and opportunity should not depend on circumstance.

He cherished the relationships he formed with colleagues and clients alike and took particular pride in witnessing people rebuild their lives and regain their footing. Morris was widely respected across the legal profession for his integrity, fairness, and personability. By the time of his retirement in 2022, he had accumulated 50 years of legal experience. Over the course of his career, he worked on some of Saskatchewan's highest-profile criminal trials, participated in a provincial inquiry, and argued two cases before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Morris's commitment to public service also extended into elected office. He was elected as a Member of Parliament and represented the citizens of Saskatoon-Dundurn in Ottawa from 1993 to 1997. He regarded the opportunity to serve as an MP as one of the great honours of his lifetime and approached the role with the same seriousness, humility, and sense of responsibility that defined his legal career.

Beyond his professional life, Morris took great pride in developing practical skills and cultivating a wide range of interests. He built the family home and later constructed a cabin at Lake Diefenbaker-a multi-decade passion project reflecting patience, craftsmanship, and quiet determination. He served on the board of the New Community Credit Union and had a deep appreciation for Saskatchewan art, filling his home with paintings and regularly attending local theater and symphony performances. He maintained a large vegetable garden with Joyce, crafted children's toys and Christmas ornaments in his workshop, and curled weekly with friends for much of his adult life.

In retirement, Morris returned with renewed enthusiasm to longstanding passions. He was an avid stamp collector and greatly enjoyed weekly meetings of the city's stamp club. Watching sports was a lifelong pleasure, including traveling in May of this past year to Seattle to watch the Blue Jays play three games against the Mariners.

Morris loved music, a passion cultivated while working at his brother and sister-in-law's store, Ed's Stereo on Broadway. He loved ideas and thoughtful debate and took great enjoyment in spirited discussions-an invitation his sons-in-law readily accepted.

Travel was another shared joy for Morris and Joyce. Together they visited Europe, Australia, Mexico, Cuba, and all corners of Canada, often combining travel with annual Criminal Law Conferences that allowed Morris to remain closely connected to his professional community.

Family was at the centre of Morris's life. He cherished time spent with his grandchildren, watching them grow with delight and awe, and was endlessly proud of his children. He also took great pride in his Ukrainian heritage and helped organize three large Bodnar family reunions between 1992 and 2025, strengthening family bonds across generations.

Morris is survived by his wife, Joyce; his children Chris (Paige), Lindsay (Marco), and Courtney (Peter); and his grandchildren Clara, Roxie, Julia, Alessia, Victor, Gordon, and Olive. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Edward, his sister-in-law Olga, and his brother Michael.

Morris will be remembered as a devoted husband and father, a proud grandfather, a principled lawyer, a committed public servant, and a thoughtful conversationalist. His legacy lives on in his family, his profession, and the many lives he touched through his belief in fairness, service, and the possibility of a just society.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Morris's honour to the Western Development Museum and the University of Saskatchewan College of Law's Access to Legal Education Fund.

The family extends heart felt thanks to the Emergency Paramedic team for the compassionate and excellent care and service they provided for Morris.

A Life Celebration gathering will take place at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel on Friday, January 23, 2025 from1:00 - 4:00 pm with a short program at 1:30 pm. The Service will be livestreamed and can be accessed at www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com where condolences may also be shared with family and friends. Arrangements have been entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home.