Barrie Jung passed away Apr. 25 after battling cancer. (Barrie Jung/LinkedIn)

By Cam Lee

Remembering Barrie Jung

Mourning the loss of legendary local auctioneer, volunteer, and friend Barrie Jung

May 1, 2024 | 11:00 AM

A much-loved local auctioneer has passed away after a battle with cancer.

Barrie Jung, who was inducted into the Saskatchewan Auctioneers Association Auction Era Hall of Honour in January, passed away April 25 at the age of 73.

Jung started his time as an auctioneer in 1985 after working for CJVR radio. He started working at Hodgins Auctioneers and worked there for years until moving to Schapansky Auctioneers, where he stayed until his passing.

“Barrie was more than an employee or more than a friend, he was like family to us,” Schapansky Auctioneers owner Bruce Schapansky told northeastNOW.

Schapansky said Jung came into work with a great attitude and was always one with a funny remark or a joke.

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“He was a big influence in all of us here at the auction centre, and as a friend.”

Schapansky said Jung was always available when he was needed at the centre and said nobody could keep up with what he could do, whether it was manual labour setting up an auction, or doing computer work.

“He was really 10 years younger than what he really was, he was just one of those guys that never sat around,” Schapansky said. “He was a big asset to everybody.”

Staff at Schapansky Auctioneers miss him dearly, said Bruce.

“Everybody has our moments and breaks down a bit because it’s hard to believe he’s even gone. It really is. I just can’t believe he’s gone.”

Jung also spent much of his time volunteering, whether it be with his auctioneer talents or otherwise. He auctioned events for a number of SJHL teams, including the Melfort Mustangs, Nipawin Hawks, and Humboldt Broncos, and many other charitable organizations. Barrie was also president of the Mustangs from 2008-2011 and served as a board member and president of the Saskatchewan Auctioneers Association.

Jung was also named Melfort’s Citizen of the Year in 2008, and in 2022 he received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for volunteerism.

At Tuesday night’s Melfort Mustangs playoff game at the Northern Lights Palace, Jung’s wife Tanis and his children, Devin and Kendra, were presented with a Mustangs jersey with Jung on the back in honour of his time with the team, and in the community.

Barrie’s funeral will be held May 10 at 2 p.m. at the Melfort Covenant Church. Donations in his memory can be made to the North Central Health Care Foundation or STARS.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK