Obituaries

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Paul William Warken on October 22, 2023 at 80 years of age. As per his final wishes, Paul passed away peacefully at home in Coronach, SK while surrounded by his closest family members holding his hands and listening to Willie’s Roadhouse. He went after the Blue Jays finished their 2023 season and before the temperatures and snow fell. He’d be cussing a few of his favourite words at these cold temperatures.

Paul was predeceased by his parents, Felix and Mabel (nee Spooner) Warken, and his sister, Marilyn Setrum. Paul will be missed by his loving wife of 50 years, May (nee Andersen) Warken, his two kids, Vaughn (Dallas) and Melanie (Wayne), and his three grandkids, Macie-Rae, Rowan and Ryker. Also grieving are his siblings, Carol, Larry and Neil (Debbie), his in-laws Arlo, Louise, Shirley and Ernest (Sharon), many nieces and nephews, and many friends that he loved dearly.

Paul was born on December 28, 1942 at Mrs. Day’s house in Coronach, SK. During his youth, he went to Eddyside, Buffalo Gap and Big Beaver Schools. Paul was worried he would have to marry the teacher before he would be done school so after being promoted into grade 10, he left school to work. Paul’s strong “Warken” work ethic led him to buy his first half section of land near the Warken homestead, between Big Beaver and Coronach, for $4750 at 15 years of age. Paul spoke about his first jobs packing dry goods, working seismograph in the far north with Carl Foley and Jerome Vancuren, and changing tires. He remembered clearing $69 every two weeks.

Those who knew Paul, knew how much he loved driving. In his younger years, it was anything fast. One truck he loved was his black ’57 Ford. He loved to talk about the one Friday night he, Dwayne Wilford and Harvey Purdy, raced up 11th Avenue in Regina. Paul was a little upset because Harvey passed him in his ’53 Chev. A few hours after that race in Regina, Paul drove back to the homestead near Big Beaver. When he returned back to their apartment in Regina a few days later, Harvey said to him “You must have been a bad boy … you are supposed to go to the police station”. So off Paul went with his head down. When he got there, the police officer said “Do you own a black ’57 Ford?” Paul confessed and the officer was kind enough to let him off with a verbal warning to be good and to stop spinning his tires.

One car that Paul loved was his brand-new blue ’68 GTO that he bought from Fritz Franks in Ogema. At a dance in Big Beaver one night, May’s brother, Ernest, told May she better go dance with Paul because he must have lots of money with such a nice car. Paul would comment “little did he know”. On Paul’s first date with May, he took her for a ride in the GTO. He loved sharing the story of when his hand “accidentally” slipped from the stick shift and landed somewhere unexpected for May! I guess it was a good slip because she continued to date Paul.

Those who knew Paul, also knew how much he loved baseball. It was evident in the 5-6 catcher mitts he wore out. Even though he was an excellent back catcher, he was not-so-excellent at catching the subtle clues from May that she was ready for a marriage proposal. Just when May thought she was getting a ring, she got a large hair dryer that she could sit under. He eventually caught on to the clues and proposed. On February 10th, 1973, Paul and May held a reception for about 30 guests at Allan and Shirley’s rumpus room in Regina. They bought Chinese food for their guests for about $50. Paul and May celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2023.

Paul eventually went from driving fast trucks and cars to driving a milk delivery truck and his Mac tandem trailer. Paul and May liked things in twos. After two years of marriage, came their two kids, Vaughn and Melanie, born two years apart. Paul never entered the labour rooms because he stated “I’ve seen lots of calves being born”. Even at a young age, Vaughn kept Paul on his toes. After long days of driving, Paul would come home to nap on the couch only to have Vaughn come along and grasp a few of his hairs to pull. Paul was blessed with good genetics as he still managed to keep a full head of hair through life. Even at 80 years of age, he asked Melanie to buzz it short with the razor.

After living in Regina for about a decade, Paul had enough of the city. Paul and May bought an acreage east of White City where Vaughn and Melanie remember planting, hoeing and watering over 1000 trees. Three years later, after the passing of Paul’s father, Felix, they moved to the Warken homestead to farm and raise cattle. During an auction in Weyburn, Vaughn tapped his dad on the back of the head accidentally buying him more cattle. On the farm, Vaughn and Melanie remember planting, hoeing and watering even more trees! As much as they grumbled at the time, they are thankful that it taught them the “Warken” work ethic. Once in the country, the speed of Paul’s driving began to slow down in order to check crops and cattle as he made several mail and grocery runs to Aust’s Store in Big Beaver.

Paul worked hard and played hard. Besides baseball, Paul enjoyed hunting, fishing, horseback riding, skiing and playing cards. When playing cards with kids, Paul would often slip them the cards they needed so they would win. Paul and May also enjoyed many trips, hot and cold, over the years with family and friends. As Neil’s son, Cole, grew in his own baseball journey, Paul began to follow along traveling to watch Cole play from local games in Moose Jaw and Regina to far away games in Kamloops, Toronto, Vaughan, Denver, Orlando and Phoenix.

In 2008, Paul and May moved into Coronach so Vaughn and Dallas could take over the Warken homestead. Most people would retire but not Paul. He wanted to work. Paul would often return to the Warken homestead to help Vaughn and Dallas with yard work, fencing and chores. He also started taking care of several lawns and yards for Coronach Housing, Heritage Square and SaskPower as well as driving the school bus for Prairie South School Division.

Just like his mother, Mabel, when Paul had his mind set on something, he did it. His family was reminded of this when he renewed his school bus endorsement at 79 years of age. He was so determined to stop driving bus on his own terms. It took him four times to pass the written test and three times to pass the driving test. In reality, he did it for the love of kids especially while Macie-Rae and Rhody rode his bus. We since phoned PSSD to see if he was the oldest bus driver for PSSD but apparently there was someone four and a half months older than him! It was a sad day for Paul when he decided to stop driving bus.

During Paul’s last months, Melanie asked what advice he had for his kids and grandkids. True to his nature, he replied “keep working”. We were blessed to be able to reflect on these memories with Paul. It brought him a sense of peace and it provided us an opportunity to honour his life with him. He touched the lives of many people and he will be missed dearly.

A Private Celebration of Life will be held for family. As an expression of sympathy, we welcome donations to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan in lieu of cards, flowers, food or other gifts. For more information, visit https://www.cancerfoundationsask.ca/ or call 1-844-735-5590.