Obituary of Kenneth Waring

Waring: Jabze Kenneth “Ken” Waring passed away in St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Friday, August 26, 2005 at the age of 86 years. Ken is survived by his loving wife Irene; three children: Jim (Carolyn) Waring of Rivercourse, Bob (Lynda) Waring of Lloydminster, Don Waring and his special friend Shelley Smithy of Rivercourse; four grandchildren: Twyla (Glen) Jones of Lloydminster, Michelle Anderson of Calgary, Kelby and Kasmine Waring of Lloydminster; five step grandchildren; one brother William (Muriel) of Lloydminster as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral service for Ken was conducted from the Grace United Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Thursday, September 1, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Harold Martin officiating. A eulogy was given by Twyla Jones and Keith Fournier. The Grace United Church Choir was in attendance accompanied on the organ by Irene Knowlson. Lunch after the service was provided by the Nunebor Community Club. Many thanks are extended to the above from the family for making the service and lunch so special. Ken was a musician, a farmer, a community man, a mechanic, a soldier, and most importantly a great father, grandfather, and loving, caring husband Honorary pallbearers were: Kay & Lucien Fournier, Wid & Margaret Dow, Bert & Marcia Dow, John & Joan Dow, Frank & Margaret Preete, Ralph & Mary Hill. Active Pallbearers were: Dale Dow, Darrel Dow, David Dow, Keith Fournier, Roy Oliver and Gordon Stieb. Ken Waring (Grandpa’s) Eulogy as given by Twyla and Keith Jabze Kenneth Waring was born on February 19, 1919 in a house at Brick Kiln Lane in the Village of Shepsherd, England. With his parents Helen and Ernest, brothers and sisters Nell, Jim, Marion and Bill the family immigrated to Canada. On April 16, 1926 they arrived at Unwin. They settled on the south half of 11 46 28 W3 in the Nunebor district. In the early 1940's Ken like so many others heard and responded to the call to arms. Ken started his military career at Dundurn and joined the Canadian engineers. He was transferred to Winnipeg to take a mechanics course, at which he excelled. It was while he was stationed in Winnipeg that he met Irene. Irene was a hostess at the service mans club. They dated throughout the summer of 1943. Ken and Irene agreed to pick up where they had left off before Ken was transferred to Chilliwack and eventually overseas. Once overseas Ken was responsible for road construction and the construction of airstrips. He saw much of northern Europe and had a high regard for the people of Holland. Through all of the good times and the bad times he corresponded with Irene never forgetting the promise that he made before he left. Unfortunately during those years he experienced things that we wish no one else will ever have to. Ken returned to Canada in October 1945 and was stationed once again in Winnipeg. He was discharged in January. Ken and Irene were married June 22, 1946 in Winnipeg and returned back to the Nunebor District and bought their homestead. Starting the farm with Ken’s dad and brothers was difficult but there was nothing that Ken would rather have done with his time. They were kept busy grain farming and breeding purebred shorthorns. On November 30, 1949, Ken and Irene’s first son Jim was born followed by Bob on August 13, 1952 and finally by Donald on September 14, 1961. When a person has lived as full a life as what Ken did, it’s not a matter of where to start, but rather where to end. As a neighbor, I always viewed Ken as a “Jack of all Trades.” He was a musician, a farmer, a community man, a mechanic, a soldier, and most importantly a great father, grandfather, and loving, caring husband. Music Music became a huge part of Ken’s life when he was given a violin, bought from the Eaton’s catalogue for his 13th birthday. Dad recalls seeing Ken in his teen years cross country skiing with his long legs and long strides past our farm to visit the Tweten family, who also loved music. As a kid, I recall our community gatherings, where Ken, along with Marcia, Ernie, and Knute, made the old Eagle Butte School come alive with music. This love for music also lead Ken into square dance calling. One of my early recollections of Ken’s calling in square dance, was my elementary school days in Lone Rock, where we’d go down to the hall and Ken gave us lessons. This was typical because he introduced most people in the area to square dance. The people in the circle of callers knew Ken by his strong, clear voice and nick name of “Old Leather Lungs.” Some of his closest friends, like the Hill’s, came from his music days, when they entertained the area for years with their “Dads & Son’s Band.” Community Ken has always been an interracial part of both our Nunebor Community, as well parts of the larger Lloydminster Community. Whether it was bus driving, putting an addition on the Old Eagle Butte School, Leader of the Lone Rock Beef Club, president of the Lloydminster Lawn Bowling Association, or just an active member in the community golf or curling clubs, Ken was there giving a hand. I think there were two reasons why Ken was always there. For sure one was to make this community a better place to live and second, I believe is, that was where the stories were told and the coffee was drunk. It was part of his social circle. On January 9, 1974, Twyla was born and this ushered in the Grandpa phase of Ken’s life. Grandpa was the first on the scene after my birth as Grandma and Uncle Donald were in Saskatoon. I was born in -40 degree weather with a blizzard on the way...or so he liked to tell me. That’s one thing about Grandpa...He may have forgotten a date or two but he always remembered what the weather was like! Grandpa had the gift of the gab. He could strike up a conversation with almost anyone. As a teenager it was at times embarrassing taking Grandpa out. Surely he would bump into someone and plans would be sidetracked for a time while Grandpa caught up on the latest. I remember in University taking Grandpa and Grandma out to a Trendy restaurant thinking there was no way anyone would know Grandpa there...ya right! Grandma and I sat at the table and patiently waited for Grandpa to finish his visit. On February 28, 1976, Michelle was born. This time it was only 30 with a blizzard already howling... Michelle always enjoyed Grandpa’s music. She remembers that she always knew when Grandpa was close by the sound of his whistle. One of her fondest memories is from a couple of years ago when Grandpa found out that Michelle was learning to play the guitar. He took her downstairs for a “jam” session. Michelle on guitar and Grandpa on the fiddle. What music they made was of questionable quality but they both enjoyed themselves. The roaring seventies continued on and into the 80's. These days were full of camping and traveling for Grandma and Grandpa. However as Grandma recalls the traveling always came second to Golf tournaments and Bonspiels...Oh ya and seeding and spraying and harvest...Well just about anything that needed to be done at home first. Sixty-five years to the day after Grandpa landed at the Unwin train station Grandpa’s first and only grandson was born, April 16, 1991 Kelby arrived on the scene. Kelby was Grandpa’s shadow. I remember seeing Kelby and Grandpa tinkering away in the shop in harmony. Grandpa was very proud of Kelby’s mechanical abilities, and how he helped around the yard. Grandpa’s last Granddaughter was born on February 4, 1993. Grandma and Grandpa attended to a rambunctious Kelby while awaiting his little sister’s birth. Kassy was Grandpa’s little darling. He looked forward to playing cards with Kassy and was really proud of her Soccer skills. Grandpa would tease Kassy to no end which was fine with the rest of us because it kept him from teasing us. Farming and Mother Nature John Dow would scratch the top of a hill, and then Ken would see him and have to go out and plant a 1/4 section, followed by the rest of the community having to go out and fire up our snow blowers so we wouldn’t get left behind. Ken loved farming and he did it with passion and lots of energy. He was the first to try a chemical metering system on the sprayer that you didn’t mix the chemical with the water, and first to have auto depth control on his air seeder. The trouble with being first is lots of times these systems weren’t perfected, and Ken got to know more about these systems than the people who made them. His true love for farming was never as evident as the day Twyla graduated from Agriculture College. A “zing” was heard over our farm as Ken was missing a couple of chest button off of his shirt. One part of Ken’s farming that I will always remember is his ability to fix anything. Even if it was the Mack truck that was only worth $5000 and it was going to take $7000 worth of parts to get it running agin, it was going to be fixed because Ken could do it. Besides it was still a good truck. Ken had a real love for what Mother Nature provided , especially the wildlife, the soil and the crops. A good crop, whether it was on his or some neighbors farm, would be described by “That’s beautiful.” I can remember Ken taking me on my first goose hunting trip as a kid. As the geese were getting nearer, Ken instructed us not to shoot until he told us, as he wanted the geese to get well within range. We were huddled in the grass waiting for his word when we heard Bang, Bang. There was Ken standing up shooting and had not given us the word yet. If it weren’t for Ken though, we would have come home empty handed. Even when his passion for hunting faded, his love for wildlife was always there. Conclusion Each of us has a given time to spend on this earth, some a long time and others not so long. Those that have made a difference in each of our lives are the ones we remember after they are gone. Ken will be with us for many years to come. Card of Thanks A special thanks to the staff of the Special Care unit at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon especially Dr. Jugnouth. Thanks to Dr. Kerlis for his excellent care over the years. Those that have made a difference in each of our lives are the ones we remember after they are gone. Ken will be with us for many years to come. The family wishes to thank Ken’s friends for the flowers, phone calls, baking, cards, and words of encouragement for the days to come. Irene Waring, Jim and Carolyn, Bob and Lynda, Donald and special friend Shelly, Twyla and Glen, Michelle, Keleby and Kasmine. Donations in memory of Ken may be made to the Lung Association or the Sandra Schmerler Children's Wish or to a charity of the donor's choice.