Paul Charles Silzer

Paul Charles Silzer, of Assiniboia, SK, passed away suddenly on Monday, June 9, 2014 at the age of 82 years.

On January 12, 1932 God gave us an ambassador of subtle comments and one liners when Paul was born to Elsie and Charles Silzer of the Lakenheath district. He had 13 siblings.

He attended Lakenheath School and after completing Grade 8, he worked on his dad’s farm, the Hewson Telephone Company, the C.P.R., and Roy Bachman Road Construction. He occasionally put on dances at the Lakenheath hall. It was when he hired the Heatcoat band he met the love of his life Lorraine, the daughter of Ubald and Antoinette Heatcoat.

Paul and Lorraine were married on November 11, 1952 in St. George’s Roman Catholic Church in Assiniboia, followed by their wedding dance at the Lakenheath hall. They were married 61 years and have 3 children, Bella, Rick, and Darlene.

After working at various jobs Paul decided to take a 3 year course through the International Correspondence School and received a diploma in Carpentry and Millwork in 1959. He became a Journeyman Carpenter in 1961. During his career as a carpenter he worked on the construction of the United Church, Pioneer Lodge, and other commercial buildings around Assiniboia.

Paul and Lorraine moved to Moose Jaw where he worked on projects such as the iconic “Crushed Can”, which has recently been crushed in Moose Jaw. In the early 1960’s they moved to Regina there he helped build the Bank of Canada building and other institutions on the Regina skyline. Now his grandson Stuart is continuing this tradition making the Regina skyline that much higher.

Returning to his roots in 1964, Paul established Paul Silzer Construction where he shared his talents building and renovating around Assiniboia. His outdoor specialty was re-shingling Church steeples and roofs. In those days they did not have much safety equipment, so the Lord was watching over him.

In the late 60’s Paul joined Edgar Heatcoat on a custom combining run all the way down to Texas for one season. Paul’s family will always remember their camping trip to Williston to visit them. The kids learned the hard way about touching a canvas tent wall when it is pouring rain!

In 1986 Paul upgraded and received his GED. He enrolled in the University of Regina and received his certificate in Vocational and Technical Education in October 1990. Between 1994 and 2003 Paul and Lorraine farmed in the Limerick district.

In 1965 Paul & Lorraine bought an acreage 5 miles South East of Assiniboia. Paul loved his acreage and it kept him active. The yard was always impeccable. After the old barn burnt down, he replaced it with a state of the art chicken coup that even the Queen’s chickens would be jealous of!! Although he enjoyed a quiet life with his family he did volunteer in the community. He volunteered at the museum using his carpentry skills. He was a 10 year volunteer as a Church Administrator and he loved to sing in the choir. He joined the Polka Massters which performed many polka masses in the community. For the Funeral Mass, Dustin and Scott Heatcoat played some selections from the Polka Mass as a tribute to Paul.

Paul enjoyed music, dancing and concerts. He loved socializing at birthdays, kitchen parties, anniversaries and family functions.

Paul and Lorraine loved to holiday in their travel van attending many polka festivals and visiting many friends and relatives around Canada. Paul’s French language was limited but he enjoyed visiting the French relatives in Quebec. Fun was a universal language!

They went on an Alaskan cruise, Mexican holiday, a Maritime bus tour and went snowmobiling in Yellowstone. The highlight of their travels was two years ago when they went to New Orleans to attend their grandson Jeff and Demi’s wedding. Paul had such a good time on Bourbon Street with everyone attending the wedding. He could not explain how he got so many beads!!!

Paul had a knack for remembering all the people he had worked for in his career. He was good with numbers, such as; 15-2, 15-4, 15-6, and a pair is 8 were his specialty. Most of the time he was prepared to receive a back hand on the upper arm from Lorraine. They enjoyed many hours playing crib with family, friends and grandchildren. He loved to solve puzzles and design wooden board games such as Aggravation boards and the infamous “Horse game”.

Paul enjoyed Lorraine’s cooking. The other day Lorraine said he always ate whatever she cooked. Maybe that’s why he never learned how to cook.

Being a strong Catholic, faith and commitment were the backbone of his existence. As a natural outcome of that love for the Lord, on the last day of his life Paul asked Father Joy to be by his side. Then he left the Assiniboia Hospital for the Regina General Hospital.

Paul is survived by his loving wife Lorraine (Heatcoat), three children: - daughter Bella (Murray) Treble, grandson Darcy (Shaunna Farago) Treble, grandson Mark Treble (friend Sherisse), grandson Ryan (Allison) Treble and great-grandsons Sam, Jack, and Max

- son Rick (Tracy) Silzer, granddaughter Kelly (Sheldon) Osinski, great-grandson Saul and baby soon-to-be, grandson Jeff (Demi) Silzer, and great-granddaughter soon-to-be

- daughter Darlene (Bill) Wilson, grandson Stuart (Loni) Wilson, great-granddaughter Madisson, granddaughter Kandi (Jagjit) Singh, great-grandson Devan, and great-granddaughter Chloe

Paul is also survived by his half-brother Herman (Mary) Silzer, his sister Helen Carlton, sister Alvina Weisbrod, brother Rudolf (Helen) Silzer, sister Freida Darwin, brother Edward (Phyllis) Silzer, brother Richard (Susan) Silzer, brother Otto (Jean) Silzer and sisters-in-laws Lois Silzer and Marie Heatcoat as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Paul was predeceased by his half-brother Ernest Schmidt, half-sister Caroline (Henry) Miller, half-brother Louis (Doris) Silzer, half-brother Art (Francis) Silzer, half-brother Arnold Silzer, brothers-in-law Adam Weisbrod, Norm Carlton, Stewart Darwin, Archie Heatcoat, Lorenzo (Jean) Heatcoat, Edgar (Gisele) Heatcoat and nephew Dr. Roy Heatcoat.

Prayer Service was held Sunday, June 15, 2014 at 7:00 pm in St. Georges Roman Catholic Church. Father Joy Montiague officiated, and daughter Darlene was reader. CD music selections were “Daddy’s Hands”, “Grandpa”, and “Till I’m to Old to Die Young.” Scott and Dustin Heatcoat played a few hymns on their musical instruments.

Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, June 16, 2014 at 10:00 am in St. George’s Roman Catholic Church. Celebrating the Mass was Father Joy Montiague. The placing of the the Pall were granddaughters Kelly Osinski and Kandi Singh. Lighting the Pascal Candle was loving wife Lorraine with their three children by her side. Readers and leading the Intentions were grandsons Mark Treble and Jeff Silzer. Presenting the Offerings were twin grandsons Ryan and Mark Treble. The musical selections were played by Scott and Dustin Heatcoat on their accordion, guitar, fiddle and piano. They were accompanied by the Polka Masster singers. Pallbearers were grandsons: Stuart Wilson, Jeff Silzer, Ryan Treble, Mark Treble and nephews Monty Heatcoat and Wayne Heatcoat, with Honorary mention of Darcy Treble. The eulogy was shared by Paul’s children; Bella, Rick and Darlene. Interment took place in Mount Hope Cemetery, Assiniboia, SK. Memorial donations in Memory of Paul to the South Country Health Care Foundation for the Assiniboia Union Hospital and Masses, were greatly appreciated by the family. Arrangements were entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.rossfuneralservice.com