Ted Palagian passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on July 16, 2015, after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born to Mike and Dora (Gorenko) Palagian on August 28, 1938 at Preeceville, the seventh of eight surviving children, he received his elementary education at Bear School and then attended Sturgis Composite High School from where he graduated in 1957.
Just a couple weeks later, on July 18, 1957, he was hired by Saskatchewan Government Telephones, beginning a career that would last 35 years during which he was witness to many changes in the communication industry. In 1959, Ted met the love of his life, Del Korte, while stationed in Humboldt. They were married on May 5, 1962 and were blessed with five children. Family was always the central theme for a man who was always busy and involved in the community, sports and the church.
He retired from SaskTel on July 18, 1992 after making many lifelong friends in the SaskTel family. Retirement from SaskTel opened his options to many other interests and even a second career as a farmer. Ted’s career made it necessary to move his growing family several times. They started their life together in Humboldt, then moved to Outlook and in 1974 they made Canora their home. Ted held various positions in the communities in which he worked. He was active with the Knights of Columbus in Humboldt and Outlook serving as Grand Knight for 3 years and then with the Kiwanis Club in Canora. The church was always close to Ted’s heart.
He and Del served on the parish council in Canora as the chair couple for two terms and then for two terms on the Religious Education committee. Sports were always important to Ted and he spent more than his share of time officiating and coaching minor baseball for 27 years while also playing his beloved game of baseball. In his later years, he played slo-pitch, a sport that he enjoyed playing up to the age of 73.
He earned numerous awards and recognitions for his countless hours officiating and coaching, always promoting the game for our youth. He was predeceased by his parents, Mike and Dora; his parentsinlaw, Herman and Cecelia Korte; siblings: Alex and Victoria in infancy, Margaret, Helen, Nick, Mary and William; sistersinlaw: Marcella, Frances and Marge; and brotherinlaw, Bruno.
Ted leaves to mourn his passing his beloved wife of 53 years, Del; his five children: Patty (Bob) Kolodziejski, Ken (Margo) Palagian, Valerie (Gary) Lewchuk, Jerald Palagian, and Allan Palagian (Candice); his grandchildren: Bryan (Janine) Kolodziejski, Jordon (Gabrielle) Palagian, Sean Kolodziejski, Samantha (Sheldon) Palagian, and the youngest, Joey and Jackson Palagian; and a great-grand-daughter, Adrianna Palagian. He is also survived by two sisters, Agnes of Quesnel, B.C. and Vera of Calgary; brothersinlaw: Arnold, Hugo and Harold Korte and sistersinlaw: Lauretta Stomp, Alma Muench and Annette Ilg and numberous nieces and nephews. The Memorial Service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Franklin Emereuwa as Celebrant. Cremation Committal took place at the Endeavour Community Cemetery.
A dinner and social to celebrate Ted’s life was held at the Rainbow Hall in Canora following the Committal. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Canora Benevolent Fund or to the Chemotherapy Treatment Room (Yorkton Regional Health Centre), as tokens of remembrance in memory of Ted Palagian. Family and friends unable to attend are invited to sign an online guest book for Ted at www.lesonsfuneralhome.ca. Arrangements were entrusted to LESON’S FUNERAL HOME, Canora.
