John Engelbert TaphornJanuary 26, 1937 - October 25, 2011
"In the twinkling of an eye", John Engelbert Taphorn of Humboldt, SK, went "home" to spend eternity with his precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His death occurred suddenly and peacefully on the evening of Tuesday, October 25, 2011, at his residence. He was 74 years of age. The youngest of George and Agatha (nee Richels) Taphorn's ten children, John was born on January 26, 1937, at home on their farm in the Sjolie Rural School district in the Muenster/St. Gregor area. He was three years old when the family relocated to a farm northwest of there in the St. Gertrude Rural School district. He attained his grade eight education at St. Gertrude Rural School. John was always elated when the work load on the farm was especially heavy, because that meant he would have to take some days off school to help, which he much preferred. He took grades nine and ten by correspondence, and continued to work on the family farm. His favourite part of that was gently tending to the animals, especially the horses. John often shared warm memories of those days, complete with the names he affectionately gave to each and every animal. After the death of his father in 1959, he followed in the footsteps of his brothers and moved to northern Ontario to find work. John settled down in Geraldton where he married and raised five children, three sons and two daughters. While living there, he helped his brother Wally in the moving business and then began working for Sunshine Dairies, which later became Kellough's Dairy, as a milk delivery man to businesses and, ultimately, residential door-to-door. A kind and thoughtful man with a tender heart, volunteering spirit and cheery disposition, John was involved in various organizations, including the Royal Canadian Legion and the Elks, and always went above and beyond to help anyone in any way. A life change occurred in 1978, when he returned to his beloved Saskatchewan. On December4, 1982, John married Janie (nee Proulx) Milne in Saskatoon. Initially, they resided in Humboldt, where John was offered employment with Eastern Transport from Saskatoon as a truck driver/delivery man in Humboldt. When an opportunity arose to buy a franchise with Co-op Dairies and operate a door-to-door milk delivery business, he acted on it. A true "people person", again as with Eastern Transport, he absolutely loved the visiting and camaraderie with his business clients and milk customers. As well as the teasing and joking that were so much a part of John's great sense of humor, the caring and empathetic part of his serious side that he shared made for many wonderful, lasting friendships. He always made time to share a joke to brighten someone's day or to lend a listening ear to help ease someone's heartache. It had always been John's dream to live in a rural setting again, so when an acreage in the Burr/Lanigan district became available, he and Janie bought it and commuted to Humboldt to work. Slowly, they added a wide variety of livestock to their "farming venture". As well, after doing the barnyard chores, John worked for a few farmers after work and on weekends during the seeding and harvesting seasons. Finding the workload harder to continue and the commutes to Humboldt during the winters becoming more difficult, in June 1994, John and Janie moved back to Humboldt, where they continued to reside. John's milk delivery business came to a sudden halt on December 21, 1995, when he suffered a heart attack on the milk truck. After a time of recovery, John being John and not satisfied with a life of leisure, worked at Misty Gardens for a while and then at Feed-Rite. In February 1997, while on a delivery for Feed-Rite, he suffered a stroke which, thankfully, he recovered quite well from. Not one to be idle, a few months later, John began employment with Battlefords Publishing, the company that printed the Humboldt Journal and the Humboldt Trader. That job included driving to North Battleford, picking up the papers and delivering them in Humboldt and on an eight-hour route to several locations south and east of Humboldt, again a job he loved because of the contact with people. However, in July 2006, major health challenges arrived in John's life again when, in the same week, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic illness that is in the multiple sclerosis family, and shingles. That became the end of his working career. True to himself, John faced those challenges with his positive attitude and, most important to him, his faith in the Lord. Not one to travel, John was most content staying close to home and living a simple lifestyle. He loved having company in for supper or an evening of playing board games and cards, particularly Kaiser, and socializing and kibitzing on coffee row. (Who - John? Kibitzing? Never!) Other favourite pastimes were watching Christian programming, sports, and game shows on T.V., listening to c.d.'s with inspirational messages and gospel music, reading his bible and other Christian books. John also had an appreciation for the outdoors and enjoyed puttering around not only his yard, but some of his neighbours, again wanting to be of help. The little bit of farmer that was still in him lent itself to starting up a garden roto-tilling business, which grew year by year and become very successful. More than anything, that was emotionally healthy for John; it gave him the chance to resume his love of being around people (many of whom had been his cherished milk customers) and, more importantly, a sense of fulfilment. His absence will be felt by all whose lives were touched by his, including those whose paths were even slightly crossed by his. The words from Matthew 25:21, "Well done, my good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" could, no doubt, be said of him. John will be lovingly remembered, always cherished, and sadly missed by his devoted wife, Janie (nee Proulx) Taphorn of Humboldt; his five beloved children: Vernon (Bev) Taphorn of Thunder Bay, ON; Ramona "Nonee" (Larry) Clink of Caro, Michigan; John "Jay" (Sherry-Lynn) Taphorn of LeRoy, SK; Dellia "Dee-Dee" (Alain) Gauthier of Longlac, ON; and Dwayne (Holly) Taphorn of Winnipeg, MB; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; Janie's son, Charles "Chuck" Milne of Geraldton, ON; three sisters: Elizabeth Pratchler and Rose Klemm (Jack Uliski), all of Humboldt, and Emma (Les) Bush of Edmonton, AB; one brother, Joseph "Joe" (Marge) Taphorn of White Rock, BC; sister-in-law, Elsie Taphorn (Al Brown) of Armstrong, BC; brother-in-law, Lionel "Curly" Fladager of Armstrong, BC; numerous nieces, nephews and their families; and by a host of friends. He was predeceased by his father, George Taphorn (1959); mother, Agatha (nee Richels) Taphorn (1965); two brothers: George Taphorn Jr. (1965), and Walter "Wally" Taphorn (1997); three sisters: Agnes Angeli (1987), Catherine "Kay" Fladager (2003), and Frances Taphorn (in infancy); brothers-in-law: Karl Klemm (1989), and Joseph "Joe" Angeli (1997); sister-in-law, Irene Taphorn (2007). The Funeral Service and Celebration of Life was held at LifePoint (Pentecostal) Church, Lanigan, SK, on Monday, October 31, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Pastor Kevin Sawatsky and Pastor Pat Carty. Music ministry was provided by Brenda Bowman, keyboard, Bob Frey, drummer, and Pastor Kevin Sawatsky, Rachelle Sawatsky, and Char Schroeder, vocalists. A touching Eulogy was given by Glenn Taphorn. Memorial table attendants were John and Martha Morrow. Honorary pallbearers were "John's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and all those who knew and loved him." Active pallbearers were his sons, Vernon, John Jr. "Jay" and Dwayne Taphorn, and nephews Tim, Lloyd and Gary Taphorn. Interment followed at St. Gertrude R.C. Cemetery in the Muenster/St. Gregor district southeast of Humboldt, near the resting places of his beloved parents, George and Agatha (nee Richels) Taphorn. Memorial donations to either the LifePoint Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 582, Lanigan, SK, S0K 2M0 or the Ronald Bell Cardiac Endowment Fund - c/o Humboldt District Hospital, P.O. Box 1740, Humboldt, SK, S0K 2A0 will be gratefully accepted. Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
