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Arnold Paul Schlapkohl
June 30, 1923 -听
April 18, 2011
听听 It is with great sadness that
we announce the sudden pass-
ing of Arnold Schlapkohl - hus-
band, father, grandfather, uncle
and friend.
听听 Arnold will be lovingly remem-
bered by his daughter Diane
(Roland) Nordick and his son
Wayne (Laurie) Schlapkohl;
three grandchildren, Jeffrey
Nordick, Michelle Nordick and
Katherine Schlapkohl; one
brother Elmer Cole, as well as
numerous nieces, nephews and
friends.
听听 He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Betty; his par-
ents, Henry and Bertha Schlapkohl and his brothers, Fred, Al-
fred and Louis Schlapkohl.
听听 Arnold was the youngest of five children and grew up on a
farm southeast of Estevan. His mother passed away when he
was 8 years of age leaving his father to raise the five boys on
his own. He said they never had running water or electricity,
transportation was by horse and buggy/sleigh, times were tough
during the thirties, but as kids they had fun, they had each other
and were a happy family.
听听 At the age of 17, in the middle of winter, Arnold 鈥渉opped the
freight train鈥� and headed to Ontario for work. Canada was at war
but Arnold was able to find employment as a logger for the Ke-
nora Paper Mill, labourer on a mixed farm, fencing with the rail-
way and labourer at a carbon factory. In 1943, he joined the
Royal Canadian Navy and served on the mine-sweeper, the
H.M.C.S. Swift Current as a telegraphist.
听听 After being discharged from the Navy in 1945, Arnold returned
to Estevan where he farmed alongside his father and later with
his brother, Elmer before settling into a career with the Manalta
Coal Company where he worked as a dragline operator until his
retirement in 1986.
听听 Arnold met Elizabeth (Betty) Dillman in the spring of 1952.
They were married on April 30, 1953. Arnold not only found the
love of his life with Betty, but they tackled every task of daily liv-
ing together for 59 years. His commitment to his marriage and to
his children was second to none. He treasured every moment
spent with Betty, with his children and later with his grandchil-
dren.
听 听 Arnold believed in 鈥済iving back鈥� to his community and to oth-
ers and would quietly go about delivering 鈥渕eals on wheels鈥�,
visiting in the hospital, bringing raspberries or other goodies to
shut-ins, shovelling a driveway in the winter...never looking for
any recognition, but doing so because it was the right thing to
do. He truly lived by the Golden Rule. Arnold was a member of
St. Peter鈥檚 Lutheran Church since 1957 and volunteered his
time and talents at the church in many different ways during
those 58 years.
听听 Arnold loved to dance and was a member of the Estevan
Square and Round Dance Club for 40 years. He also enjoyed
old-time dancing in Estevan and the surrounding communities.
He described his dancing friends as 鈥渇amily鈥�.听
听听 In retirement, Arnold and Betty travelled to Hawaii, the Mari-
times, Alaska, Florida, California, Arizona, Nashville, Reno and
the Scandinavian countries. But Arnold鈥檚 greatest joys were the
simple things in life ? spending time with family and friends,
playing cards, visiting over a cup of coffee, tending to his garden
or reading a good history book.听
听听 Arnold Paul Schlapkohl was a blessing to so many lives - and
he felt he was blessed by the many people who became a part
of his life. His genuine concern for other people, his gentle spirit
and his sense of humour will be greatly missed.
听 听 A Funeral Service for Arnold was held at St. Peter鈥檚 Lutheran
Church, Estevan, on Friday, April 24, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. with
Rev. Randy Kleemola officiating. Interment followed in the Vete-
rans Section at the Estevan City Cemetery.
听听 Those so wishing may make a donation to St. Peter鈥檚 Luther-
an Church or the Royal Canadian Legion in Estevan in Arnold鈥檚
memory.Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral
Services, Estevan.
听 Thank You
Thank you to all the family and friends for your cards, phone
calls, gifts of food and words of encouragement.
