Marvin Paulus
June 11, 1918 ~ September 10, 2010
Marvin Joseph Mike Paulus was born in Chipman, Alberta on June 11, 1918 to Bernadette and Joseph Paulus. He was their second child, having one older sister Beatrice and a younger sister Dorothy and brother Joey. Marvin grew up in Chipman, quitting school in grade 8 to go to work on neighboring farms. He continued educating himself and has been an avid reader and handyman.
Marvin joined the Canadian Armed Forces on August 28, 1941 and while stationed in Ucluelet, BC he met Ruth Ester Ball and they were married on December 31, 1942.
In early 1943 he traveled by train from Vancouver to Newfoundland where he received his overseas assignment. He was stationed in England, Belgium, Germany and Holland. Marvin told very few stories about his time overseas, but remembers the Dutch families at the end of the war, being so grateful to the Canadian servicemen and how they always welcomed them into their homes.
Marvin arrived back in Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia on January 1, 1946 after a horrendous “boat trip” across the seas. They were welcomed onto Canadian soil by a band of “Pipers”– and he always loved the sound of the bagpipes. His regiment traveled across Canada by rail to Vancouver and received his discharge papers on February 14, 1946. After discussion with Ruth, they decided to settle in Creston, a new experience for both of them.
They rented a small house in Alice Siding and Marvin was job hunting. He heard the Creston Sawmill – Burns and Farstad Company was hiring and in a group of 30 men, Don Burns asked if there were any Servicemen in the line – Marvin was hired on the spot and began working with a Millwright, Albert Thompson.
On June 8, 1948 Marvin and Ruth had their one and only child - a daughter, Karen Patricia.
Marvin tried his hand at fruit farming and when a late frost froze the crops in 1950 he thought he better get something with a little more security. He was hired by Bob Dixon, a Superintendent with the Canadian Pacific Railway in June 1950 where he worked until his retirement on June 30, 1980.
Marvin and Ruth ran the boarding house for the RCMP in the early 50’s before buying their first home on 20th Street. In 1958 they moved into a new home at 2110 Erickson Street which was their pride and joy and in later years, Marv could be seen “sweeping” the maple leaves off the driveway during the fall. Ruth always had beautiful red petunias lining their driveway.
Marvin had a heart of gold – such a quiet man; always thankful for all his friends and family. He lost his wife Ruth in October 2007 and their daughter Karen and husband Ken live in the family home, and subdividing the lot, have their daughter Lorene and her husband Steve and son Tyson live next door. Marv’s grandson Steven lives in Grande Prairie.
A Celebration of Life Service to be held on Friday September 24, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the G. F. Oliver Funeral Chapel.
Interment to follow at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Erickson, BC.