Paul Kucher, age 89, of Red Deer, Alberta, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 29, 2022, leaving behind numerous bountiful vegetable gardens, handmade wooden toys and furniture and refurbished nic-nacs of all kinds.

Paul is survived by his dedicated wife Rita. He is also survived by sons Sylvester (Kathy) and Stephen, daughter Susan (Joe), daughter-in-law Julie; brothers Peter, John, and Stephen, sisters Adeline and Phyllis; grandchildren Moira, Shannon (Miles), Nolan, Jake and Bridgette great grandchildren Jack, Adeline, Natalie and Lachlan Paul.

He is preceded in death by his parents Caroline and Dan; daughter CarolAnn, son Sid; sisters Olga, Virginia, Sylvia and Natalie; brother Nick.

Paul graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He met the love of his life, Rita, when he first spotted her at a dance in Centralia, Ontario. Rita and Paul wed in the spring of 1957, amongst friends and family in Yorkton, Saskatchewan and have enjoyed 65 years of devotion to each other.

Paul volunteered for service in the Royal Canadian Air Forces in 1955 where he worked behind the scenes in Supply and Management for 30 years. In 1975 he was recognized as Airman of the Year before accompanying the United Nations on a tour around the world. After retirement he expressed his generosity by volunteering his time with the St Vincent De Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, ushering at Church, and working to make newcomers feel at home, especially Abdul and his daughter Marie who have become part of Paul’s family.

He enjoyed many, many hobbies including looking for a good fishing hole, goaltending in the Western Canadian Hockey league in his youth, collecting baseball and bowling trophies, golfing in the family Father’s Day Classic, cheering on the Expos, Bluejays, Oilers and Raptors, woodworking, growing the biggest vegetables ever as taught to him on the farm when he was a boy, volunteering with his church and the Golden Circle and above all, spending time creating lasting memories with his family.

Paul’s most renowned legacy was that of Grandfather and he was a reliable distributor of Smarties and ice cream cones to his grandchildren and many of his numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at Sacred Heart Parish on Wednesday, August 3rd at 11 am. After, friends can join the family for a lunch and social. He will be interred at a later date at St Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery in Whitesand, Saskatchewan, his birthplace.

Memorial donations in Paul’s name can be made to St Vincent de Paul Society. The next time you sit down with your favorite beverage, take the time to recall a favorite memory and make a toast to the generous and kind Paul Kucher.

• Date : 202207-02-09
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home