Otto Alexander Pakarno

    Mr. Otto Pakarno, loving husband of Lillian, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, on August 5, 2019 at the age of 81.

    Proud father to Laurel O’Brien of Lethbridge AB, Barb (Dave) Howe of Calgary AB, and Tammy (Mike) Caswell of Lethbridge AB, Otto was grandfather to 7 grandchildren, including Wesley Howe, Amy Howe, Aysha O’Brien, Derek O’Brien, Sarah O’Brien, Sean Caswell, and Matthew Caswell and had 6 great grandchildren. He was also survived by his brother Gil Pakarno, his sister Linda McAughey, plus in-laws Arnold Gertzen, Isabelle Pakarno, Noreen and Irvin Tobler, Carol and Ted Jacob, Dorothy and Glen Grassl, Patti and Tim Fletcher, as well as many nieces and nephews plus extended family. Otto was predeceased by his parents Alexander and Elizabeth (Heck) Pakarno, his sisters Toni Jones and Marie Gertzen, brother Gerry Pakarno, and his granddaughter Amy Howe.

    Otto was born February 20, 1938 in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. He was the fourth child born to Alexander and Elizabeth Pakarno.

    Educated and raised to work hard on the family farm in Saskatchewan, at the age of 19, in 1957, he moved to Hays, Alberta along with his family. In Hays, Otto continued life as a farmer and also spent some time working on the oil rigs.

     After relocating to Alberta, a lovely young woman caught his eye one day at the post office. Casually, he got her to agree to join him for a movie. From that day on they were inseparable. This lovely lady was Lillian Peters, who later, in 1960, became his bride.

    They soon became the proud parents of three beautiful daughters. Laurel born in 1961, then Barbara in 1963 and finally Tammy who came along in 1970.

    Otto and Lillian farmed in Hays for a total of 18 years when they decided to sell the farm and took on a new adventure by moving to the ‘big city’ of Lethbridge, Alberta. This is where they resided until Otto’s passing.

    Otto worked many years, starting in 1978 at Neufeldt Industries (later renamed Haul-All Equipment Systems/Sureflame) until his first attempt at retirement in 2003. Then, mainly because he missed socializing and coffee time, he returned to work part-time for the same company in 2008 until retiring once again in 2015.

    Never having a harsh thing to say about anyone, and always willing to lend a hand or a kind word, Otto was loved by all who knew him.

    His family came first and foremost in everything he did. He liked the simple things life had to offer, a good meal, a drive in the country, and watching “the Price is Right’ or curling events on television.

    Otto loved meeting up with family or friends over a good cup of coffee with good conversation and reminiscing about the past.

    He was a blessed man, not because life was always easy, but because of how he carried himself through it. He will be deeply missed and carried in the hearts of loved ones.

    Family and Friends are welcome to attend on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. for a Memorial Service, followed by coffee and fellowship at Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home, 703 – 13 St N, Lethbridge AB.

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