Richard Gene Pakula
September 15, 1940 - January 30, 2021
Passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital. Predeceased by his father, Carl, mother Loretta Sturgeon, brother Robert and sons, Darren and Darrell. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, daughters Diane (Jesse) Lybbert, Carrie Pakula and his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Travis (Rebecca), Eleni, Ashton and Isla Lybbert, Chantelle Lybbert, Lindsey (Mattlan) William and Preston Hogenson, and Rebecca (Eric) Paden and Brody Lykins.
A hard worker with an exemplary work ethic - he started working in the lumber industry just out of high school choosing to then move into nursing and attending the Manitoba School (a home for the mentally disabled & Nursing School) where he trained as a Psychiatric Nurse. He married his eternal companion, Margaret Hogaboam, in 1962 in Oakville, Manitoba.
Shortly thereafter they moved to Kamloops where he worked at Tranquille School (a school for mentally disabled children) and they began their family with the birth of their oldest child. They later moved to New Denver, BC where Richard continued to work in the people business working at the Youth Centre (for emotionally disturbed boys) and they started running a therapeutic foster home for disturbed children out of their home. They moved to Castlegar, BC in 1971 where he worked at the Trail Hospital working in the Psychiatric Ward while continuing their therapeutic foster home and by this time having had another three additions to their family.
Their small family moved to Lethbridge, Alberta in 1975 when Richard was employed by the Southern Alcare Society as the Executive Director to run an alcohol and drug rehabilitation unit starting with a 12 bed house for men and growing it to a 25 bed facility for both men and women. He left there sometime after 1989 to go work at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital in the Psychiatric Unit continuing with his caregiving nature and later retiring from his nursing career.
He had a love of old cars, camping, square dancing, motorcycles, country music, horses, playing cards (with Cathy and Marvin- fighting for the “flip trophy”), and most especially his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Larger than life - he made an impact in every life he touched and made friends wherever he went. His presence will be missed in the lives of all his family and friends.
Favourite quote - “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”
Due to COVID-19 there is no funeral being held. A Private Family Interment will take place.
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