SKUTSHEK, PAUL
Paul Peter Skutshek peacefully passed from this life to the next on Friday, June 19, 2015, surrounded by his children and daughter-in-law. He was born April 1, 1925 in Zhytomyr, Ukraine.
He grew up in Horschtschick, a small
village in a German enclave located about 200 KM from Kiev. He was the youngest of 12 children born to Maria and Joseph Skutshek.Paul grew up in Stalinist times. Food was scarce, many starved and people lived in fear of their government. He and his family shed many a tear. However, resourceful and hard working parents turned his tears
to joy by providing food, security and solace. The winds of war carried the family from the Ukraine to Germany
as refugees. In 1943 he turned 18 and was granted German citizenship. He was drafted, trained and sent to war. He was captured at the Battle of the Bulge
and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war.After the war he worked for the US army.
He emigrated to Canada in 1951, settling with his sister and parents in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Like many immigrants, he worked for the CNR, first shoveling coal off of boxcars, and eventually working his way up to the bridge and
building crew. In May of 1953 he married Eugenie Politz, literally the “girl next door” from Paul’s hometown.By the time their first child Edward was born in 1956, Paul had learned English and was promoted to the position of Clerk in the CNR office. Some time after their daughter Desiree’s birth in 1958, Paul studied architectural drafting
at night school. By the time their son Paul Jr. was born in 1963, Paul Sr. was drawing plans and supervising the construction of homes for Dominion Lumber in Winnipeg.
He designed and built three family homes in Winnipeg. The summer of 1968 the Skutshek family packed bare
necessities into a U-Haul trailer and headed west to Kelowna. Paul and Eugenie came to Kelowna with a dream, to start their own business, a construction company. They formed Paul Construction, Ltd. The first few years were difficult. They worked together as a finely tuned team. Paul drew the plans, lined up the trades and supervised the construction of homes. Eugenie learned bookkeeping
and kept the company books impeccably and the home fire burning so that Paul could devote himself wholeheartedly to building and designing. From 1968
to 1985 Paul designed and built hundreds of homes and several commercial buildings in and around Kelowna. He took great pride in all that he did. Paul was known for honesty and integrity in his business dealings. He was active in and served a term as President
of HUDAC of Kelowna, a builders association.Paul and Eugenie were people of faith. They were married and raised their children in the church. They became members of Christ Lutheran in 1968. They began attending and then joined Grace Lutheran Church, West Kelowna, following their son Edward’s acceptance of a call to serve
as the congregation’s pastor in June of 2000. Paul and Eugenie were active in worship, Bible Study and service.
Paul’s family was his pride and joy and his solace. He and Eugenie were truly an exemplary couple. Their marriage was a partnership in every sense of the word. They built a business and raised a family together. Each loved and sacrificed for the other and together they sacrificed for their children. They instilled their work ethic in their children. They encouraged their children become educated and strive to be the best they could be. As a consequence
their children studied law, architecture and theology.
Paul and Eugenie loved one another dearly. When Eugenie died May of 2013, Paul could not be consoled. He insisted that half of him had died. He waited eagerly for the next life, in the Kingdom of God, with Father, Son and Holy Spirit and reunion with Eugenie forever. Paul is predeceased by his parents and siblings. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter Desiree and
her son Noah; son Paul Jr. (Gordon Palmer), and son Edward (Denise) and their son Jonathan, together with
numerous nieces and nephews in Canada, the US,France, Poland and Russia.
The Skutshek family wishes to express their deepest and sincerest gratitude to the staff of the Kelowna Hospice for the exemplary care that Paul received during his last days and to Dr. Michael Bobyn, his family physician, for the
extraordinary care Paul received right up to the very end.
A service celebrating Paul’s life will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on Saturday June 27th at 11:00 AM.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Central Okanagan Hospice Association. Funeral arrangements by Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road,
Kelowna, Tel: (250) 860-7077
Condolences may be sent to the family
by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com