1957 - 2022

The family of Dave Paul is saddened to announce his passing December 8, 2022.

David Christopher Joseph Paul was born in the Edmonton General Hospital, January 11, 1957, to his English war-bride mother, Mary Louise Winger Paul and his father, Archie Paul, a French-Canadian carpenter. Archie was born in Quebec, homesteaded with his parents in Saskatchewan, then later became a solider.

David was born the third son, and the seventh child in a family of ten children; his nine siblings survive him. He would attend school in Jasper Place until at the age of nine, when his mother passed away. Following were unsettling years for David, including changing families, schools, and moving to live with his Aunt, Jean Paul, for a year in Meadow Lake, SK.

David was a shy bookworm who loved to study, write poetry, and watch cartoons. David recently shared how he remembers that in Grade six he became known as “Dave”. He eventually settled in Mayerthorpe with his father, becoming a young carpenters’ apprentice at the age of 14 years. There must be a million stories shared between Dave and his father in the years that followed. Together, they built a house, a shop and a business until Archie died in 1980.

Diana Reglin took on the job of housekeeper at a time when there was a motorcycle parked in the front room. Undeterred, Diana married Dave on July 19, 1986. Their love story produced three sons; C.J. is married to Amy and they have two daughters, Faith and Breanna; Shawn and Charlee have two children, McKenna and Chevy; and Brad and Lacy have new baby, Colt. The Paul love legacy continues to grow.

Dave and Diana’s married life included many adventures, some shared together, others experienced separately. Diana’s cousin Tom Raaschou created a big story with Dave in the community when they went over the Paddle River dam overflow spillway the year it flooded. In truth, they went over twice, and that second time, Dave got his pants torn off in the wild currents. “The Dave” we knew and loved did everything large and epic experiences always happened with Dave in the middle of it all.

Dave’s family, friends, and neighbours, and indeed his entire community could count on him to offer humour, his vast wisdom, extensive life lessons, and the powerful strength of his trained body. He worked hard throughout his career in the community as a building contractor, even traveling to work in the far north. Dave trained many people over the years, with some going on to become masters in their trade.

Dave showed everyone how to work hard, how to think on the job and how to laugh at yourself. Dave was a “Dutch Uncle” to many of his family and offered everyone the same warm, generous support in their times of need.

His family was always his sweet spot, and he adored his wife of 42 years, Diana. Dave and Diana traveled to see the Tall Ships at Halifax, N.S. to celebrate their love story. Of Diana, he wrote, “My wife is the only one how knows me best. God bless her soul!”

Dave loved fishing with his sons, starting them baiting their hooks at an early age, encouraging them to fall in love with and respect nature, and shared all the “lore” he had collected. The Paul love legacy continues as Dave’s three boys now teach and encourage their children everything they learned from their father. Rest in peace Dave, you are forever loved.