November 5, 1942 – Aberfeldy, Scotland
August 12, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta
Paul Tobolski of Calgary, AB, handed away peacefully at his residence in Calgary, on Monday, August 12, 2024, on the age of 81 years.
A baby of the Second World Warfare, and son to a ‘Great Escaper’ (his father Pawel was one of many 50 executed in March 1943 after efficiently escaping Stalag Luft III), Paul lived together with his widowed mom, first in Aberfeldy, Scotland, then in Toronto, Edmonton, Los Angeles, California, and at last again to Edmonton, the place they settled completely. Paul attended eight colleges earlier than arriving at Eastwood Junior Excessive College after which East Glen Excessive College in Edmonton.
He joined and tremendously loved his time with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment within the Militia, finishing primary coaching at Camp Borden, and dealing his option to Captain over his profession. He accomplished Architectural Expertise at NAIT in Edmonton, working with Transport Canada after which the Metropolis of Edmonton as an Architectural Draftsman.
In 1968 when he determined to be taught to ski, he met the love of his life Joyce, shopping for her a 15-cent scorching chocolate on the Edmonton Ski Membership. They married on August 22, 1970. Their daughter Carrie was born in 1972 and their son Barry in 1977.
Paul was employed with the RCMP in 1973 managing their Alberta properties, assembly a lifelong buddy, Pat Ulrich, throughout this era, and later his spouse Laura. Joyce and Paul determined to make a giant transition of their household’s life shifting to Banff the place he took the job as Constructing Inspector and Carpenter in 1978.
He retired early, took further coaching to change into a house inspector and opened ‘Ability Home Inspections’ which he loved working till his second retirement in 2018; although he was at all times obtainable for recommendation to family and friends on their residence purchases or renovation plans. Paul loved spending time outdoor, whether or not mountain climbing or snowboarding and particularly throughout his backcountry Warden cabin lodge carpentry work tasks for Parks Canada which he accessed through horse, mountain climbing or helicopter drops. He ran backpacking journeys together with his firm ‘Walk the Wild’ with worldwide guests for a number of years as effectively.
Maybe as a result of he was a baby of the battle, with no father nor siblings, Paul had a particular connection to his solely household peer, cousin Jack Rozwadowski and his household (their moms had an in depth relationship, escaping Poland collectively through the occupation). Paul and Jack’s households made particular household reminiscences throughout journeys backwards and forwards between Erie and Banff after which Colorado, California, Connecticut and Calgary and Fernie, attending every others’ kids’s weddings, for particular birthdays or ski journeys. Paul was particularly happy with the shut household connection and deep friendships his kids have with Jack’s kids and their households. Within the phrases of Jack’s daughter ‘cousin Annie’ about Uncle Paul, “he was generous, and created such a legacy from the small amount WWII left him with”.
Paul had various pursuits and liked to be taught. You can typically discover him watching historic films and biographies, visiting museums and historic locations throughout his travels and studying in regards to the world or how issues labored.
He would strike up a dialog with many worldwide guests to Banff throughout his 24 years dwelling there. It was widespread for him to convey residence the ‘new friends’ he met when out strolling the household Scottish terrier ‘Aberfeldy’ (Aber). Whether or not from England, Scotland, New York or Israel, he’d welcome them into our residence and Joyce would host them for a espresso and even dinner.
He additionally cared about and liked being concerned in the neighborhood. He was lively in his church group, significantly in Banff, the place he and Joyce made shut friendships with Reverend Duncan and his household. He was a longstanding Legion member, taking part in Remembrance Day parades and social actions in Banff. He skilled to change into a volunteer firefighter. Our household spent many dinners in eating places ready for him when he was referred to as out to a hearth; his meals being stored heat by the restaurant. Our household additionally loved the summer season firefighter hose coupling competitions hosted in Banff (as we’d typically get sprayed by water on the recent days), and the Santa visits on the firehall, and we have been very proud to see him on the again of the firetruck taking place Banff Avenue in his firefighting gear.
Paul used his carpentry abilities to construct a cabin for his younger household simply West of Edmonton at Alberta Seashore on the attractive Lac St. Anne sandy waterfront. He constructed it from scratch together with his personal arms and the steering of lifelong buddy Invoice McKeeman. He loved constructing the A-frame and was at all times puttering round on a venture at ‘the lake’. Later, he oversaw the development of the household residence in Banff and the renovations of the house in Calgary the place he and Joyce have lived since 2002. He used his carpentry abilities to construct his mannequin railroad, creating cities, landscapes and cityscapes from scratch, most just lately with the assistance of his granddaughter Fyfe who he taught to construct tiny bushes.
An enormous animal lover, Paul and Joyce had a Scottish terrier “Bonnie” after they have been newlyweds and one other ‘Scotty’ “Aberfeldy” when the youngsters have been college age, each of which he adored. Paul was at all times obtainable to provide a cuddle or a deal with to his youngsters’ pets. He had a gentle spot for the pets of the household together with Pilot, Sammie, Sprint, Odin and Leon. Paul spent many gratifying days visiting the Calgary Zoo with Joyce and the grandkids, and he liked to go to zoos on his travels. Some favourites have been Denver, Edinburgh and the Berlin Zoo, the place the whole household (Paul, Joyce, Carrie, Ryan, Finn, Fyfe, Barry, and Erika) visited collectively as they attended the seventy fifth anniversary of the Nice Escape.
Paul had an unimaginable reminiscence. Between his travels, and studying many books as a historical past buff, he may beat any trivia buff and particularly loved TV trivia gameshows, particularly within the areas of historical past and geography. He typically gave Jeopardy contestants a run for his or her cash.
Paul liked to journey to many locations and international locations with Joyce (Las Vegas to see Elvis, Bobby Vinton, and Frank Sinatra with lifelong pals, Pat and Laura, and Mike and Cheryl), and the household when Carrie and Barry have been younger (BC, Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, England, Scotland, France, Spokane, Florida, and California). He later loved additional Worldwide journey and cruising the ocean and river waterways with Joyce (throughout the US, New York and Washington, DC, Nice Falls (with Barry), Hawaii, Alaska, Memphis (visiting Elvis), the Mississippi with Joyce and Diane, throughout Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Eire, Croatia, Scandinavia, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Russia, Greece, China, Australia, New Zealand, even touring with pals to Hungary and Austria, and touring to commemorate Nice Escape anniversaries in England (RAF) and Poland with household and pals. He undoubtedly impressed the journey bug in us all.
Paul loved the household reunion with the Rozwadowski clan in Fernie, and annual getaways to Fairmont with Joyce and Diane with visits from Barry and Erika, in addition to ringing in lots of completely happy New 12 months’s together with his in-laws, Diane, Olga and Harry. Paul liked to discover the areas he visited by public transit, touring cities from one finish to the opposite. He liked planes and airports, trains, trams, buses and the underground and metros. A current birthday current for his eightieth was a favorite, the place Barry organized for Paul to expertise a 737-flight simulator.
Paul was very related to his historical past and was an lively volunteer on the Army Museums of Calgary, the place he volunteered each Friday. He introduced the Nice Escape exhibit as a part of the eightieth anniversary this previous March. He was a longtime volunteer as secretary of the Shriners in Banff, a 15 + yr volunteer of the White Hatter (3000-hour pin holder) on the Calgary airport, and an lively member of the Free-mo railroad affiliation, particularly together with his nice buddy Greg Cave and spouse Judy, constructing mannequin railroads with the group.
Paul was happy with his distinctive Polish and Scottish life expertise and heritage. He and Joyce adopted the ‘Blackwatch’ tartan and wore it proudly, as a result of the Blackwatch clan monument was throughout the road from the home the place he was born and lived at, ‘Mavis Bank’ in Aberfeldy, with the Sutherland household (James, Barbara and Millie). The Sutherlands took his mom in when she arrived in Scotland 5 months pregnant, together with her husband in a prisoner of battle camp, and after she was widowed. It was not simple for Paul in some ways; being of Polish origin, with out a father, and beginning his life in Scotland. At age 5 when he entered college, the instructor inspired his mom to alter his Polish title from delivery, ‘Wieslaw’, to one thing less complicated. They selected ‘Paul’, since Pawel was his center title, handed down from his father’s given title. The Sutherland household continued to like and take care of Paul and his mom as their very own household till they left for Canada, however he by no means forgot his Scottish roots.
Paul was fiercely happy with his household, his daughter Carrie, an audiologist with a PhD and a enterprise proprietor, and his son Barry, a pilot with WestJet. He was so content material that every of them reached their goals and had such supportive spouses and households. He was exceptionally happy with his grandchildren Finn (17) and Fyfe (15) and liked them past measure. In recent times, he celebrated their educational achievements, attended Finn’s soccer video games, made puzzles and constructed landscapes with Fyfe, and at all times had good chats with them each; most just lately about their first jobs on the Calgary Stampede, the place they proudly wore their very own white hats. He was so happy together with his kids’s and grandchildren’s successes and happy with the good, type individuals they’re.
Paul was buddy, and he loved go to together with his pals, whether or not celebrating birthdays (his eightieth in 2022), anniversaries (celebrating his and Joyce’s fiftieth in 2020-outside due to Covid, each fantastically catered by Diane and household and fantastically adorned by Erika with Barry’s assist), or simply to have chat-he liked to inform his tales, which might be missed.
Paul was kindly cared for this previous six months by the Drs. and nurses of the Cardiology operate workforce. Their adept care and experience allowed him to proceed all his beloved pursuits, volunteer actions and household occasions with full energy and vigor proper up till he handed.
Paul actually had a life effectively lived. A person of few written phrases, he gave Carrie a card on her fiftieth that merely stated, “50 is great”. However within the phrases of his granddaughter Fyfe, “81 is pretty great too”.
Loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and buddy, Paul is survived by his loving household, spouse Joyce of Calgary, daughter Carrie (Ryan) of Calgary, son Barry (Erika) of Airdrie, granddaughter Fyfe and grandson Finn of Calgary; sisters-in-law, Diane and Olga (Harry) of Edmonton; niece Corinna of Edmonton, Jamie Buchholz and household of Iowa Metropolis, and the Rozwadowski household of Colorado, California, and Connecticut.
Expensive Dad, Papa Paul – you reside on in every of us in a really particular method; Barry – together with his need to journey the world, to wander and discover; Carrie – by her need to persevere at what she does, and to see the ‘big picture’ of each alternative; Finn – by his unimaginable information base and need to know the world, and Fyfe – by being unafraid to be artistic and take a look at new issues. We love you and can miss you dearly.
Funeral Providers might be held at Holy Cross Anglican Church (2828 – nineteenth Avenue N.W, Calgary, AB), on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to comply with within the Church Corridor.
Household and pals who’re unable to attend in particular person are invited to affix Mr. Tobolski’s service streamed dwell (see hyperlink under) on the day of the service. For many who are unable to view dwell, a recording of the service might be posted.
In honor of the assist that the Crimson Cross supplied to the prisoners of battle in WWII, together with Paul’s father, memorial tributes could also be made on to the Canadian Crimson Cross Society, Southern Alberta Area, 2nd Flooring, 1305 – eleventh Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T3C 3P6, Phone: (403) 541-6100, www.redcross.ca
Condolences, reminiscences, and images could also be shared and seen with Paul’s household right here.
In dwelling reminiscence of Paul Tobolski, a tree might be planted within the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Space by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Properties, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Phone: 403-241-0044.
Click on to Signal the Video Visitor E book and Watch Paul’s Funeral Service
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