Roger Parks

Kenneth “Roger” Parks, son of Ken and Betty Parks, passed away suddenly on August 24, 2022, at his home in Wynyard, SK after years of suffering from a chronic lung disorder.

Roger was born in Winkler, MB on November 21, 1959, and grew up around his many brothers and sisters. Along with his family, he moved through various areas of MB and SK, as his parents earned income to raise their ever-growing family.

While growing up, Roger attended the Fort Qu’Appelle Public School and the Wynyard Elementary and Composite High Schools. He helped-out with many of the family business ventures with his parents and siblings over the years. As a boy, Roger enjoyed the fishing and camping getaways to Last Mountain Lake and to Fishing Lake, and visits with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in the Craik and Davidson area. Also, as a fun-loving boy, he enjoyed riding his bike around town. In the 1970’s, as a teen, he enjoyed bird hunting with his dad and brothers, enjoyed music, and dances at school or at the civic centre. Roger always had a lot of friends around him while growing up due to his happy nature.

After he completed his formal education, Roger took on numerous jobs in the Wynyard area. He had many talents. He learned to pump gas, and was a natural mechanic (which came in handy for his red ’62 Chevy Nova II, 327 V8 in 1975, which was one of the many vehicles he had over the years). Then he became a carpenter; his first carpentry job was on a work crew, building grain elevators; and over the years he became a monument craftsman. His dad, along with his long-time employer and friend, Frank, mentored him in that. He worked at this on and off for many years. At one time he was a farmer, and at another time, was a boat rental entrepreneur at Leslie Beach. He also attended some heavy-duty mechanic classes at Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon. He carried many of these skills with him back and forth from Calgary a few times over the years, and then settled back permanently in the Wynyard area in 2007. He took on various construction and painting contracts in recent years in the Wynyard and Foam Lake area. He semi-retired due to health in the past couple of years.

Roger has been adored and loved by so many around him over the years for his talents and happy-go-lucky nature. His last chapter of life became very special when he met and spent many happy years with Marilyn. During this time, they lived both in Calgary and in Wynyard. They really enjoyed life, enjoyed their families, with their pets Ziggie and Pusser at their sides. He dearly missed Marilyn after she passed away in 2012. Roger had a few struggles in life. He overcame some of them, had many successes, yet challenges, too. He always had help from family and friends which he deeply appreciated. Over the years, Roger read his two bibles that he received as gifts; this really helped him in his daily life.

Roger is survived by his father, Ken Parks, of Foam Lake, SK, by his sisters Gwen Croswell of Wynyard, SK and Deb Parks of Foam Lake, SK. By his brothers, Terry (Audrey) of Moose Jaw, SK, Don (Karen) of Calgary, AB, Murray (Linda) of Kelliher, SK, Brad of Saskatoon, SK, and Colin (Shelly) of Beaumont, AB. Roger leaves behind so many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews who always brought a smile to his face. He is also survived by two aunts, one uncle, and numerous cousins in SK and AB.

Roger was predeceased by his mother, Betty Joy Doreen Parks (née Lazell), and by his life partner, Marilyn Olafson, his baby sister, Sharon Parks, his brother-in-law Ken Zemlak, and by his nephew Ryan Croswell.

Recently, in his semi-retirement years, Roger could be seen the happiest when getting that next pack of smokes, buying the next winning scratch lottery ticket, all while grabbing a nice cup of coffee.

He will be sadly missed by his family and friends. A celebration of his life will be held at a future date.

For those wishing to send sympathy cards for Ken and family, they can be mailed to Box 178, Foam Lake, SK S0A 1A0