Obituary of Walter Jean Pouteaux

Walter Jean Pouteaux was born the first child of three to Arthur and Edith Pouteaux on May 4, 1928, on a farm close to Bateman, SK. He was predeceased by his wife Laura (Huber) Pouteaux, his parents, Arthur and Edith (McKee) Pouteaux, infant sister Edith Pouteaux, and his granddaughter-in-law Angela Boorah. Although having lost his first mother at age 6, Walter never had to lose his second mother Sarah (Hoffman) Pouteaux; she remains with us at age 105. He also leaves to mourn his five children: son Victor (Brenda) Pouteaux and their children Preston (Kelly) Pouteaux, and Andrea (Darcy) Durksen; daughter Edith (Wilf) Dyck and children Violet (Darryl) Smith and Stephen Boorah; son Dale (Michelle) Pouteaux, and children Jill (Colin) Smith, Richard (Aurora) Pouteaux, and Mark (Rebecca) Pouteaux; son Donald (Melody) Pouteaux and their children Tyler (Amy) Pouteaux, Katrina (Doug) Robinson, Rebecca (Benjamin) Thiessen, Anna Pouteaux (fiancé Kurt Robertson), and Anita Pouteaux; son Ronald (Marcia Schenk) Pouteaux, and children Emily Pouteaux, Maria Pouteaux, Ryan Schenk, and Nicholas Schenk; 18 great grandchildren; and siblings, Ruth (Lawrence) Deobald, Orka (Ivor) Thorkle, Iris (Bob) McNeil, Myrna (Gordon) Rolfe, and Linda (Ross) Armson. Walter attended Standon School and then Bateman School. Seven weeks into grade 11 he had to quit school to help run the farm as his father had taken ill. At the age of 21 he went to Moose Jaw to take a machinist course at SIAST. The following winter, he attended the University of Saskatchewan taking the farm management program. Walter and Laura were married June 19, 1954, sharing a double wedding with Ruth and Lawrence Deobald. Walter and Laura started their marriage on the family farm at Bateman and farmed with Walter’s parents Art and Sarah Pouteaux. They bought the Block farm at Hodgeville from Laura’s grandma Helena Block in 1958. The place had stood empty for 11 years so there was a lot of work for them to fix up and develop the farm. They enjoyed raising their five children on the farm along the Wiwa Creek. Walter also served the community as a member of the Hodgeville Co-op Board and School Board. Walter was able to retire to Herbert, Saskatchewan, in 1990 at the age of 62. Walter and Laura were active in the Herbert community helping with Meals on Wheels and in the local Church. During this time Walter enjoyed travelling around a bit playing his violin with the Waldeck Golden Oldies, and with Archie Klassen and the Boys. In the early 1960’s Walter and Laura attended a Barry Moore Crusade in Swift Current and accepted the invitation to follow Christ. This changed their lives and was a great influence to their children. Walter always had a heart for God. Walter passed away on Monday, January 22, 2018, at the age of 89, at Herbert, Saskatchewan. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.