Ken Blacklaws

It is with great sadness that we announce that Ken Blackie passed away after a lengthy illness. He was a great person that had so much to share in life and will be missed by those who had the privilege of knowing him. He was predeceased by his mother Monica in 2009 and is survived by his father Bob Blacklaws (Maggie), son Sam Paterson in Manitoba, children Abigail, Joel, and Angelina and their mother Karen Reilly (Mike), and sister Nola Curtis (Mark) in Cobble Hill. Ken has many aunts, uncles and cousins in Saskatchewan, BC, Alberta, and Texas. Ken was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on March 20, 1963 and at the age of three months joined his adoptive parents Bob and Monica Blacklaws and sister Nola. Ken loved to spend time with his father and they often went fishing together from an early age. Their favorite fishing spots were Port Renfrew, Fairy Lake and Lake Cowichan to name a few. Ken was always very active and was always involved with sports. He played soccer, baseball, volleyball, golf and even did some off- roading. He had a large circle of friends who he enjoyed spending time with. One of the highlights in Kens life was the family trip to Hawaii. He got his first Lei in Hawaii at age 15. He also loved his three week family trip to Disneyland. Ken attended Glanford elementary school then Reynolds secondary school from Grade 8-12. He played the drums in the school band. He then worked at Superior Propane for a few years then for the majority of his life Island Farms Dairy (Agropur) where he was a machine operator. Ken worked at the Island Farms for twenty-two years and had a large circle of friends at the Dairy. His son Sam was born in 1991 and he was very proud of him. They would spend time together fishing and throwing a ball. Ken married Karen Duncanson in 1999. Ken and Karen enjoyed a wonderful honeymoon in Mexico then had three children together who they loved very much. Abigail was born in 2000, Joel in 2002 and Angelina in 2003. They spent many years raising the children together and although they divorced in 2007 they remained friends and co parented the children. Sam and his mother Sarah moved to Manitoba nine years ago. Ken had quite a sense of humor. He always had a joke to share or something incredibly witty to chime in with he did not lack in contributing to a conversation. Those who knew him can recall that he was proud of his ability to burp the alphabet or draw hilarious cartoon figures that could be found anywhere at any time. He certainly excelled at sports and art and he truly was the life of the party. Ken had the uncanny ability to recall trivia. He loved to reminisce about TV characters, movies or songs. Invariably the conversation would move to recall of those personas that most of us have forgotten. His memory was excellent and he enjoyed this witty banter. He also loved the weather especially extreme weather conditions. A prairie boy at heart, he would have a sense of impending weather systems that are coming our way. If there was an inkling of snow, his children would be getting heads up and a lengthy discussion to follow about the inclements. Ken was able to locate some family from his birth parents and discovered a half sister from his birth mother. He and Kerri (Epoch) had a relationship over the last 10 years. She and Ken met and had many meaningful phone conversations up until recently. She lives in Ottawa. Ken suffered from some health conditions over the last couple of years. He was not as active as in previous years but did enjoy taking in Joels hockey games, fishing with the kids, walks, camping with his children, watching movies at home and spending time at Karen (and her husband Mikes) house for all of the holidays. He was looking forward to going back to work after being on disability for the last year and a half. Karen and Mike had the honor of being with Ken during his final moments. Ken will be interned with his mother Monica in the spring time at Royal Oak Burial Park. Special thank you to the incredible ICU team at RJH especially Shelley RT, Dr. Bertoia, Chris Benesch at Earths Options and Lorraine Fracy at Royal Oak Burial Park. Please join us in honoring Ken with your stories and memories and spend time with family, friends and his children. Light refreshments will be served. Please bring a copy of the story or memory you wish to share as a book will be made for his children. We will miss you Ken.