Obituary of Marvin Oscar Stene

S/Cst. Marvin Oscar Stene (retired)- July 14, 1934 - October 22, 2010 Marv was born in Shellbrook, the oldest child of Oscar and Myrtle . He attended school in Deer Ridge and helped on the family farm until going off to work for Harry Fulton on his farm. He began his career as a mechanic at a garage in Weirdale. He attended automotive school in Saskatoon and later started working as an aircraft engineer for Saskatchewan Government Airways. This job took him to many arctic and northern locations fixing frozen aircraft. In 1962 Marv joined the RCMP Air Services Division as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with the rank of Special Constable and was posted to Ottawa for training. Marv met Jo-Ann on a double blind date with his best friend Glen Brown and Jo-Ann's best friend Ellen. Both couples ended up getting married with Marv and Jo-Ann's wedding on March 23, 1963 in Ottawa. Marv's career took the family to Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Fort Smith and finally Prince Albert. Even with moving every year and half, Marv and Jo-Ann found time to have three children, Kevin, Doug, Lori. The family lived in PA for several years before buying the farm outside Shellbrook in 1977. Marv did much of the work building the house himself including most of the framing, plumbing and electrical. The country life appealed to Marv and he loved the spruce and pine on the home quarter and particularly enjoyed feeding the birds. In August 2010 they sold the farm and moved into town. Marv overcame several serious health issues over the years, including a heart attack at 47 and double bypass surgery 10 years later. His strength and determination were evident in his short and successful recovery and his daily walks to maintain his good health. Marv retired from the RCMP in1988. Retirement for Marv meant farming full time for a couple years, buying classic cars and restoring them, building a new shop to house the cars and tools, being a charter member of the Prince Albert RCMP Veterans' Association and taking up golfing. Finding the Saskatchewan winters not very conducive to golfing, Marv and Jo-Ann made a yearly trip to Yuma, Arizona to enjoy the sunshine, golf and friendship of fellow snowbirds. While Marv never made the PGA, he did get a hole in one at a golf course in Parker Dam, California in 2005. Many things stand out about Marv. The foremost being his ability, as his children put it, "to fix anything." Marv's talent with tools was legendary and not just for fixing, but for creating - from custom build tailgates for hauling fifth wheels to golf trailers. If it could be built, Marv could probably design it and build it. Marv was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it and in their years on the farm, many neighbors called on him to help fix some equipment and even bring his rifle to scare away the occasional bear that wandered into the yards. In the last few years he devoted many hours to helping at the golf course and in particular, the maintenance of the golf carts. He diligently kept the carts serviced and ready to go. Perhaps too diligently, as he never lived down the first game of the season, where all the club carts were in top shape and his own cart ran out of gas as he had neglected to fill it. As hard as Marv worked, and played, his first priority was always his family. Vacations, whether camping or the splurge trip to Disneyland, were family focused and he was always available whenever the kids needed him. The values of hard work, generosity to others and selflessness that he instilled in them are among his greatest gifts. He was enormously proud of his grandchildren and his last gift to them was the 1963 Volkswagen Beetle that he restored. Married for 47 � years to the love of his life, Marv was not an overly sentimental person. But his love for Jo-Ann was evident everyday. In the things he did, from roto-tilling a far too large garden for two people, to restoring the kids' wagon, to slipping last minute gifts into her Christmas stocking. When he found out about his illness, his only concern was for Jo-Ann. Surprisingly, his mechanical ability never rubbed off on Jo-Ann and he reported that even after 47 years, when he asked her to bring him a Phillips screwdriver, she inevitably showed up with a Phillips, a flathead and a Robertson. We will also remember Marv for his sense of humor. Never one to turn down a good practical joke, Marv had his sense of humor right up to the end. Marv will be forever remembered by his beloved wife, Jo-Ann (nee Christensen), his children Kevin Stene, Doug (Tobi) Stene, and Lori (Bruce) Kent as well as his grandchildren - Sydney, Evan, Carter, Jaxson Stene and Cameron Kent, his sister, Violet (Harry) Lamberty, his sister in law, Delphine Stene, Jo-Ann's brothers Carl (Helga) Christensen, Ernie (Dorille) Christensen and sister Karen (Bud) Kam, numerous nieces and nephews and many good friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Oscar and Myrtle Stene, his parents-in-law, Carl and Alice Christensen and his brother, Henry Stene. Funeral Service was on October 27, 2010 at Knox United Church in Shellbrook. Pastor Dave Whalley officiated. Marv's son-in-law Bruce Kent gave the eulogy, Grandpa's urn bearers were Sydney and Evan Stene, and honorary urn bearers were Carter and Jaxson Stene and Cameron Kent. An Honor Guard of RCMP Veterans attended. Memorial donations may be made to the Shellbrook Hospital Building Fund or a charity of the donor's choice.