Paul Bertold, resident of Grande Prairie, AB, formerly Vancouver, BC, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the age of 72 years, at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, four days after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage.

Paul was born January 9, 1951 to Stanislaw and Erna Bertold in Nottingham, England. Four months later the little red-headed baby arrived in Canada on a ship, and the family settled in Vancouver, BC.

Paul lived in Vancouver for 28 years. His school years were spent at Mount Pleasant Elementary School and then Sir Charles Tupper High School.

Paul met Dianne on a blind date on November 27, 1976, and married 365 days later. They loved walking on the beach, taking rides in the country, joking, laughing together, going to church, visiting family, and eating out.

Paul enjoyed downhill skiing, tennis, and held a blue belt in the martial art of Hapkido. He nearly broke his wife’s little toe teaching her a self defense move! Paul also enjoyed cars and read newspapers voraciously, and could expound on any “useless topic”, as he put it. He was a brilliant man.

Looking for adventure, the married couple moved to Grande Prairie in January of 1979. Arriving with their belongings in -32°C weather, they survived the moving van breakdown in the middle of the night. U-Haul’s tagline was “Adventures in Moving”, and they were not kidding! After that, life was one adventure after another.

Paul spent 27 years on evening shift at Canada Post as the forklift operator, ensuring efficient movement of incoming and outgoing mail. Retirement came seven years ago when a painful nerve disorder made it very difficult for him to work. Paul and Dianne made the most of retirement, despite his many challenges and limitations. She devoted retirement to giving him the best quality of life with caregivers, the Adult Day program, and of course, his favourite hazelnut steamer at Wapiti Bean Co.

Paul will be missed by his beloved wife Dianne of 46 years; sister Lillie Rowell; brothers Stan (Tom Tomlinson) Bertold, and Peter Bertold; brother-in-law Ron (Debbie) Sanders; sister-in-law Delores (Les) Roberton; nieces Lisa (Ken) Scott, and Andrea (Bill) Blair; nephews: Jason Rowell, Sonny Sanders (who was Uncle Paul’s biggest fan and fellow jokester), Jarrod (Miranda and son Colton) Costain, and Wyatt Costain; as well as extended family who will miss him dearly.

Paul was predeceased by his parents Stanislaw and Erna Bertold.

The family would like to thank the Home Care staff, the Adult Day Program, Mackenzie Place respite staff, the staff at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital ER and Unit 23 for their compassionate care, as well as Dr. Arfidi and Dr. Iziguso. Deepest gratitude to Dr. Prada for guiding us on this journey of the last three years, you made our lives better.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 1:00pm, at Grande Prairie Seventh Day Adventist Church (711039 RR 55).

Memorial donations may be made to Hope TV (hopetv.org), or Caregivers Alberta (caregiversalberta.ca/donate).

A Livestream of the service will be accessible 15 minutes prior to the service on Paul's obituary on Oliver’s Funeral Home website.