W. Vern Buck
1938 - 2023

Vern passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Estevan, SK at the age of 84 years. Vern was born in Regina, SK, on August 14, 1938 to Emma Mielke who later married Frank Buck. He lived a short time south of Bromhead and then moved to a farm north of Torquay.  Siblings Jean, Frank Jr. and Walter completed the Buck family.

Vern married his neighbour and high school sweetheart, Marlis Shelstad in 1961. To this union, came one daughter, Laurel.

After graduation, Vern worked at the CIBC in Estevan, Roleau and was working in Kindersley when he and Marlis married. Vern then took a job at the Credit Union in Bienfait and both he and Marlis worked and lived above the Credit Union. Marlis then moved to the Estevan branch and Vern followed shortly after. After 10 years in the system, he became the CEO and remained in that position for 32 years until his retirement in 2004. Vern loved his job. Throughout his 42-year career with the CU, he sat on several boards both provincially and nationally and was asked to guest speak at international conferences. He was well-respected in the Credit Union system and was considered a forward thinker, keeping up with technology and new innovations while remaining community-minded.

In 2006, Vern and Laurel bought A & A Jewellery.  Vern came into the store Monday to Friday and was still doing the books right up until his last day. He enjoyed visiting with the staff and customers.

Vern and Marlis loved to travel both for business and pleasure. After Marlis passed away in 2001, Vern and Laurel travelled to many destinations, including Norway, Germany, Italy, often with his in-laws Wayne and Audrey Shelstad. Las Vegas was a regular destination for jewellery shows.

Trinity Lutheran Church was a large part of Vern’s life. He attended church regularly and served on committees there for most of his life. He enjoyed both the spiritual and social life at Trinity. He remained active in the community, having co-chaired the Saskatchewan Summer Games in 1980 and was on the New Estevan Nursing Home committee.

One of Vern’s gratifying moments was finding out who his birth father was in his 70s and then meeting his two brothers, Ron and Richard Olson and sister, Helen Nicholson, with whom he shared a special relationship. 

Vern enjoyed woodworking and woodturning, hunting, playing games and cards, visiting with friends and family and had a wonderful sense of humour. He spent many evenings out for coffee with his companion Judy Pierce until her passing. In his later life he spent much time researching ancestry and had built a large family tree.

He will be deeply missed by Laurel and all who loved him.

Vern was predeceased by his wife Marlis (nee Shelstad) Buck; parents, Frank Sr. and Emma Buck; parents-in-law, Art and Ann Shelstad; siblings, Frank Jr. Buck and Walter Buck; sisters-in-law, Lois Buck, Marge Shelstad and Barbra Olson and brother-in-law Ivor Nicholson.

Vern is lovingly remembered by his daughter Laurel Buck; sisters, Jean (Jim) Olson and Helen Nicholson; brothers, Ron (Pat) Olson and Richard Olson; brothers-in-law, Vernon Shelstad and Wayne (Audrey) Shelstad; sister-in-law Gayle (Garry) Baraniuk as well as numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.  

The Funeral Service for Vern was held on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Estevan, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Sharon Kane officiating. The interment followed at the Estevan City Cemetery, after which a luncheon was held in the church social hall.

A video recording of the Funeral Service for Vern will be available for 90 days, using this link: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=4e20f0b7-bef3-4766-8aa1-5b9b5262def6.

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 738 2nd St, Estevan, SK S4A 2B3 or to a charity of choice in memory of Vern.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to Vern’s family – Yvonne Clark, Funeral Director.