Trevor John Regier was born to John and Tiena Regier on March 17, 1960 at the Herbert Hospital. Even in his childhood years, Trevor had a quiet nature. He enjoyed biking, ski-doing and spent many hours building “forts” in the haystacks and “snow forts” in the snow banks. Trevor and his family spent many happy hours with the Neufeld family, (Uncle Walter & Aunt Elvira & kids), often spending weekends in Cypress Hills, camping and also weekends in Saskatoon, water sliding. At the age of six, he invited Jesus to live in his heart. He attended Sunday school and church regularly. Trev had many enjoyable weeks at West Bank Bible Camp in the summer. He attended “Boys Brigade Club” for many of his younger years, and enjoyed all of their activities. Trevor also enjoyed and loved youth group activities with the church. He had many dear friends throughout his adolescent years. Trev loved playing games, and Sunday afternoons at Grandma & Grandpa Regier’s house was always a good time for that with his cousins. Sometimes, he and his cousin would disappear to the basement and we would find them there, reading the encyclopedia! He was a real competitor in the game of “Risk”. Sometimes it took hours and sometimes a day, to finish a game and he usually won! He attended public school in Herbert as well as High School, where he was very active in basketball, volleyball, curling, track and field, and softball, coached by his dad. Trev graduated from Herbert High School in 1978. He entered and graduated from a three year course at Bethany Bible School in Hepburn, Sk in 1981. He spent the next four years at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, where he received his degree in Commerce and Business Administration. In between school years, he worked at the Trans Canada Pipelines at Herbert, and also at the Research Station in Brooks, Alberta. Trev began working at the Herbert Nursing Home in November of 1986 as the facility’s accountant. He often remarked that he had found his dream job... He clearly enjoyed his time and the friends he made there. Whenever anyone had a question about just about anything financially or otherwise, you would often hear “Just ask Trev, he’ll know....”. He remained employed there, until the integration of the facility with the hospital in 2006, when his services were “no longer required”... though we all knew, that they still were! When the position of Town Administrator became open, he was encouraged to apply for the position. He was accepted and he began employment there in July of 2006 where he was employed until the time of his passing. He also did accounting for the Group Home as well as for the MB Church. Trev and Brenda met and became friends while both employed at the Herbert Nursing Home. It was after he completed his work there, that they started “hanging around”, walking the dog, watching TV or movies, and playing cards with friends. It was July 1, of 2006, when they had their first “official” date and it was July 1, 2007, when they decided to make permanent living arrangements. Because Trev wasn’t noted for having a good memory for dates, it seemed fitting that everything would be on the 1st of July, and that was also the date, they had chosen to be quietly married on the family farm... but sadly, that was not to be. Trev and Brenda also enjoyed vacationing... They packed into a van, the Marnie Mobile, as it became known, with their friends Marcel & Connie, and Alden & Lisa for a weeks’ vacation to Las Vegas in February of 2007. It was a blast and so they planned to go again in September of 2008, meeting up with Lyle and Kelly, and mom and dad, to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Trev and Brenda drove down, and toured along the way taking in over 12 States, coming home through Denver and watching the Denver Broncos football and also through Minnesota, taking in a Twins baseball game. They also went through Mount Rushmore, and several other attractions along the way. Trev was very active in sports... he especially loved curling, and curled in the Super League in Swift Current, as well as the League in Herbert. Trev and his # 1 fan, Brenda attended many bonspiels throughout the winter months. Trev also loved golfing and had made plans to do a lot of that with his friend, Desi this summer. He and Brenda also enjoyed playing cards with their friends on a regular basis as well, meeting almost weekly for a night of fun and laughter.... Trev started feeling unwell, on Saturday, April 18... mostly feeling a lack of energy, and what we thought would be a simple cold. On Sunday, when Brenda came home from work , she came home to a very ill and weak man, very jaundiced with an aggressive cough. Brenda took Trev into the Herbert Hospital, and he was transferred to Swift Current on Monday morning, and from there, flown by air ambulance to Regina General Hospital. He was given immediate blood transfusions. We lost count of the number of units he received. He was diagnosed with Hemolytic Anemia, where the body’s red blood cells destroy each other. He had an extremely rare form of this disorder, and doctors were puzzled as to what caused this, or how to treat it. Even though he was given countless transfusions, the blood cells were still being destroyed. On Thursday, April 23, his doctor spoke with Kama and Brenda and suggested he be placed on life support to make him comfortable enough to receive his first of many daily dialysis, and plasma exchange procedures. He was not totally reliant on the respirator, and was able to assist. Up until this point, he had not felt pain, but that had changed. On April 25, Trev’s heart was under major stress because of all that was happening with his other organs. We all thought, and in fact were told, that this could be his last day. Family was called in to say good bye. He did however rally, even though his organs began getting even weaker. Trev was holding his own, remained responsive and very jaundiced... On Saturday, May 2, his condition became even more unstable, and doctors found that there was massive internal bleeding, which required immediate, though life threatening surgery. There would be no options, and he went in for surgery shortly after 1 am, and returned at 2:30 am. The surgeons found that his spleen had ruptured, had it removed, but there was still a risk of bleeding. Again we were told to say our good byes, and yet again, Trev rallied and made another hurdle. His strength amazed us. He began continual dialysis in place of the daily 3 hour procedure he had been receiving. The following days, his body temperature dropped and we saw his condition deteriorating even further. He acknowledged us with a squeeze or a nod. On the evening and night of May 5 , it was evident that Trev had changed, and his eyes were distant and vacant... The morning of May 6, the doctor and social worker approached Brenda and Tiena and to say that all measures had been exhausted and in their opinion, it was time to let Trev go. We agreed and joined the family in saying our goodbyes. We gathered around his bed, the respirator was removed, and within minutes, Trev quietly, and peacefully passed away. He left us as calmly as he lived. Trev leaves behind many who loved and cherished him... His fiancé, Brenda of Herbert and her daughter, Sheradyn & Bob of Swift Current, and his much loved daughter, Kama & Justin and their daughter, his grand daughter, McKenzie of Swift Current. He also loved and leaves behind, his parents, John & Tiena Regier and brother, Rob of Swift Current, and his sister, Kelly & Lyle, Emily and Graham of Herbert, as well as many dearly loved aunts, uncles and special cousins. Trev also leaves a very unique and blended family, a daughter, Kristina of Saskatoon, and sons, Tyler & Melissa and their daughter, his grand daughter, Madeline of Rosthern, Justin & Brittany of Herbert, and Forrest of Prince Rupert, BC. He also leaves behind, much love and respect from his future parents-in-law, Alvin & Alma Schapansky, brothers-in-law, Ken & Glenda and their family, and Ryan and his family, and many who called him “friend”. Trev was predeceased by his grandparents, John & Suzie Regier and John & Agnes Funk and several dear aunts and cousins.
The Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 2:00 pm from the Herbert High School, Herbert, SK with Pastor Donovan Epp and Pastor Bob Cappelle officiating. Ministry in Song was brought by Ken & Kathy Siemens and by Mark Penner. The life history of Trevor Regier was read by George Janzen. Murray Epp shared a personal tribute and Randy Ens presented a PowerPoint tribute on behalf of the family. The ushers were Jim Sawatzky, Randall Fast, Ron Mathies, Harry Friesen, Al Jahnke and Ron Schultz. The Private Family Interment Service preceded the Funeral Service and was held at the Herbert Cemetery, Herbert, SK with Trev’s curling team players serving as pallbearers, David Gin, Alden Seib, Darcey Huyghebaert, Kevin Braun, Brian Schulz and Chris Montgomery. In memory of Trevor Regier, donations made to the Canadian Blood Services or to the Westbank Bible Camp would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We as a family, are so grateful for the wonderful care Trev received on his journey to Heaven. It began with our local hospital, on to Swift Current, and then Regina General Hospital. The specialists in Regina left no stone unturned, and fought to treat and solve this mystery illness that claimed our dear Trev. We hope in time to receive answers, but realize that may never happen. Trev was a very patient man, and this whole experience has taught us a lesson in patience as well. A phrase he would often use was, “Baby steps, just take baby steps” and we rejoice in knowing that those baby steps led him on to Heaven.... |
