Arni Nathanial Skoretz

Arni Nathanial Skoretz, 71, of Red Deer passed away suddenly yet peacefully, on April 11, 2022 at his home.

Born in Wadena, SK, Arni was the third child to John and Katie Skoretz. Arni was fiercely passionate about child welfare and dedicated his life to both his pursuit of social work and his family.

After he graduated, Arni landed his first job as a child caregiver, this kickstarted a career in social work which he pursued passionately.  He received his masters degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1984 and dedicated his life to the welfare of children. Arni was resilient in the face of adversity, refusing to give up on himself or anyone else.  He was a man who dedicated his entire life to making the world a better place.  Arni is remembered throughout the nation for his leadership and development of numerous community developments and chaired multiple boards.

In 1969, Arni met the love of his life, Elvine and they were married for fifty-one years. They went on to have three children who he would do anything for.  Arni always put family first and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. 

Arni was larger than life, had an infectious laugh, and his sense of humor was second to none. He was as compassionate as he was funny, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was immaculate in his home, his vehicles and his dress, and he will be remembered for his obsession with ties, his immense pride in his yard - specifically his lawn, his love for golden retrievers, and his Harley Davidson truck. 

Always looking for the lightness in the moment, his was a life filled with laughter. Even when he was ill, Arni pushed forward and found the silver lining in any situation. He would rise to meet any challenge with a smile and we are proud to have called him husband, father and grandpa.

Arni was predeceased by his sister Beverly, his father John and his mother Katie. He leaves behind his wife, Elvine; his children Justin (Kristina), Kimberly, and Rachelle (Royston); and five grandchildren: Nathanial "Nate", Sara, Sid, Gabriel, and Isabel…and eight grandchildren, if you count the newest grandchildren - the golden retriever puppies, Jasper, Poppy and Otis.

A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the College Heights SDA church, with a reception following at the Lacombe Memorial Center.  The celebration of life service will be livestream broadcast at service time.  The video link is located below.

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