Kenneth Wayne Gullen

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Kenneth Wayne Gullen announces his death, on July 18 2018, in Saskatoon, SK after a courageous battle with cancer.

Ken was born in Maple Creek, SK at 11:30 pm on Christmas Eve 1951,and in his words, “almost a saint.” He complained, to anyone who would listen, about what a rip off if was to be born this close to Christmas. “A flashlight for your birthday and batteries for Christmas, 1 sock for Christmas and the mate for your birthday.” This prompted a much loved yearly friend/family celebration on December 24th that would make the December 25th celebration pale, in comparison.

He was welcomed into their farm home in Divide, SK by Bill and Julia Gullen (nee Popick) and his older sister, Diana. He resided there until the age of seven, when the family moved to Maple Creek. Ken attended Sydney Street School and Maple Creek Composite High School.  He often laughed that an inspiring principal once told him that “it took 1000 inklings to make a clue and you don’t have an inkling”.

In spite of the principal’s assessment, Ken graduated as a Water Science Technologist from the Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences in Saskatoon in 1974 and went to work for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in Whitehorse, YT.

In 1977, he returned to school and graduated from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay ON, as a Chemical Engineer in 1981.

Kens engineering career path found him working for Atomic Energy of Canada in Mississauga ON, Fredericton NB, Deep River ON and Saskatoon SK. In 1995 he joined Cogema Resources (now Areva Resources) in Saskatoon, moved to SaskPower in Regina in 1999 and then on to join Cameco in 2007. His Cameco experiences took him to Finland, Kazakhstan, Africa and Australia and he retired from Cameco in July 2015. He often thought it would be kind of fun to find his  principal to argue that maybe he did have an inkling, given his accomplished education and career path in which he was highly respected by colleagues .

Ken claimed that the 3 most important events in his life were when he married Kathy, the love of his life (his words) in 1981 and when his sons Ryan and Tyler were born.

Kathy (his wife), Ryan and Tyler (his sons), Diana Gullen (his sister) , Kay Falls (mother in law),  Jill Frith (daughter in law),  and his many close and dear friends and extended family, are very much missing his significant presence. He will be missed and remembered for:  his signature laugh, enthusiasm for life, sense of humour, unwavering dedication and commitment to family and friends, reliability, strong work ethic, mentorship, intelligence, problem solving ability, love of adventure and travel, companionship, questionable golf skills, willingness to help and steady love and support.

You are invited to join friends and family for a celebration of Ken’s life at St Paul’s United Church 454 Egbert Avenue Saskatoon on August 18th at 3 pm.

As Ken liked and wore many hats, consider wearing your favorite hat in his honor.

He loved to tell and hear stories, so Ken stories, memories and tributes would be welcomed at the celebration’s open mike.

Donations would be gratefully accepted in Ken’s honor, by Elmwood Residences Inc, 2012 Arlington Ave, Saskatoon, SK S7J 2H5 , if you re wishing to do so.