The family of Paul Jones is devastated to announce that on August 15th 2026, he left this life after a massive cardiac event and is now in the arms of Jesus.
Ivan Paul Jones was born February 23rd 1968, to Mary-Lou and Ivan Jones. A short while later they welcomed Leigh Anne and the family of four began some of the very best adventures. The original Joneses lived across several cities: Winnipeg, Rocanville, St. Lazarre and Kenora, moving where the good jobs called to Ivan and Mary-Lou. During the school year, it was all business and sports; hockey, ice skating (did you know Paul was a figure skater??), and eventually officiating hockey while the summers were spent camping, RVing and exploring, very often with extended family and friends along for the ride. Paul would often tell stories: a bear scaring Mom, Dad and the unfortunate lesson about acceptable fluids in the radiator, scuba at East Blue, fishing all over Canada and, of course, his very first time at the Keg in Brandon; he was always a sucker for a salad bar.
After high school, Rocanville, Class of 1986! Paul took a leap of faith and headed to Ontario to attend Mohawk College to study computer science. While in school, he landed a job at APPLE and his love for all things MAC was born. After a while in Hamilton, where he met Scott McDonald and became easy friends, Paul was eventually introduced to Lowell (Scott’s brother) who became one of his closest and best friends. Lowell made the trip to Winnipeg one holiday to meet Paul’s family, and it wasn’t long before Leigh Anne and Lowell were saying “I do”. Paul would joke that it was really convenient that his two bestest friends had fallen in love and then raised 4 other friends in his nephews; Adrian, Lowell, Connor and Addison.
In 1998, Pauliochi, Lowell and Leigh Anne bought a house together on Morton Bay and many memories were made. By 2001 it was time to part ways as opportunity awaited in Victoria, BC for Lowell, Leigh Anne and the kids, and Paul stayed back here in Winnipeg to be close to his family commitments, buying the house on Kettering soon after. To Leigh Anne and Lowell: We know Paul would never have chosen to leave you this way, and especially not to have left you with the responsibilities headed your way. To his nephews, he was proud beyond measure and sad that he couldn’t spend more time.
Paul’s career has always been computers; he worked at Tronica and Voyus in the early days and the memories of Marathon and Bolo continue to live on. He would speak so highly of his colleagues and still managed to stay in touch. Eventually he moved on and began Informax, then transitioned his business to Iconium, named after a town in the Bible. For many years now, Iconium has grown and Paul formed lifelong friendships with clients. He would never have left you all without saying goodbye and was always so proud of your wins in business and in life. Many an evening was spent working on solutions for you and he worked hard to make sure you knew how grateful he was to know you. Please know that his family has plans to keep you supported, though it’s unlikely anyone will arrive in shorts, a t-shirt or Crocs when it’s -57 in a Winnipeg winter.
More recently he had started delivering protein bars for Cranked (run by a local Winnipeg women) to move his body and get away from screens. He LOVED chatting with the shippers/receivers at each stop and was surprised how many ways he already knew customers. Manitoba sure is small sometimes!
Some know, many don’t, that Paul had found God in the early 90’s and was a Bible-thumping Anglican. Many relationships have been born via the churches he attended. In 2025, he made an effort to attend a different church each weekend looking to find a new place to call home and also visit the aging buildings as they started to deteriorate. There is comfort in knowing that the day he left earthside, he is now a member of heaven and can attend any service any time he likes. There is no doubt he is a greeter and is helping all the “oldies” into the pews. He fostered his kids’ relationships with God and Church, and that has been a wonderful blessing, especially these last few weeks.
Paul loved hockey and football and from childhood, LOVED to officiate. His first love was hockey, the early mornings, late nights, the banter and camaraderie, teaching those younger than him and learning from those above him. He loved to be in stripes and was sad to hang up the cleats and skates in 2010 when his knee had taken all the wear and tear it could handle. He was always pleased to run into someone he had known when they were a Timbit who was about to sign with the CHL or CFL. We hope people will remember Jonesey-Forever #14 with fond memories.
Before there was Erin and Paul, there was Paul, Brendon’s Dad. So many memories made in the younger years, several around fire, gas, knives and adventures and even more as Brendon became a young adult and then an old married man. If you asked Paul, he would unapologetically tell you what an amazing human Brendon was, how he was everything Paul could have possibly imagined for his son and that his skills, humour, and love for Kate was beyond measure. Brendon started his career building bridges while living away from Manitoba and Paul was ecstatic when Brendon opted for projects closer to home so that he could stop by and take a little look. Dad loved midday texts or Snapchats with Brendon hanging off bridges or the hunting pictures and most recently the wedding pictures when Kate and Brendon said the official I do. While there is no comfort right now, we know that Paul was so proud of the man you became, Brendon. Your Red Seal in carpentry might as well have been his own because he told EVERYBODY. He would take comfort knowing you are here to look over Brayden and Dyllen. Dad was so proud of Kate for her accomplishments and most especially for tolerating your Jones-ness.
In 2003, Paul and Erin met through a friend, Lorrel-Lee. The story is near unbelievable, but Lorrel-Lee believed they were meant to meet and took great lengths to put them in touch. It took roughly 2 conversations for both Erin and Paul to know it was meant to be. At the 6-week mark, after a meeting at Ev’s store, Paul announced we would be getting married. The rest is really history, filled with ups and downs. He picked my engagement ring a short time later, made me pay for it and put it on my finger after he also made me pay for date night. The man could not keep track of any of his stuff — wallet, cell phone or glasses, and it became a running joke over the last many years. In 2005 we said “I do” in a hockey rink, wearing flip flops. We accidentally made the front page of the Free Press and then the story was picked up by news outlets everywhere. While there have been so many ups and downs, we have survived 100% of the bad days. Challenges and bad luck had a knack for finding us, but we somehow overcame it all. It’s hard to believe you aren’t here to keep on keeping on.
With Erin came Brayden who was terrified of Paul’s sneezes (and the occasional loud fart!). Brayden was never a step-son, just a son, welcomed with open arms and no hesitation. In 2017 an adoption made it official, though spending any time with Paul and Brayden would easily indicate they were two peas in a crayon box (an inside joke that still brings laughter today!). There were many struggles for Brayden early on and Paul never hesitated to attend the appointments and advocate fiercely for him. As Bray grew, Paul was able to help him work through school assignments and help him “chase ghosts” in wiring. Paul never doubted Brayden’s ability to graduate college and shed several tears when Bray finally achieved his Red Seal. Most recently, Dad was excited to tell people about your adventures in Churchill and Whale Cove and was ecstatic when you sent pictures and shared stories. He was so proud of you, Brayden, and was especially glad to have you around for when the cars broke down… weekly. He loved watching your relationships grow and was sad when you moved out and he didn’t get the Friday evening data dump about your week. I know he will be with you everywhere you go, along for the adventure and to tell you that if you did it his way, it would have worked. Dad was proud when Kallie graduated and began work at HSC, a job he could never do. He loved to see Kal put Bray in his place and was always especially amused when she would toss out a zinger. Kallie, thank you for standing by during this trying time.
In 2007, along came Dyllen, a couple weeks late, feet first. Absolutely Paul’s mini-me. Walking and talking before a year and a quick wit that Paul was never able to keep up with. Dyllen is a quick study and learned very quickly how to do all the stuff Dad could do. They have always spoken tech with each other, and then all things Church, and most recently all things movies, post-production, travel, geography and history. So much of Paul’s family history will live on with Dyllen because they shared the same interests and passion to be right. Paul was so proud of Dyllen’s accomplishments and his amazing ability to form relationships and take initiative, landing himself opportunities after making cold calls. He loved the quick humor and directional awareness and was in some ways jealous of Dyllen’s nearly perfect memory. Dyllen, I know Dad is watching from above and continuing to cheer you on. He will be watching your movies in the best theatre of all time, and actually eating popcorn, since his tooth will be perfect in heaven. I know he is so proud of your relationship with God and your commitment to the church.
In the last several years, dogs would simply arrive at the house, and while Paul “doesn’t even like dogs”, there is comfort in knowing that he has now been reunited with those who have passed before him and will be waiting at the gate for those who will arrive. He was Erin’s trusty sidekick when it came to fostering and volunteering with Manitoba Underdogs.
It is nearly impossible to sum up Paul’s 58 years in an obituary because he lived so very much life and loved so many people near and far. The Village will never be the same without him. With confidence, he is watching from above and amazed at how quickly everyone has rallied around the family he left behind.
He was predeceased by so many loved ones, far too many to name, and most recently his Dad, Ivan, who no doubt asked him “what the fuck are you doing here”? when they met for a martini (dirty, extra olives) up above.
Paul is survived by his Wife, Erin, the boys-Brendon (wife Kate) and pooch Poppy, Brayden (girlfriend Kallie) Dyllen and two dogs, Morris and Ruby Tuesday, his Mom, Mary-Lou, his sister and first best friend, Leigh Anne, brother-in-law and second best friend, Lowell along with nephews Adrian (Clare), Lowell Jr (Nicole), Connor (Rebecca) and Addison, and of course his great-nephew and great-nieces, Lilly Anne, Ivan and Sloane and new baby, Miller. In-laws, Dave and Colleen, Leanne, Mickey and Sam, and Elizabeth. Clients, customers, friends and neighbors, much too many to name.
Erin and the kids wish to thank each and every person who has stepped in, supported and helped. The first few days would have been even harder without you. Special mention to a few who stepped up in some of the most significant ways around keeping us safe in the first 5 hours and getting Paul home to us safely and stepping in to think and reason when we could not. Bryan, Ollie, Hunter, Ron and Jo and family, Leanne, Sarah S, Cheryl Z, Lindsay C and Deborah H, Sherri S, Rob and Sherry, Sheri, Troy and Tristan. As well as Rick, Mallory, Jacqueline and Todd at Interlake for taking such good care of Paul and then all of us.
We would be lost without everyone and will never be able to repay the kindness we have been surrounded by.
We will celebrate Paully-Pockets life on Sunday October 4th at 2pm at the Victoria Inn here in Winnipeg. We are hopeful you will come in your shorts, t-shirt and crocs.
The family would love for you to send any pictures or stories of Paul to an email we have set up to gather into a memory book. paulspics1968@gmail.com
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Paul’s memorial page using the comment field below.
