Regina has lost a well-known writer whose work was landing on Saskatchewan doorsteps regularly for the last two decades.

Ron Petrie was a popular columnist for the Leader-Post and worked at the newspaper for over 30 years. Co-workers have confirmed that he passed away Sunday night at the age of 52. 

He was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago and he is survived by his wife, 4 children a brother and a sister. People at the newspaper and in the media community have tweeted that they will miss him.

One of Petrie's colleagues at the newspaper, Will Chabun remembers him as a man who was passionate about family, work and his province.

"It always had a Saskatchewan focus no question about that, he really loved the province and his writing was always focused on Saskatchewan and that's what made it special," said Chabun.

He also noted that although Petrie's columns found the humour in every day life, he always took his work seriously, coming second only to his family.

"I just went into his cubicle which is next to mine and I counted no fewer than 45 pictures of his kids and his wife plus all sorts of artwork from his kids," Chabun commented on Monday.

Petrie was born in Preeceville and got his break in the newspaper business when he went to work for the Hudson Bay Post-Review before moving to Moose Jaw then Regina. Late in 2010, Petrie also published a book of his columns called Running of the Buffalo about the funny side of life and growing up in Saskatchewan. His last column was published less than two weeks ago on leaderpost.com.