ERWIN THEODORE SOMMERFELD

Birth place; Sec1, Twp47, Rge4, W3rd . . . what, where is that? That is the location on my father's birth certificate; he was born on his parent’s (Edward and Pauline) farm near the community of Brightholme, Saskatchewan. And grew up in a large family on the family farm outside Shellbrook, Sask.

Mom (Inez Sommerfeld nee Woolley) & Dad were married in 1958 in Shellbrook & I'm their only child.

Erwin worked for Saskatchewan Wheat Pool for over 35 years, to him the organization was more than just employment. Through Dad's work, we lived in a few communities with a majority of our time spent in Rosetown. Dad finished off with SWP in Regina in their head office. Then moved on to his version of retirement, becoming the Grand Secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan. He was a lifetime Masonic member.

As a youth, he played & loved many sports. Because of chronic hip issues as a young adult, he wasn't able to continue playing sports, but that only drove him to help organize, coach, manage & support youth & adult sports.

One of his favourite stories was how he coached a couple young guys who ended up in the NHL. But whenever I heard this story, I would have to add, but you coached them in baseball. There is an adage it takes a community to raise a child . . ., he was unknowingly a part of that. Because, if it meant picking up a child whose parents weren't able to get their child to a game or practice, he was there.

Through work, sports & the lodge, Dad met and worked with many really great people and made life long friendships. And a lot of them have commented on his keen ability to remember facts, dates & figures.

One of my parent’s most enjoyable activities was traveling throughout North America with great friends. At one time, they were trying to go to every NHL stadium, but as the league kept expanding, they gave up on that idea.

Please indulge me at this time to share a story. The German National hockey team was touring Western Canada, Dad was one the people responsible for a game. He was talking to one of the German Officials and Dad was having trouble understanding his English. As a child Dad spoke German, so he said to the Official maybe it would be easier for them to talk in German. So, the German Representative started talking in Low German, Dad told him he was still having trouble understanding him. At that point, the frustrated German Official turned to another German and said in High German, 'I don't know about this guy, I don't think he is very bright' and that was the only thing he said that Dad understood.

Being born during the Great Depression & just before WWII in rural Saskatchewan, I think shaped his social consciousness. Through out his life, he was involved with countless volunteer groups & organizations. And every couple years, he was involved with provincial & federal political campaigns, much to my mother's chagrin.

In the early 90s Dad & Mom moved, following Sandy (my wife) and myself to Kelowna BC, where he continued volunteering, mostly assisting seniors.

In their later years, dementia affected both him & my mother. It was great that they were able to spend his last years together in a great care home in West Kelowna, Mom will miss her roommate.

I would like to share this adaptation of Nelson Mandela's words. I received this from one of my cousins and thought it was sweet and appropriate about Dad.

'I do believe if a man has achieved what he considers his duty to this world, he can rest in peace.' 'I think Uncle Erwin achieved that and has earned his eternal rest.'

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Alzheimer Society of Canada www.alzheimer.ca

Private family inurnment will take place at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kelowna. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com

Arrangements entrusted with First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC 250-762-2299