Roger Warren Kaeding was born at Churchbridge - Sept. 16, 1928 and passed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior on Friday July 6, 2012. Roger was the oldest son of Ewald and Alvina Kaeding. He was baptized and later confirmed in the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in the town of Churchbridge. He attended school in Churchbridge and then enrolled in the College of Agriculture in Saskatoon receiving his diploma in Agriculture graduating in 1947. After graduating from college he returned to the family farm working in partnership with his father. In 1961 on July 15 he married Phyllis Maben of Saltcoats. Together they took over the family farm. He expanded the operation to include a herd of purebred Polled Hereford cattle which he maintained until the early 80's. During that time he became active in the provincial Hereford association attending and showing at many shows and sales. After the herd was dispersed he joined in partnership with his son Warren, to begin another agriculture career, growing and processing pedigreed seed. Roger was actively involved in the farm up to the time of his passing. After being in upper management on the farm he saw no reason to retire. Instead he branched out into silviculture planting acres of hard and soft wood trees, watering and weeding them by hand until they could survive on their own. His community and his province were also very important to him. He accepted many leadership challenges over the years. He was a founding member of both the Churchbridge Kinsmen and Lion's club. He was a founding member and president of the Potashville Production Club and a founding member of the Sask Soil Conservation Assoc. He served 10 years with Sask Ag Society including 2 years as president and served over 30 years in the local Agriculture Society. He was director of the Sask Canola Growers Assoc for 6 years and served for 6 years as director on the Sask Canola Development Commission. During those years he and Phyllis made several trips across North America helping to spread the word about the value of canola oil at the annual meetings. Roger played a strong role in politics as a Conservative Association member and president, followed by active participation in the provincial Saskatchewan Party where he was a director to the end. Trinity Lutheran Church played an important part in Roger's life. Throughout the years he served on many boards and held many positions in the church council as well as singing with the Senior choir. In earlier years, Roger also played the accordion for family gatherings. Other local boards he served on included the Chamber of Commerce, Sask Wheat Pool, Co-op board, Curling Club, Churchbridge Culture Center, Churchbridge Economic Development Committee and the local arena board. In his spare time Roger was an avid ball player and fan. He spent many Sundays playing in ball tournaments. He then umpired for many years at Churchbridge and area tournaments. In his later years he was a loyal Blue Jays fan attending and watching games up to his final hours. In the winter he was often found at any local curling rink attending bonspiels with his friends. As grandchildren came along he became their biggest cheer leader following the grandkids around to hockey rinks across the province and ball fields around the prairies. You would find him at his granddaughters music and school events, graduations and every special performance. Roger was predeceased by his parents, Ewald and Alvina, and his older sister, Delores and brothers-in-law, Glen Pederson and Paul Scholz as well as his father and mother-in-law, Walter and Olive Maben and his brother-in-law, Gordon Maben. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Phyllis; son, Warren (Carla) of Churchbridge, SK with grandsons, Michael (Laine Goertz) of Regina, SK and Matthew of Ottawa, ON; son, Bradley (Janna van Kessel) of Yellowknife, NWT; daughter Leslie (Dale) Hicks with granddaughters, Katelyn and Sarah of Outlook, SK; sister, Janet Scholz and nephew, Murray of Churchbridge, SK and nephews, Al of Saskatoon, SK, Jamie (Janet) of Westbank, BC, nieces, Susan (Al) Johnston of Balcarres, SK, Sally (Roger) Bowman of Raleigh, NC; brother, Lloyd (Rita) of Pembroke, ON with nieces, Karen (Mike) Grace of Arnprior, ON and Jodie (Paul) Chislett of Ottawa, ON; nieces Mardell (Bruce) Burnett of Lethbridge, AB, Cheryl (Terry) Wentland of Stoney Plain, AB, Nadine (Ted) Chabun of Stoney Plain, AB; brother and sister-in-law, George (Doris) Maben of Yorkton. SK. A Service of Comfort was held on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. from Trinity Lutheran Church in Churchbridge, SK with Pastor Jeff Dull officiating and organist, Grace Dressler leading in music. A Memorial Service was held on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. from Trinity Lutheran Church in Churchbridge, SK with Pastor Jeff Dull officiating. The organist, Grace Dressler led the congregation in the singing of the hymns "O Perfect Love", "The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want", "Jerusalem, My Happy Home", "Home" and "The Day Thou Gavest". Karen Grace and Jamie Scholz shared special readings and Dale Hicks gave tribute to Roger in eulogy. The Cremation Committal took place at the Churchbridge Town Cemetery with Roger's son, Warren Kaeding serving as Urnbearer and Michael Kaeding, Matthew Kaeding, Katelyn Hicks, Sarah Hicks, Clayton Henderson, Sheldon Sauser, Craig Stevenson, Randy Kaeding and Harold Kaeding serving as Honourary Pallbearers. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
