Marvin Herman Sommerfeldt passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 9, 2013 at the Lakeside Manor Care Home in Saltcoats. He was 97 years of age. Marvin, the eldest of four children of William and Saraphine (nee Krentz) Sommerfeldt was born in the Barvis District of Saskatchewan. He grew up on the family farm as the family moved through the districts of Eden, Armstrong, Rosemount, and Meadowvale before settling near Rokeby in 1931. Jobs were not plentiful in the 1930's so he remained on the family farm and helped his parents and neighbours with running their farms. Later on, Marvin was employed by the Neal brothers for 17 years before he set out to farm on his own in the Meadowvale District. In 1949, Marvin was united in Holy Matrimony to Sophie Belloy and their marriage was blessed with four children. In 1954 they move to Clonmel, and with the closure of the Meadowvale School Marvin decided to buy a small van to transport the district's children to the Saltcoats School. This was the beginning of a secondary career as a school bus driver which lasted 30 years, which covered transporting children from two generations. For a period of time Marvin also served as the President of the Meadowvale Telephone Company before it was taken over by SaskTel. In 1966, Sophie passed away and this left Marvin to care for and to finish raising the children until they completed their schooling and moved off the farm to begin their own lives. In 1973, Marvin was united in Holy Matrimony to Edna Vowke and they continued to farm until 1995 when he decided to retire. Over his lifetime Marvin enjoyed many activities such as curling, playing the fiddle, sing-a-longs, dancing, and later on in his years he mostly enjoyed spending time with his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Marvin leaves to celebrate his life his wife, Edna; his sister, Shirley (Bill) Ewtushik of Calgary; his children, Dale (Diane) of Saskatoon, Don of Edmonton, Debbie (Kevin) Young of Yorkton, Sharon Nabozniak of Saltcoats, and Joelann (Grant) Pister of Rhein; twenty-one grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. Marvin's family would like to sincerely thank the staff of the Lakeside Manor Care Home in Saltcoats for their loving special care they provided to Marvin while he was a resident there. A memorial service in celebration of Marvin's life was held on Saturday November 16, 2013 from the Saltcoats District Community Hall with Reverend Walter Farquharson officiating. The music and vocal ensemble, "Memory Lane" - Lorne Neal, Bev McLaren and Gary Laycock led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "How Great Thou Art", "For the Fruit of All Creation", and "Amazing Grace". Marvin's great-grandson, Morgan Nabozniak served as the urnbearer with the interment of cremated remains following in the Saltcoats Town Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Marvin Sommerfeldt may be made to the Saltcoats Cemetery Fund. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Kopan's Funeral Service, Highway #9 North, Yorkton. 306-783-0099 www.kopans.ca
