DAEGER: Joseph Anthony
January 29, 1917 - September 9, 2013
The death of Mr. Joseph "Joe" Anthony Daeger of St. Mary's Villa, Humboldt, SK, (and formerly of Muenster, SK), occurred at his residence on Monday, September 9, 2013. He was 96 years of age, and the last surviving member of his family in Canada. Joe was born on January 29, 1917, to Caspar and Barbara (nee Mueller) Daeger at home on their farm near Muenster. He was raised there and attended Ives Rural School. After graduating from Grade 8 in June 1930, Joe took grades 9 and 10 at St. Peter's College. Due to the Depression, he discontinued his education and worked on his father's farm. In 1941, Joe spent the winter months with some friends at Prince Rupert, BC, working in the construction industry and in the shipyards. When farms were electrified in 1950, there was a demand for electricians, so Joe worked with different contractors when his farm work was slack. Central vacuum cleaning systems were introduced in the area and, in the following years, Joe sold and installed close to 200 units in the area from St. Brieux, Watson, Lanigan, Humboldt, and in between. In the early 1970s, he spent a year getting his Grade 12 standing so he could qualify for university courses. During the following years, Joe took geology, world religions, sociology, history, biophysics, and psychology. It was when he was working for Bunz Electric that he became involved in downhill skiing. Most of the Bunz employees were "downhillers", so there were many happy times on the slopes, from Jasper in the north, through the Rockies, Banff, Lake Louise, Sunshine, Mt. Alan, Kimberley, Kelowna, down to Montana, plus most of the local runs. All Joe's relatives were in the United States, and he traveled throughout that country visiting and sightseeing. He also flew over the Atlantic four times. His most memorable trip was to Rome and the Holy Land. A highlight of that trip was when he was asked to be lector at a Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Since his childhood and throughout his life, Joe's faith was very important to him. He was very involved in the church and served as secretary-treasurer of the local Young Men's Society. For many years, Joe served on the local church board, was a lector innumerable times, and joined the parish choir when it was resurrected in the mid-1970s. He was also a member of the 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Always a community-minded person also, Joe was involved in the Co-op movement when it got underway locally in 1939, and of the Muenster Elks. In his senior years, he belonged to a card group and bowled with the Humboldt seniors in the winter months. On September 9, 2009, Joe became a resident of St. Mary's Villa, his home until the present. He was the last surviving member of his family in Canada. Joe is survived by numerous cousins in the United States. He was predeceased by his father, Caspar Daeger (1949); mother, Barbara (nee Mueller) Daeger (1972); and by his sister, Anne Daeger (2011). The Prayer Service for Joe was held at St. Peter's R.C. Cathedral, Muenster, on Thursday, September 12, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., led by Lillian Hinz, and organist Sheryl Korte. The scripture reader was Hugo Korte, and the eulogy was delivered by Dennis Korte. The Funeral Mass was offered at St. Peter's R.C. Cathedral on Friday, September 13, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., celebrated by Fr. Daniel Muyres, OSB. Others taking part were: Don Korte, crossbearer; George Bernhard and Jim Wassermann, Mass servers; Hugo Korte and Rosemarie Strueby, scripture readers; Dennis Korte, intentions; Marilyn Korte and Joan Schreiner, giftbearers; Alma Muench, eucharistic minister; Vyenda Korte and Agnes Korte, memorial table attendants. Music ministry was provided by organist Kristy Waldner, music director Gail Rueve, and the St. Peter's Cathedral Choir. An honor guard was formed by members of the 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Honorary pallbearers were "all those who shared in Joe's life". Active pallbearers were Rene Grace, Desi Grace, Joe Menz, Karl Breker, Glenn Korte, and Ron Schreiner. Interment followed at St. Peter's R.C. Cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed to either the St. Peter's R.C. Cemetery Fund, the Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus Charitable Foundation, or the St. Mary's Villa Foundation. Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
