SEEFELDT – With cherished memories to comfort them and grateful hearts for a life well-lived, the family of Fred Seefeldt of Brooks announce his passing on May 14th, 2024 at the age of 104. Dad was born May 5, 1920 on his family’s farm near Pollockville. He was the second of five children born to Charles and Nancy Seefeldt, original homesteaders in the Pollockville area. Dad received his early schooling in one-room schoolhouses in the area, including Parks Prairie and Pandora schools, and finished his schooling in the two-room Pollockville school where he completed grade 10. As a young man, he worked for ranchers in the Pollockville and Rowley areas and, later, in the coal mines in East Coulee. In 1941, Dad joined the RCAF and served in England and then Burma. In reflection, he joked that he might have spent more time on trains and boats getting from Alberta to Burma and back again than he actually did in service. After the war, Dad did carpentry work in Calgary and enjoyed city life for a while. When his father was injured, he returned to the farm to help the family and later decided to stay. In 1951, Dad purchased a homestead near Pollockville – two miles north of the homestead where he had grown up. He married Elsie McLean of Sunnynook in 1955 and they raised a family of five children on the farm. In addition to farming, he drove school bus and worked for local oil companies over the years. The farm on a bend of the Berry Creek was Dad’s home for 40 years. After he retired, he always enjoyed hearing about the height of the creek in the Spring. Dad and Mom retired to Duchess when he was 71, where they spent 19 years. In Duchess, they spent countless hours volunteering at the Duchess Mennonite Church, the community hall, and the 50+ Club. They also enjoyed travelling during this time. Dad and Mom moved to the Newbrook Lodge in Brooks in 2010, where Dad lived until his passing, with the exception of most of the past four months when he was admitted to the Brooks Health Centre. Dad enjoyed games and sports, in particular golfing and curling, which he did regularly until well into his nineties. He loved watching Blue Jays baseball and business television, occasionally playing the stock market for a bit of fun. Always a fierce crib player, he also enjoyed playing pool and floor curling during his years at the Lodge. Dad was a hardworking and honourable man with a deep love for his family and his community. Always delighted to be the oldest golfer, curler, or resident around, he was able to enjoy his 104th birthday with his family the week before his passing while in Ward B of the Health Centre. Dad is survived by his sister Gwen Cundy, his daughters Nancy Seefeldt, Norma (Danny) Mickler, Sandra (Todd) Bailey, Sharon (Tom) Thompson, 9 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Elsie, son John and grandson Jason Mickler, as well as his sister Betty, brother Carl, sister Lola and numerous in-laws. The family would like to thank the staff and residents of the Newbrook Lodge for the love and care extended to him over the years. A memorial service will be held on June 1st at 2:00 p.m. at Duchess Mennonite Church with lunch to follow at Thom’s Funeral Home and Reception Centre. Memorial tributes may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee or the Newell Housing Foundation.
