Long Time Rotarian Karl Calden Passed Away on Feb.9th 2014

Karl was born in Meiningen, Germany, on October 1, 1919. His father, a doctor, made him swear not to follow in his footsteps so Karl Friedrich began to study farm management. The Second World War intervened and he served in Norway and spent some time as a prisoner of war in France before returning home. There he continued with his apprenticeship and career, working for large landholders in West Germany. There he also met a family acquaintance, Anneliese, a young widow with two children. They were married in 1950 and soon Hildegard and then Rika were born. Not seeing much future for his family in post-war Germany, Karl applied to immigrate. In June, 1954, he made his way to central Canada and began the difficult task of finding employment and housing which brought him to Searle Farms and East Selkirk. Anneliese and the girls followed in November. In 1957 Karl began working for Lakeland Dairies and bought an unfinished house on Moody Avenue in Selkirk. After many years of heavy and often cold labour of milk delivery, he learned real estate sales and worked for Patrick Realty until retirement at 65.

Finishing their first house, adding on to it, raising backyard chickens and ducks those first years on Moody Ave., helping Anneliese tend her large garden and apple trees, saving enough to return to Germany for family visits almost every second year, taking his children on some of these trips were all highlights. So was his involvement with Selkirk Rotary Club and with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, especially the Bible studies. In 1995 the yard and garden became too much work and Karl and Anneliese moved to Kiwanis on the Red and made frequent visits to their far-flung children and, together with one or another of them, explored Alaska, Hawaii, and southwestern United States. They moved to Woodland Courts in 2006 and Red River Place in 2009.

Karl had a deep and abiding interest in the news and world events and history. He continued to read his devotions faithfully, as well as his Rotary newsletter, to pray for his beloved family and to listen to his favourite classical music until his last days. We miss him and hope we have caught some of his inner strength, faith and deep loyalty and love of family. A Celebration of Life was held on Tuesday, February 25 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Pastor Erik Parker officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations were made to the Good Shepherd Memorial Fund or to a charity of your choice.