DAVID ARTHUR SUDERMAN

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DAVID ARTHUR SUDERMAN December 18, 1932 - March 22, 2018 David Suderman, aged 85, decided it was time to embark on his next adventure on the evening of March 22, 2018. It was too soon - but it was also the right time. His family was at his side when he passed away peacefully. Actually, just a small fraction of his family was there because he has a lot of relatives and friends, and there sure wouldn't have been room in the hospital for everyone. He leaves behind some toolboxes, books he's read and some he's written, paintings (also his), soup cookbooks, and an ancient computer. David is survived by his loving and beloved wife of 58 years, Meryth; his three kids, Craig, Lynn, and Michelle; son-in-law Tim; and his cherished granddaughter Marion. He also is survived by his twin brother Peter (Meg); brothers, John (Joan), Abe (Tine); and sisters, Ella (Ike) and Doreen (Alvin). He is predeceased by Margaret (Ike). He will be sorely missed by his feisty in-laws, Sel (Chris) and Jackie (Carl); his coffee group, his former colleagues at the Canadian Wheat Board, and dozens and dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, second cousins, cousins once (or twice) removed, neighbours, bridge players, jazz musicians and two cats, Oscar and Felix. Born in the wee Mennonite community of Greenfarm in southern Manitoba, David was raised on baseball and only sometimes complained about the walk to school in the winter. It was in his childhood he decided he would be a reporter when he grew up. After a pit-stop at the University of Winnipeg (where he fell in love with Meryth), he landed a reporting job, first at the Winnipeg Free Press, then at the Winkler Progress. After a year he was lured to Montreal to work for the Family Herald, which included a sojourn on Parliament Hill, reporting on farm issues. Then the Canadian Wheat Board created a job for him in Winnipeg: Director of Information. After 14 years in that role, he moved on to be the Director of Market Development. He loved those decades, working with farmers and plant breeders in the western provinces, as well as travelling to over 40 countries around the world to open up new markets. He visited Russia, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Japan and most important of all, South Korea, where he forged lasting friendships and opened a market that hadn't before existed for Canadian grain farmers. When he retired at 65, Dave and Meryth moved to an acreage outside Carman, MB. He got a small John Deere tractor, turned the garage into a workshop, and generally puttered and got into whatever mischief he could find. He started writing for himself, publishing "Why Little Abraham Came to Canada," in 2008, a non-fiction book tracing the long journey of the Mennonite people to Canada. His book was number two on the McNally Robinson best seller list the week it was launched. His next book, "Diggings," remains unpublished, but his third book, "Neyashing: A Novel of Magic Realism on the Prairies," is due to be published in April, 2018 (look for it on Amazon - it's a rare delight). In his last years, no longer able to keep up the acreage, Meryth and Dave moved to Carman. He began painting again, working with wood, paints, and canvases to create three-dimensional visions of the prairies and places he's seen across Canada. Most of all, he spent his last years appreciating his family and his friends, chatting politics, offering profound insights to anyone who would listen, sharing endless emails with his granddaughter and drinking really terrible burnt coffee. He was ready with a smile and all the time in the world to listen and to love you back. Heartfelt thanks go to the wonderful team at Carman Memorial Hospital. Your patience and loving attention to Dave gave all of us comfort in these last months. David's life will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the Carman United Church, 134 First St. S.W. We will eat snacks after and be as noisy with laughter as we can. In lieu of flowers, consider giving your family a phone call (if they're far) and a hug (if they're near). "To my friends and family: I am grateful for your friendships through all the years. Those friendships have made all the difference in my life." - David Suderman Doyle's Funeral Home, Carman in care of arrangements. www.doylesfuneralhome.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 27, 2018