Floyd Irvin Emde (1927-2015) Floyd Irvin Emde of Olds, Alberta, formally of Midale, Saskatchewan, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on August 19, 2015 at the age of 87 years.
Floyd Irvin Emde of Olds, Alberta, formally of Midale, Saskatchewan, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on August 19, 2015 at the age of 87 years.
Floyd was born on September 10, 1927 in Midale, Saskatchewan. He was the eldest son of Karl and Emilie Emde who immigrated from Germany in 1925. He was raised on the Emde family homestead and attended school until the age of 14 when he had to quit to help his dad on the farm. At age 15, he had saved enough of his own money to buy his first guitar. He taught himself how to play and enjoyed singing and yodelling. In 1945, he attended Mechanical Trade School in Edmonton.
Floyd met Gwendolyn Rolfs in the late 1940’s and they were married September 28, 1951. They made their home on Karl and Emilie’s farm where they raised their two daughters. They earned their living by raising cows, pigs, chickens, geese, ducks and sold eggs for 35 years. They grain farmed and planted huge potato and vegetable gardens.
Floyd loved having family and friends gather at the farm. He enjoyed barbecuing, playing cards, horseshoes, pool, playing his guitar and singing. He loved listening to all the country gold classics and singing along to every song. He enjoyed his grandchildren coming to the farm and taught them all about the farm and the machinery and told stories about growing up on the farm. He always loved to tease and joke around with his grandchildren. He taught them all how to play cards before they knew how to read so that he always had someone to play with! Floyd would always enjoy a mean game of crib and would have one of the grandchildren and even great grandchildren play every chance he could get. He was a member of the Antique Association in Midale, SK for twenty years and was always the star of the threshing machine making it all work. His volunteer hours were many as he enjoyed doing what he loved the most; harvest season.
Floyd and Gwen moved to Olds in 2003, one year after being diagnosed with kidney failure. They adjusted well to “town life” and made many new friends. He enjoyed watching tv shows and news, always keeping up to date with current events. His humor and laughter never went away, every picture you see he always had the biggest smile on his face! He welcomed everyone into their home and treated them like family. He was a great man who will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Floyd is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Gwendolyn; daughters Donna (Donald) Ereth, Sandra Venaas (Larry Jones); five grandchildren, Tyler Venaas (Lori Young), Tara Venaas (Steven Jardine), Sharlene (Michael) Anderson, Chantelle (Joey) Stang and Miranda Ereth (Chris Weiss); ten great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Camryn, Cruise, Paynton, August, Sienna, Kaylee, Tenley, Bane and Adalaya; son-in-law Glenn Venaas; sisters-in-law Connie Emde, Shirley (Ron) Nuss; brother in law Robert Stein as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Floyd was predeceased by his parents Karl and Emilie Emde and two brothers Karl and Wilfred Emde.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday August 25, 2015 at Heartland Funeral Services Chapel, Olds. Interment will be held at a later date in Midale, SK. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Dialysis Unit of the Olds Hospital. Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. 403 507 8610 www.heartlandfuneralservices.com
