Obituary of Edward Materi

MATERI - Edward Henry Materi of St. Paul Lutheran Home in Melville and formerly of Grayson, beloved husband of Sophie Materi, passed away on July 19, 2010 at the age of 91, at the St. Paul Lutheran Home in Melville, Saskatchewan. Ed was born at St. Joseph?s Colony on August 27, 1918. He was the son of Eugene and Margaret (nee Ripplinger) Materi and was one of 6 children. Ed went to Barr School near Hazenmore, SK and had many fond memories of his childhood near Mankota, SK, riding horseback on the range, hunting and trapping and being „out West? as he would say, where he was a „cowboy?. A story he always told was when he was kicked in the chin by a horse and taken to Anaroyd to the doc by horse & buggy to get stitches. He was unconscious and received the last rites. The family moved to Grayson during the dirty thirties where they lived on the Abel Farm which Ed always referred to as „over home.? Ed met Sophie Ruhr in 1940 and married her in 1942 in Grayson. They purchased the Abel farm from Ed's parents. In the mid 1950's, Ed and Sophie moved the family into the Hauer School Teacherage where they resided during Sophie's teaching days. Their second farm was the Lichtenwald farm three miles north of Grayson, which they rented a short time before purchasing the farm. Ed & Sophie had three children, Laara, Dennis, and Laurie. A highlight of Ed's life was his time in the Canadian Army and his training at Calgary, AB and Vernon, BC. He had many stories of marching to Kelowna and of picking apples in the orchards of the Okanagan. Ed was Secretary Treasurer for many years on the board of Trustees for the Hauer School District. For 20 years, Ed was the School Unit Trustee for the Deer Park District including Grayson, Killaly and Waldron. He was in charge of hiring teachers, maintenance and bus drivers. Ed belonged to the Knights of Columbus, and took the Christopher Course for Public Speaking. Some of the things that Ed loved were ice cream and pie, watching the sky and predicting the weather, reading the funny papers, polka days, telling stories, talking to people and watching his grandsons play hockey. He loved all of the community and church events in Grayson. If you could describe his life's work - he was a cowboy, a soldier, a school trustee, and most of all, a farmer. Ed was predeceased by his parents, Eugene & Margaret; his granddaughter Blayne Materi, Creston BC; his brother George and his sisters Barbara , Rose, Emmerantia, and Irene. He is survived by his wife Sophie of St. Paul Lutheran Home, Melville, children Laara Exsnar (Kelly Exner), Vancouver, BC; Dennis (Carole) Materi, Creston, BC; Laurie (Jerry) Novak, Melville, SK. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jana Exner (Trevor Hoffman) Calgary, AB; Erin (Ilker) Kurt, Windsor, England; Brendan (Coralee) Materi, Surrey, BC; Blaire Materi, Penticton, BC; Bryanne Materi, Parksville, BC; Brett Novak, Saskatoon SK; and Bryn Novak, Regina SK. He also has 4 great grandchildren, Madison Materi, Kaelyn Materi, Evan Materi and Emre Kurt and numerous nieces and nephews. Prayer Service were held on Friday, July 23, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. St.Mary?s Roman Catholic Church Grayson with Doug Parislau Lay Presider. The hymns were "I Believe In The Sun", "Psalm The Lord Is My Shepherd" and "Here I Am". Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. from St. Mary?s Roman Catholic Church in Grayson with Rev. Fr. Yodel Cereno as the Celebrant. Laurie Novak and Jerry Novak did the readings as well Laurie did the Intercessions. The Gift Bearers were Brett Novak and Bryn Novak and the Eucharistic Ministers were Raelene and Tyson Ottenbreit. Denise Fuchs and Paul Kuntz led in the singing of the hymns "Psalm 23", Psalm 27 "The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation", "I Can Only Imagine", "You Alone" and "Go In Peace". Mass Servers were, Jennaya Ottenbreit, Kailey Ottenbreit, Karlee Duczek and Brett Duczek. Members of the Knights Of Columbus formed an honor-guard. Honorary bearers were everyone who knew and loved Ed. The interment followed in the St. Mary's Parish Cemetery with Jerry Novak, Brett Novak, Bryn Novak, Garry Jakubowski, Ed Kuntz and Doug Parislau as the casketbearers. Arrangements were by Bailey?s Funeral Home, Melville. Interment Details St. Mary's R.C. Parish Cemetery - Grayson