Ruth Hilda (Rockel) Wildeman

A recording of the service is available, please scroll to the bottom of the page, below the service details to find the link. 

Ruth Hilda Wildeman (nee Rockel) was born May 12, 1927, at Drake Saskatchewan, the oldest child of Henry and Helene (nee Stephan) Rockel. The Rockels remained living on the farm 9 miles west of Drake until 1939 when they moved to the Conrad Rockel farm one mile south of Lanigan, and now owned by Ruth’s Granddaughter, Holly and Jeff Srochenski. Ruth attended school grades 1-5 in Bloomfield and then grades 6-12 in Lanigan. Training as a Lab and Xray Technician was completed in 1964-65 in Saskatoon.

In 1946, she married Robert Alfred Wildeman, and they took over the Rockel family farm. In 1994, Alfred and Ruth exchanged residences with Fay and George Shiloff and moved into Lanigan. On September 23, 2017, Ruth moved into Saskatoon Luther Riverside Terrace living there until June 2021 when she moved to the Luther Special Care home.

Ruth is predeceased by her husband, R. Alfred Wildeman on February 24, 2016, her parents Henry and Helene Rockel, sisters Eva McPherson and husband John, Ella Clark and husband Jim, sons-in-law Robert Tkach and George Shiloff, and niece Kerry Pierce.

Ruth was also predeceased by Alfred’s parents Robert and Olga Wildeman, their baby in infancy Elsie Rose, sisters-in-law Pearl Wildeman, Violet Fick, Velma Elliot, Evelyn Wright, brothers-in-law Albert Fick, Don Elliott, George Wildeman, Ken Wachs, and Danny Wildeman.

Ruth is survived by daughter Fern (Vernon) Keil and their children Rob (Isabelle) Keil, great grandchildren Zakary, Samantha, and Thomas; Curtis Keil; Colin Keil (Hannah Keil-O’Dowd), her greatgrandchildren, Taylor Castoro (Jimmy), Savannah, Rion, Hailey, Carter and Lily; Trudy Keil (Greg Lendrum) and greatgrandchildren Connor, Aleena, Bailey and Brayden; daughter Fay Shiloff (Doug Woodrow) and her children Holly (Jeff) Srochenski and greatgrandchildren Trinity and Quinn, Cory (Kelsey) Shiloff and greatgrandchildren Alexis, Klay and Colton; Jason Shiloff and greatgrandchild Harper; daughter Sylvia Tkach (Gregory Dubetz) and her children Darren Tkach, greatgrandchildren Brinley and Bexley, Clinton (Lindsy) Tkach and greatgrandchildren, Cadence and Hudson; Chad (Crystal) Wyton and greatgrandchildren Diezel and Shelby; Crystal Tkach and greatgrandchild Meadow.

Ruth is also survived by sister Reta Rockel, brother Ed Rockel (Hallie), sister-in-law Lily Wachs and Marjorie Wildeman, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ruth loved and was an accomplished curler making it to women’s playdowns several times. She continued to curl into her retirement and enjoyed attending curling events. Later in life she watched curling on TV, this passion she shared with her sister Reta and her daughters. Reta always called to inform Ruth of the curling schedules on TV and Fern always ensured the schedules and times were available for Sylvia to post and enable her to watch in the Special Care Home.

Ruth loved to travel, and with Alfred they travelled to Arizona in their motorhome for winters, went on a Panama Canal and Alaska Cruises, visited Germany, attended expo and the Olympics, and travelled coast to coast within Canada. Ruth and Alfred took every opportunity to watch the grandchildren and great grandchildren in their activities. Even after she moved to Saskatoon her answer was “yes I want to go” with every invitation to travel regardless of weather, roads, or distance.

Ruth loved fishing, and as a couple, Ruth and Alfred enjoyed many fishing trips often surrounded by their children and grandchildren. It was common to be fishing in Nipawin for the May long weekend as the snow softly fell on the boat and camping units. Ruth also loved ice cream! She always had a gallon or two in her freezer and was happy to share with very lucky grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Farming was a part of her very full life. Many of her nieces and nephews have shared their wonderful memories of her on the farm. Ruth enjoyed the time she worked in Lab and X-ray at the Lanigan Union Hospital. She involved herself with volunteerism with the Church and the Heritage Association.

Ruth loved to garden and had a garden plot at the Luther Riverside Terrace that she tended. Ruth also loved watching the Rose Bowl parade. It was a highlight of every year and in 2014 she was finally able to attend at Pasadena California with Vern, Fern, Fay, and George.

Ruth loved her family. It was important to her to have her family gathered at holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and the spring and fall sausage making event. She would always call for a nose count to ensure everyone was able to come home and attend. She welcomed each new addition to the family by ensuring each spouse, grandchild, and great grandchild had one of her beautiful hand knitted Christmas stockings.

Our family was blessed to have her for her 95 years and her presence, wisdom, and love is deeply missed by all who loved and knew her.  

A Funeral Service for Ruth will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. from Trinity Lutheran Church, Lanigan, SK, officiated by Pastor George Hind. A Private Family Interment will take place in Lanigan Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial donations in Ruth’s memory may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church (Box 672, Lanigan, SK, S0K 2M0) or Lanigan Heritage Center (Cheques must be payable to Town of Lanigan, Box 280, Lanigan, SK, S0K 2M0). Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to MALINOSKI & DANYLUIK FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIUM, Humboldt, 306-682-1622.