Obituary of Collin Sauder

Collin Arnold Sauder of Hodgeville, SK passed away on October 14, 2019, at the age of 64 years. Collin was born on February 15, 1955, to Arnold and Edna (nee Wessner) Sauder, followed by his sister Deb a year later. The family grain farmed and raised a few cows. Collin grew up playing outside, helping with farming, riding the bus to school, and attending the Salem Lutheran Church. Collin played basketball, volleyball, and curling, but his first love was the cattle business and was active in 4-H throughout his school years. In 1969, Collin convinced his dad to buy a Purebred Angus female. Thus began several years of membership in the Hallonquist 4-H Grain Club, followed by the Beef Club. He enjoyed showing at the 4-H Regional Show at Swift Current Frontier Days and joined the Canadian Angus Association as a junior member, later becoming a lifetime member. In 1973, Collin graduated from high school and attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining a degree in Animal Science. He did some assistant teaching at college and in 1979 moved home to farm with his parents. Collin took over the family farm after his dad’s passing in 1986. As the cow numbers increased, grain acres were converted to forage acres and the ranch at Calderbank was added to the Windy Willows operation. Collin was a lifelong learner and a firm believer that “you cannot manage what you can’t measure.” He was a record of performance technician with Sask. Ag, assisting producers with recording their performance data, and served on both the Saskatchewan and Canadian Angus Association boards. He took great pride in being Chairman of the Breed Development committee and negotiated the first contract with ABRI of Australia for the move of the Canadian herd book from Canadian Livestock Records to the Canadian Angus Association office. At the 2018 Agribition, the Canadian Angus Association awarded Collin with his 50 year membership recognition. Collin was very proud of this achievement. Collin was blessed with three children, Whitney, Gavin, and Hillary. Whitney and Gavin grew up with their mom, attended school in Benson and Estevan, and return to the farm to help out as often as they can. Collin met Michelle Potapinski through the Canadian Angus Association, where she was office manager. Collin and Michelle were a team and could often be found working in the cattle pens, calving barn, pasture, or field, and attending community events, cattle shows, and sales together. Hillary was born in 2001 and became an avid participant in the farm. In 2004, Collin and Michelle moved their bull sale to Windy Willows Farms. They felt that this move home is perhaps their breeding program’s biggest accomplishment that they are most proud of. Collin was grateful for the many friendships he made as a result of his involvement in the Angus world. Collin had a quiet and respectful way of listening, discussing, considering and advising. He had a great respect for the land, an unending love for their agricultural way of life, and an incredible knowledge of Angus cattle. Collin enjoyed several years as a joint general leader with Michelle in the Ernfold 4-H Beef Club. He served as church councillor for Salem Lutheran Church and was currently serving as councillor in Division 5 in the RM of Lawtonia. While his passion was breeding and raising good Angus cattle, Collin’s most enduring love was for Michelle, Whitney, Gavin, and Hillary. He was most proud of his children and their achievements. Collin was a great husband, dad, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle. “Your legacy lives on, your love of the land, and yes Collin – we will close the gate!” Collin is survived by his loving wife Michelle; daughter Whitney; son Gavin; daughter Hillary; sister Deb (Bryan); brothers and sisters-in-law Willie (Judy), Aggie, Loretta (Grant), Ken (Diane), Carey-Lynn (Kevin); aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Predeceased by his parents Arnold and Edna Sauder; father and mother-in-law Michael and Yolande Potapinski. Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 2:00 p.m., at the Hodgeville Community Centre. Celebrant was Rob Smith. Urn bearer was Hillary Sauder. The eulogy was shared by Garner and Lori Deobald. Readers were Carey-Lynn and Kevin Tyndall. Picture tribute by Whitney and Gavin Sauder. Music was shared by Glenna Switzer and Mark Penner. Interment took place at the Hodgeville Cemetery. Memorial donations in memory of Collin to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation for the Heart Function Clinic, Box 1697, 225-1874 Scarth St., Regina, SK  S4P 3C6, Hodgeville Community Centre, Box 121, Hodgeville, SK  SOH 2BO, and the Ernfold 4H Beef Club, Box 55, Hodgeville, SK  S0H 2B0, were greatly appreciated.