George Arthur SIEMENS

Let’s begin at the beginning.

On a cold winter’s night, at their homestead near Bad Lake, on February 19, 1934, Helena and Johann Siemens, welcomed their fourth child into the world, George Arthur Siemens. George regaled the story of his birth as it must have been told to him, that if it weren’t for Helen, his eldest sister, he would not have survived as it was a challenging birth.   Perhaps this was the first sign of his lust for life and innate ability to never give up!

With his older siblings, sister Helen, brother Peter and brother John, and the younger set that followed: sister Mary and brother David (Bob), George explored the wild outdoors and attended Deer Hill, Big Ben and Fiske Schools. As time passed, the family decided to move closer to town, and set up their home, on the farm which we all know now as Byron and Laureen’s place. George often marvelled at how his mother was reluctant and quite worried to be living ‘so close to town’ for fear it would be too easy for the children to get into trouble. 

As George became a teenager it was decided he would go to boarding school and so he headed off to Rosthern Junior College, for grade 12. With his favorite subjects being hockey, socializing and singing, it was here where he would become known to behold and shine as a stunning tenor voice throughout his life. He continued to play hockey well into his 50’s, and became a person whom many would get to know. 

After graduating highschool, George wondered where his place may be on the farm alongside his dad, brother Peter and brother John, and as a result, did some exploring of his options in oil and gas, taking a job at High Level, Alberta, driving truck. As a few years went by he happened upon a very special lady, who turned out to be the absolute love of his life, Patricia Diane Pell; a teacher, who began her career instructing grades 1-4, at Fiske School.

George and Pat married on October 11, 1958, at Pat’s home church in Brownlee. It was shortly after the birth of their child, Byron, that George and Pat knew and agreed, farming was for them. Even though Johann and Helena had only recently built their new house on the now Siemens farm, it was decided that they would move to town, and George and Pat would move to the farm with their quickly growing family. George farmed with his older brothers and dad, but by the time Bob dedicated his life to farming, it would be this partnership that became George's longest, apart from the one with his own son, Byron. It’s no surprise now, and it is our family’s great honor, that Byron arrived out of his mother’s womb knowing he was a natural born farmer!  And so it was, to their great joy, that over the next 12 years, George and Pat welcomed 4 daughters: LeeAnne, Kara, Crystal and Tricia. It was over these first 12 and subsequent 54 years that Pat’s love of Arabian Horses, and George’s love of growing grain and raising cattle grew and grew. As Byron became older and increasingly more engaged in the farm operation, George easily entrusted Byron and Bob to take on more responsibility. This allowed him to pursue his passion for building relationships and innovating change within the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool organization as a Delegate and then Director; as well, he became the President of the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association; he was a Director on the Board of the Canadian Arabian Horse Association, also being on the founding committee of the National Board for the PartBred Canadian Arabian Horse Registry.  Closer to home, George served on the local school board and the Fiske Town Council, and he and Pat together founded the West Central Arabian Horse Club. In his retirement years (like farmers actually ever retire!) George became engaged in being part of the team that brought Rose Villa, the Long Term Care Centre in Rosetown, into existence, while he was also a Director on Saskatchewan’s Heartland Health Region Board, and later served on the Board of Orange Memories, retirement home. Serving as his church's Adult Sunday School leader over the years, was not pale in comparison to his other endeavors.  George was a born leader and peacemaker who led a dedicated life as a faithful servant of God.

George loved travelling whether it was to go for a drive in the country checking cattle or crops, or jumping on an airplane and jetting to far flung destinations to visit family, old friends, make new friends, and explore with his beloved companion, Pat. Curiosity thrived within him. He was passionate, fascinated and opinionated about politics; consistently able to strike his own personal balance between fiscal responsibility and social welfare.  He loved and believed in his church, his faith, and his community; and was a shameless promoter of all three. George loved music and dancing and together with his dance partner for life, started the Fiske Fantastics Square Dance Club. He loved sports for all seasons and participated in curling, skiing, hockey, golfing, and baseball, and EVEN showing horses from time to time!

While the following may read like a book from the Bible - Praise Be to God - above all else, George loved and was so incredibly proud of his family. George has 16 grandchildren: (Byron and Laureen's) Christopher (Chelsey), Kendall (Rebecca), Kyla (Jordan) and Sharai (Zach); (LeeAnne and Eugene's) Daric (Maria), David (Krista) and Elena (David); (Kara and Jerry's) Josiah (Jessica), Jessica (Evans), Maria, Clay (Alison) and Laura (Ramanath); (Tricia and Bernie's) Ethan (from Sean Lambie), Wyatt, Daniel and Benjamin. Today and forever, know he also holds dear in his heavenly heart 17 great grandchildren:  (Christopher and Chelsey's) Levi and Nova, (Kendall and Rebecca's) Jocelyn (from Thi Ngo) and Hannauh, (Kyla and Jordan's) Andi, Mahlon and Cooper, (Sharai and Zach's) Scottie and Jenner; (David and Krista's) Hailey and Maya; (Josiah's) Jagger (from Daryl Burton), (Jessica and Evans') Eli, Uriah and Keziah; (Clay and Alison's) Noah and Oliver.  George and Pat's siblings, their spouses, children and grandchildren, have brought tremendous joy to his life; some even hired to work on the farm for a season or two.  
 

George's soul rose from this world, on November 26, 2024, and as we reminisce, let’s remember him, here and now,  in the way only he could connect and touch our lives. We know each of you hold your own heartfelt reflection. He had the most crystalline blue eyes, through which perhaps we too could see his compassion & empathy, his honesty and direct communication style, his respect for the earth, the world and all inhabitants, his yearning to learn, collaboration, and, not to be remiss - his pure joy of driving the combine every fall, including this Harvest 2024. 

Rest in Peace.

A funeral will be held on Wednesday December 4, 2024 at 2:00pm, at the Fiske Mennonite Church, with an interment at the Fiske Cemetery immediately following the service. Everyone is invited to join the family at the Fiske Community Hall, after the cemetery for a time of fellowship and shared memories.

A Zoom link to watch the service is available below;

Topic: Siemens Funeral Service

Time: Dec 4, 2024 01:00 PM Saskatchewan

Join Zoom Meeting - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82230654878?pwd=2YNEa6Wvs3bQMFP1baFbQmWzG5kHk9.1 

Meeting ID: 822 3065 4878 - Passcode: 385698

Donations in George’s name may be made to: Mennonite Central Committee, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Cancer Society, and Diabetes Canada.