JAHNKE - Elmer Walter Jahnke, beloved husband of Mary Jahnke, was born May 11, 1917 at home on the ranch at Main Centre. He was born to Cornelius (Neil) Jahnke and Margaretha Janz Jahnke. He passed peacefully away March 21st, 2013 at Cypress Lodge Nursing Home in Maple Creek. Elmer was the seventh child in a family of eight. He received his education at the Herbert School and graduated in 1934. He attended the University of Saskatchewan taking Agriculture. In 1939, Elmer with his father and brothers Pete and Ben bought the Kerr Place. On November 1, 1941, Elmer married Mary Corothers (his childhood sweetheart) in Winnipeg and brought her to the ranch north of Morse where they resided for nearly 71 years. Here they raised their family of four sons and one daughter. In 1973, they sold this ranch and the Big Coulee Ranch to their sons. Elmer was a commercial cattle breeder with cross breeding programs going back to the early 1940s. He always liked to see a white face! Elmer was a life member of the Sask. Stock Growers Assoc., was a director and served a three year term as their President. As a director of the SSGA, he sat on the Lease Appeal Board for many years. Elmer was a Sask. Director to the Canadian Cattleman’s Assoc. for 10 years. He was Chairman of the Horned Cattle Trust Fund for a number of years and was an early supporter of Canadian Western Agribition. He was a director and judge at the first Agribition in 1971. Elmer served as Agricultural Representative for the Rural Municipality of Morse for 15 years, was a councillor for the RM of Vermillion Hills for 14 years, Director for Morse Rural Telephones and a member of the Log Valley School Board. Elmer was a 4-H leader for ten years and was an Elder of the United Church in Herbert. Elmer liked to ride and rope whenever the opportunity arose - still participating at branding in his eighties. He and Mary enjoyed travelling and being involved in the grandchildrens’ activities. Elmer was predeceased two months ago by his loving wife of 71 years, Mary Jahnke; and 4 months ago by his eldest son Neil, but leaves to mourn Neil’s wife, (Marilyn), children J.J. (son Wyatt), Shane (Natasha - children Savannah and Colt), Don (Linda), sons, Mike, Matt (daughters, Hayli and Jordi), Brian (Joanne), sons Kristopher and Kurtis, Craig (Patricia), children, Jarrod (Michelle – daughter, Katelyn), Amanda, Ben and Liz, MaryAnne (Doug), children, Evan and Kelly; and by many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his parents Neil and Margaretha, his siblings Olga (Herb Wiebe), Pete Jahnke (Sadie, Elizabeth), Helen (Vic Wiebe), Elizabeth Jahnke, Annie Jahnke, Ben Jahnke (Gudrun), Bruce Jahnke (Betty); a grandson, Ryan Montgomery; a great-grandson, Brendan, as well as all of his brothers and sisters in-law; Donald Corothers (Lil), Floyd Corothers (Edna), Ethel Duncan (Bruce) and several nieces and nephews. Elmer was a cattleman, a horseman, a family man, and a gentleman. He will be missed. The Funeral Service was held on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 2:00 pm from the Living Faith Fellowship Church, Herbert, SK. The pianist for the service was Sheila Braun with Dan Siebert leading the congregational songs, “Shall We Gather at the River” and “In the Sweet By and By”. The eulogy was shared by grandson, Shane Jahnke. Special music was brought by Dan Siebert singing, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and “ Peace in the Valley”. The ushers in the church were Allan Jahnke and Krista Routledge. The Interment Service preceded the Funeral Service and was held at the Herbert Cemetery, Herbert, SK with the following grandsons serving as pallbearers, Shane Jahnke, Mike Jahnke, Matt Jahnke, Kristopher Jahnke, Kurtis Jahnke, Jarrod Jahnke, Ben Jahnke and Evan Montgomery. In memory of Elmer Jahnke, donations made to the Main Cenre Church or to the Charity of Choice would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. For further information or to sign the Family Book of Condolences, please go to swiftcurrentfuneralhome.com