December 30, 1921 - November 12, 2020
It is with the great sadness that the family of Roger Castle announces his passing on November 12, 2020 at the age of 98. He was born December 30, 1921 in Saskatchewan.
Roger is survived by his sons Rob (Jo) and Len (Jayme), daughter Cheri, granddaughters Denise, Delaney and Rachael, grandson Shane, great grandson Connor, stepsons Ken (Carrie) and Larry (Gwen) and grandchildren Ryan, Jarrett, Nathan, Tina and their families.
Roger was predeceased by his wife Ethel, parents Chris and Alice Castle, stepdaughter Bunny, step granddaughter Karon, brothers; Earl, Dudley, Harold, Dennis and Edgar, and sisters Muriel and Connie. Roger was the last of this Castle generation.
Roger grew up on the family farm, Ringleton Firs in northern Saskatchewan. He worked farming in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and in the fall of 1947 he moved with his family to Nicomen Island, BC just before the flood of 1948. He worked with his younger brother Edgar at various forestry ventures before purchasing acreage on Nicomen Island and building a home for him and one for his parents.
He also built Nicomen Island service station in 1962. In 1964 he married Ethel and they raised their children there until moving to Mission in 1977. Roger operated R. Castle & Sons Contracting until his son Len took over the company. Roger and Ethel enjoyed Legion bingo and Roger played crib and would regularly challenge fireman Murray Rottluff to games at the fire hall.
Roger and friends would meet for breakfast at Rocko's, A&W or Tim's. He was also an avid sports fan and would enjoy watching ball games at the old grandstands in Mission and had both his boys in hockey here.
In his mid 70's Roger had a major stroke that left him unable to talk or walk, he overcame these disabilities and was back driving again. In his later years Roger was a regular casino player and he always had his Keno and lottery tickets. When Roger had to give up his driver's licence his new mode of transportation was his electric scooter, and he wore out many batteries and two electric motors traveling from Whidden to downtown and back.
After his wife Ethel passed away Roger began to live with son Len and daughter-in-law Jayme who were tireless in their care of Roger which allowed him to stay home and live a healthy active life, full of family functions at the house till the day he passed away.
He will be greatly missed by Jayme's many children and grandchildren who kept his life full of action and care over the years. His nephew Lloyd Rash who Roger helped raise after his sister passed away and was like a son to him also spent a good portion of his days taking Roger out for breakfast and then for drives and visiting with him.
Roger will be missed by literally hundreds of nieces and nephews and their families, some now running into 4th generation who will all miss "Uncle Roger".
Above all he was a family man. Time spent visiting any relatives who would pop in was his favourite way to pass time. He would joke that most of his friends showed up in the obituaries now and have us read them to him regularly once his eyesight was too bad to read, so we thought we'd better make this good.
To all those who knew him over the years thank you for all your kindness and friendship to him and now to us in this tough time. We won't be able to have a funeral because of Covid but will be interring Dad at Hatzic Cemetery with his mother Alice.
Woodlawn Funeral Home will be taking care of final arrangements for Dad and a memorial page will be set up. We'd love to hear any stories you may have of Dad that you'd like to share with us no matter how big or small. It will bring us comfort to read these and have a smile or a laugh or possibly a cry in lieu of being able to get together with everyone and hear them in person.