Alfred Herperger

Alfred Anthony Herperger passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours on Friday, July 30th, 2021 at the Broadview Union Hospital.  He was 83.

Deeply devoted to family, Alfred was a kind and humble man who appreciated the simple things in life and instilled in his loved ones the values of hard work, honesty,  compassion and further education.  Selfless to a fault, he always sought more and better for his family, ensuring that he did everything he could so that his wife and children were provided for and had the opportunities to pursue that he put aside for himself.

Born on June 11th, 1938 at the Whitewood Hospital, Alfred was raised by his parents Laszlo (Leslie) and Elizabeth (nee Danish) on the family farm north of Stockholm.  The youngest of five siblings, he attended Pilchak Country School until grade 6, and then Stockholm Separate School when the family moved into town.  After completing high school, he enrolled in a one-year Business Course at Balfour Tech in Regina.

Returning home, Alfred married his high school sweetheart Loretta Seman (daughter of John and Regina) at St. Elizabeth Church in Stockholm on May 12th, 1959.  They set up house in Stockholm and before too long they were blessed with two children, Cheryl and Dwight.  He was very active in the community – coaching minor hockey, curling with friends, establishing the first figure skating club in town and serving the church as commentator and member of the Knights of Columbus (Honorary Lifetime Member).  The family moved to Esterhazy in 1974, where both kids completed high school and then went on to university studies.  During this time, Alfred also farmed a half-section of land south of Esterhazy near Rainbow Hall.

Alfred might be best remembered as “The Grain Man”, given a career in the grain industry that spanned 51 years at various points across southern Saskatchewan.  He started as Elevator Manager for Pioneer in Stockholm in 1960, before starting anew with the Sask Wheat Pool in Esterhazy in the mid-70s. Then he really made his mark at Langbank where, as Elevator Manager in 1979, he brought that point several years later to the highest grade possible for the Wheat Pool in the province. Promoted to Area Manager for Shaunavon and then Swift Current, Alfred later returned to his home area, working at grain terminals in Yorkton and Grenfell, where he finally retired on his 73rd birthday.  Alfred especially prided himself on the positive relations he had with his customers, his grain-grading skills and his expertise in grain cleaning.

While working at Viterra in Grenfell, Alfred moved to Broadview to be closer to work.  It became an important and very happy chapter in his life, filled with many new friends and extensive community involvement.  He was an active member of the local Lions Club and a regular parishioner at the Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church (serving as commentator, bell-ringer and grass cutter).  With the church, he was especially proud of his work with the Ecumenical Council, working hard to build bridges in the local inter-faith community.  Cherished traditions during his years in Broadview were morning coffee and daily “Tea Time” with close friends, something he enjoyed right up until a few days before he passed.

Throughout his life, Alfred’s focus on family extended to the many siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews on both the Herperger and Seman side.  With both of his parents born in Hungary and his first language being Hungarian, Alfred was very proud of his Magyar heritage.  And heaven has gained another avid Saskatchewan Riders fan.

Alfred is survived by his wife Loretta (Broadview Centennial Lodge), daughter Cheryl (Calgary) and son Dwight (Round Lake).  He was predeceased by his parents Leslie (Laszlo) and Elizabeth (nee Danish), and his siblings Joseph, Leslie, Ernest and Helen.

Alfred will finally return “home” to Stockholm with a funeral service to be held on Saturday, September 11th, at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church, with interment at the church cemetery to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Alfred’s cherished churches and organizations:

St. Elizabeth’s Memorial Fund, PO Box 155, Stockholm, SK  S0A 3Y0
Broadview District Health Foundation, PO Box 849, Broadview, SK  S0G 0K0
Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church Fund, PO Box 518, Broadview, SK  S0G 0K0
Broadview & District Lions Club, PO Box 125, Broadview, SK  S0G 0K0