Tribute

Gerald Suderman passed away on November 14, 2024. He was born on November 16, 1948 to John P. and Helen Suderman, the tenth child in a family of six boys and four girls. He grew up on the family farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia. When he was not yet three-years-old he followed his older brother John around on the farm as he was doing chores. As a youngster he had a keen interest in aircraft and flying. If he heard a “helicopster” overhead while indoors, he would run outside quickly to watch it.

He graduated High School from the Mennonite Educational Institute in Clearbrook, BC. He took flying lessons at the Abbotsford Airport, and received his pilot’s license at age seventeen. He also received his Class One truck and heavy equipment license. He worked for a time on the Coquihalla Highway when it was being built, and also for a local company driving heavy equipment. After that he took a short-term job in Northern Manitoba as pilot, flying to various locations to watch for forest fires and report them. He enjoyed the work, but not the isolation. He then worked for the Fraser Valley Regional Library in Abbotsford, BC delivering books to regional libraries in the Fraser Valley and up to Boston Bar. He enjoyed driving the truck, and listening to the programs on KARI radio. He retired from this job after more than thirty years.

He attended the Clearbrook MB Church with his family, and later on the Willingdon MB church, as well as the Central Heights MB Church. In the spring of 2024, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He was able to attend his brother Ed’s memorial service shortly after that.  He spent a number of weeks in the hospital in Abbotsford before his passing. His nieces, Ardythe Taylor and Alison Block, provided loving care for him during his time in hospital. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Erna, and his brothers Peter and Ed., as well as his brothers-in-law, Henry Unger and Ernie Block, and sister-in-law Erica Suderman. He leaves to mourn his passing his sisters Luella, Lydia, Elfrieda, brothers John and wife Susan, Jack, Henry and wife Rhonda, and brother-in-law John Friesen and sister-in-law Ingrid Suderman.