Herbert Malcolm Serviss

Herbert Malcolm Serviss, formerly of Ethelton, SK, was called home on June 6, 2021, after an arduous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born May 2, 1945, the only son of Herbert and Margaret Serviss, brother to four sisters, Florence, Joycelyn, Shirley Ann, and Margaret (Ellen). He had a love for horses and among his early companions numbered several faithful ponies and devoted dogs. After completing his early schooling in Ethelton, he graduated from MCCI in Melfort and did post-secondary training in various trades as well as studies in engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. He farmed grain and cattle at Ethelton for many years, first with his father Bert, and later with his wife, Catherine (née Loeppky). He incorporated Goosehunting Creek Farms and was involved in the local feedlot. They were active members of the Covenant Church in Melfort and over the years they played many roles there. They were blessed with three daughters, Suzanne, Alysha, and Laurel. Continuing in the example of his parents, they were also constantly “adopting” others into their lives and not infrequently into their home, providing all manner of support and shelter. Herb became a jack of all trades out of necessity, but his engineering-geared brain and natural aptitude made him a master of many. There was not much he couldn’t do or fix. He was a highly skilled driver. He drove semi, school and coach bus, and later in life when they made the move to Strathmore AB, where they built a log house, he drove gravel truck for many years. He and Cathy also supported Covenant Bible College and were again active in the Covenant Church there. In their retirement, they worked at a plant nursery. His final years were spent in Edmonton, where he and Cathy moved to be closer to their adored grandchildren, to whom he affectionately became known as “Poppa”. He cherished every moment spent with Ethan, Abigail, and Natalie. He had an abiding love of geology and was always on the lookout for interesting rocks. He was also a hobbyist collector of stamps, coins, and Meccano with catalogic knowledge of each. He was a low-key adventurer in his time, trying his hand at sports such as skydiving and luge and taking great delight in travel to the mountains, throughout Western Canada, and to Hawaii. In his later years, because his daughters inherited his adventurous spirit, he had the opportunity to venture further afield, visiting Maui, Ecuador, Ireland, and Scotland, where he took great pride in being Lord of a small souvenir plot of land. He was dearly loved and respected and leaves behind a legacy of hard work, humility, stewardship, service to others, quiet humour, occasional mischief, unwavering faith, and devotion to family.