Chris SUTTER

CHRIS SUTTER
C.M., S.O.M.
1919 - 2014
Sutter, Christian Tyndall – Died peacefully in Calgary, Alberta, on March 14, 2014, at the age of 94.
Adoring husband of 68 years to Vera; loving father to Jill (Gordon), Spence (Janice), Maureen, Dean (Gail), and Cal (Gayle); proud grandfather to Edward, Katherine, Lee, Sara, Sally (Aaron), Jock, Chelsea, Graham, Shari (James), Christopher (April), Clark, Blake (Kimberly), and T.J.; and great-grandfather to Kyler, Hunter, Samuel, Benjamin, Grady, Will, Easton, and Linden. He is predeceased by his siblings Caroline, Vera, Ben, and June and survived by his brother Morley.
Chris was born in Redvers, Saskatchewan on December 1, 1919, to Christian and Amelia. He would live almost his entire life in Redvers, a town he dearly loved. In 1941, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served as a wireless operator on Lancaster bombers during WWII, flying many missions over Western Europe. During a night run in 1945, Chris was the only survivor of a mid-air collision, parachuting to safety through the darkness and landing in a field in Belgium. He was injured but was rescued by Allied ground forces and went on to fly eight more missions. He talked little about this experience, but it left him with a deep and unwavering appreciation of his good fortune.
When he returned home to Redvers, Chris married the love of his life, Vera Gradwell, and began managing his family's farm. Through his hard work, Aqua Hollow Hereford Ranch became known for the quality of its herd. Chris earned a reputation as a promoter of Saskatchewan cattle across the country and, eventually, around the world. In 1957, he won the first ever grand championship for a Polled Hereford female in open competition at the Toronto Royal Winter Fair. His cattle were exported as far abroad as England, Scotland, Spain and Chile. He also played an instrumental role in the establishment of Canadian cattle exports to Japan.
His passion for agriculture in Saskatchewan led him to champion the idea of hosting a major fall fair in western Canada, and he brought this to fruition as the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina. He was the founding president of Agribition, which is today in its 43rd year and annually attracts over 100,000 people.
He also served as president of the Saskatchewan Hereford Association and the Canadian Hereford Association. He was named Salesman of the Year by the Sales and Marketing Executive Association of Regina, and was inducted into the Northern International Livestock Exposition Hall of Fame, the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
In 1988, Chris was honoured with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, and in 1990 he was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to "the preservation of rural life, to the cattle breeding industry and to the agricultural community of Saskatchewan."
Few things were more important to Chris than his local community, and he was devoted to serving it however he could. Over the years, he served as chairman of the local school board and member of the local hospital board, town council and economic development committee, along with many other roles.
Chris was undeniably a leader in his community and in his field, but he was unlikely to describe himself as one. He was defined by his humility and fundamental decency, a gentleman who always made others feel comfortable. He was a man of little ego, quick with a self- deprecating joke, but possessed of a determination and a Saskatchewan grit that made others want to pitch in. Whenever somebody reflected on his success or achievements, Chris would remind them that he was, simply, a very lucky man. This refrain was familiar to all who knew him, especially his family. He loved his family dearly and took great pride in watching it grow, and in his later years he enjoyed nothing more than the company of his children, grandchildren, and eventually his great-grandchildren. His deep sense of gratitude remained with him to the end.
Chris will survive in the loving memories of his family and friends, in the land of Aqua Hollow, which has now been stewarded by the Sutter family for 109 years, and in his enduring contributions to Redvers, Saskatchewan, and Canada.
Memorial Services will be held at Knox United Church in Redvers on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Forwarding arrangements are being handled by Hall Funeral Services in Redvers.