Eva Justina Elke (Rode) passed from this earth on the 8th of February in this year 2026. Family attended her peaceful death @ Luther Special Care Home in Saskatoon where she had lived for the previous 3 weeks.

Eva’s last big celebration was on October 31st 2025, her 93rd birthday. All of her children, their partners and her husband of 23 years, Al Shumaker, gathered together over her favourite bucket o’ KFC and raspberry-topped ice cream.

Her life had been full of the joys that flow when one is part of loving families. Initially within her family of birth where, as the youngest daughter of John and Alexandra Rode she was the well-loved youngest among 10 siblings. Then as a young mother to 6 children with Ervin (death 1995). Later as grandmother and great-grandmother. And in 2002, with her husband, Al Shumaker, 5 ‘steps’ and their families.

Life wasn’t without its sorrows as, at 20 years of age, her eldest child, Dwight, ‘went to be with the angels’ as mom always said. Then in 2018, daughter-in-law Rhonda passed at a very young age. Later, of course, as a long-lived woman from a large family and with many friends there were more recent losses.

However, on the whole, her life was full of the laughter and joy that prayer, friendship, family and service brings. And music, always the music. Whether whistling or humming or singing around the house or performing duets with Ella or as a soprano in choirs or playing the church organ or later, playing bass guitar and singing with Al, until in her last few years when she wanted quiet, there was always music.

Her kitchen (and later the group of glider chairs in the living room) was the warm centre of her home. THE place to be. Good and plentiful meals, delicious homemade cinnamon buns provided (although later she confided that she never really liked to cook). And perhaps a ‘bisschen schnapps’.

However, it was the converZ’ation that Eva enjoyed most. With mom no topic was ‘verboten’. Sex.Politics.Religion. Anything at all was a ‘hot topic’. Her unspoken caveat: no opinion was to be spoken unkindly or leave divisiveness. Tolerance and kindness with a big dollop of acceptance always prevailed. And hopefully one left that discussion with a better understanding of the ideas and opinions that were not your own … and of the people that held them.

Mom will be much missed by: husband Al Shumaker; children Donna-Lee (Ken), Grant (Nadine), Roxanne (Dean), Jo-Ann (Steve), Bruce (Lisa), Nathan (Laura); step-children Ted (Katie), Mathew, Ruth (Paul), Beth (Grant), Jay (Teresa) AND a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step grands and step great-grands. As well by her surviving sister Edna and brother Art.

On June 6, 2026, a Celebration of Life will be held in Jansen during which we will inter Eva’s ashes with her beloved Ervin. All friends and family are invited.

Martens Warman Funeral Home is honoured to be entrusted with Mrs. Elke's care and arrangements.