Roland Sawatsky

1932 - 2019

Roland Victor Sawatsky was born Nov. 29, 1932 in Mullingar, Sask. His parents were Peter & Mary (Harder) Sawatsky.

The family moved to Yarrow B.C. when Roland was 8 years old. His mother needed treatment for cancer and passed away when he was 9, after which his father remarried.

Roland went to Yarrow Elementary school. He was baptized at the Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church as a teen, and this was where he married Lora Neufeldt on September 22, 1956.



Early in their marriage, Roland amd Lora attended the Mennonite Brethren Bible College (MBBC) in Winnipeg. Roland was passionate about music. After completing his masters of music education in Wichita, Kansas, he taught choral music and voice at Moundridge, Secondary School. He studied toward his doctorate in Kansas City, then moved to Winnipeg. Roland taught music at Murdoch Mackay Collegiate, Winnipeg.

He will be remembered for his hard work and perseverance in building a music program at Murdoch where none existed before. He also served as choir director for numerous churches including River East Church, Winnipeg where they were members

Following his retirement, they moved to Chilliwack, BC to be closer to family whom he loved dearly. They became members of the nearby Sardis Community Church. After years of struggling with dementia he died in Chilliwack. Surviving him are his wife Lora and their sons Steven (Pauline}, Norman (Nancy), and five grandchildren.