Karl Sundquist

Karl Magnus "Bunnie" Sundquist
January 23, 1923 - August 1, 2021.

After a wonderfully long life, it is with hearts full of love and respect, that we say goodbye to Karl "Bunnie" Sundquist. Karl passed away peacefully at the Meadows in Swift Current at 98 years of age.

Predeceased by his wife Elsie, Karl will be sadly missed by their children, Deb Jamieson (Bob), Fred Sundquist and Dawn Calder (Doug), grandchildren Meaghan Lawrence (Greg) and daughters Madison and Elise, Jesse Jamieson and son Preston, Stefan Davis (Sierra), Kelsey Davis, Jaylan Sundquist and Joshua Sundquist, sisters Ruth Zander and Shirley Brooks, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Karl was born and raised on a farm near Wynyard, SK and, as a young man, helped to run the family farm. A knack for fixing things led to a job as a mechanic with the John Deere dealership. He eventually owned the business, along with a second business as a bulk oil agent. In the mid sixties, Karl made a career change and joined Mutual Life of Canada where he was soon promoted to Manager and posted to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. After a few years, Karl decided that he preferred selling to managing, and relocated to Swift Current, SK in 1969. Karl's success in business was due in no small way to his honesty, integrity and hard work. Long after his retirement, former clients would ask about him and say that he was the most honest person they had ever dealt with.

Karl exemplified what it meant to serve his community through his unwavering loyalty to various service clubs and organizations. Whether it was 45 years of service to Kiwanis, volunteering for the Swift Current Fair Board, several years as Mayor and Fire Chief in Wynyard, ushering at church, delivering meals on wheels or snow blowing neighbors' driveways, Karl was a willing and selfless community leader.

As a father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Karl was a kind and generous man, our "go to handyman", a problem solver, a great provider, and a source of wise counsel. Music was important to Dad, and we loved listening to him sing or play his fiddle. Perhaps most of all though, we thoroughly enjoyed his witty sense of humour.

Karl was an extraordinary woodworker. He loved working with his hands and had a lifelong interest in the fiddle which he started playing by ear as a teenager. He began making violins in the early 1980s. He knew a couple of people that had been making violins, and he thought if they could do it, there was no reason he shouldn't be able to do it. He went down to the library and borrowed some books on violin making and it all went from there through a process of trial, error and practice. While making the first violin for himself, his young grandson asked "Bunnie, could you make one for me?" And he said sure! Little did he know he would end up with six grandchildren, each of whom now is the proud owner of an exquisite legacy, a violin made by their grandfather.

In addition to his wife Elsie, Karl was predeceased by his first wife at a young age, Mabel, his parents Joseph and Ragnhild; brothers Fred (in childhood), George, Rudolph and Harold; sister Gladys, brothers-in-law Benny Zander, Alan Brooks, Ralph Anderson, Arthur Thorfinnson, Walter Thorfinnson, sisters-in-law Vesper Sundquist, Doris Sundquist, Micki Thorfinnson, and Fjola (Toni) Thorfinnson.

The family would like to thank the care teams at the Gull Lake Care Centre, the Meadows, and especially Riverview where Karl lived for 9 years until April of this year.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Swift Current, SK.

In memory of Karl, donations made to Sask Abilities 1551 North Railway St W, Swift Current, SK, S9H 5G3 or  https://www.saskabilities.ca/support-us/support-us/donate/memorial-giving , or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.

"Life is precious and should be enjoyed to the fullest. So let's adopt a positive attitude in all of our undertakings." Karl Sundquist.

Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home. For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606 or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Karl Sundquist, please visit our floral store.