Aug. 4, 1937 – March 29, 2025

Walter Schauerte, beloved husband of Jane Bruder, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 87.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 40 years, Jane; stepson Robert McCallum; grandchildren Charissa (Bre) Morgan, Tristan McCallum and Ashton McCallum; brother Paul (Hank) Schauerte; brothers and sisters in law Ronald and Rhonda Bruder, Eric and Olga Bruder, Blaise and Linda Bruder, Dennis and Ann Carney, Myron and Evelyn Bruder, David and Bev Bruder, Rhona Bartolotti, Jan and Steve Bruder-Sedgwick, James and Lynn Bruder, Paul and Chris Bruder, Carlos and Glenda Bruder, Steve Bruder, and Tony and Lorraine Bruder. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Walter was born to John and Clara Schauerte, the youngest of eight children, on their farm just down the hill east of St. Henry’s Church. They lived within walking distance of Yarrow School (and yes, it was uphill both ways). He attended school at St. Michael’s for his Grade 9, boarding at the dorm. His father died when Walter was 15, his mother sold the farm, she and her three youngest sons moved to Calgary, and Walter went to work in the building construction trade.

Walter and his mom returned to Pincher Creek in April of 1970, to the farm just west of town on Kettles Creek, where he lived out the rest of his life. Here they lived in “the shack” while he built the big log house. They lived there together until his mom moved into Crestview in 1981.

Walter raised cattle and sheep, and worked at numerous jobs: custom farming, driving truck, home construction and renovation, Shell plant, Pincher Creek Ranches, bartending, wherever he could find work. He even got in some travelling in 1975 when he and Ernie Sinnott made a trip to France for Pincher Creek Ranches to look at Salers cattle. In 1983, Ernie installed the first windmill for power generation in the MD, and Walter installed the second shortly after.

On July 13, 1982, Walter and Jane connected at St. Henry’s 75th anniversary celebration. After a three-year courtship, they were married July 13, 1985, and Walter gained a ready-made family: 14-year-old Laurie and eight-year-old Robert. 

In 1996, they sold the big log house and acreage and Walter built a second house across the creek, as beautiful and unique as the first. He and Jane lived there until 2016 when, at age 79, he decided he wanted to build a third house, this time solar powered and off-grid, to retire in. Unfortunately, six months later, his health started to fail. They moved into this house in 2019, where Walter was able to see the sunrises in the east and the mountains in the southwest, to enjoy the fruits of his labour, and finally, to die.

Walter was a man of integrity, honest and outspoken to a fault. You always knew where you stood with him. He was always ready and willing whenever friends and neighbours called on him for help. He made, and kept, many friends over the years from all walks of life, and always maintained close contact with his family. His numerous nieces and nephews learned many life lessons when they visited Uncle Walter and Grammie on the farm. He enjoyed hunting, playing cards and visiting with friends. He loved to tease and joke, and that he did, right to the end.