The Almonte Gazette, Wednesday December 20 2000
Local community volunteer died suddenly Dec 12, by Brent Dowdall, Gazette Reporter.
Wherever the Almonte Lions Club was, Carl Frederick Sadler was almost sure to be there. A member of the Lions for almost 40 years, an Almonte native, family man and community volunteer, Sadler died suddenly on Tuesday, December 12 at the age of 72. His passing brought hundreds of friends and family to pay their final respects at both C. R. Gamble Funeral Home and Chapel and at Saturday's funeral at Almonte United Church. "They (crowds of people paying their respects) never stopped," said Bruce Sadler. "On Friday (evening), it went from 6:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. without a break in the line." The local Masonic order and Lions Club also held memorials on Thursday and Friday, respectively," in memory of Sadler. "Mr. Lions is what we called him" said Wayne Irwin, a club member and longtime friend. Sadler was a five-time president of the Almonte Lions, a deputy-district governor for Zone A-4, a past zone chairman for 30 West Lions International, and a regular contributor to Lions events in both Almonte and surrounding communities. Sadler also never missed a Lions convention and would travel around the area to locations such as Shawville Fair to help their Lions events. According to his brother, Sadler had just finished blowing snow out of the driveway after a major snowstorm that morning which dropped close to 30 centimetres on the area. He was to go pick up his grand-daughter, but she had gotten a drive to his home with someone else. They were talking in the house when she told her grandfather he did not look well. Sadler's reply was that he did not feel well and he then suffered a heart attack. A neighbour, members of the Mississippi Mills Fire Department and ambulance personnel attempted to revive Sadler at home. He was then transported to Almonte General Hospital but was unable to be revived. Around the so-called Superior Restaurant "Coffee Club" last week, thoughts were about Sadler for his Knowledge of the community, his volunteer and humanitarian efforts and his regular visits for coffee. "He was a regular," said Gerry Coleman, a Coffee Club member and Lions Club colleague. "He was a paid-up member of the Coffee Club. "Carl was one who always reminded us who was who and about the history of Almonte." Born and raised on a farm across from where Stoneridge Mall now stands and which he still owns - it has been owned by the family for 93 years -Sadler's father was in the market garden business. He and sons Carl and Bruce ran the farm, and delivered market items to customers twice a week. After a short period as a golf course greenskeeper, Sadler worked for 18 years for contractor Norman Sadler (no immediate relative), and then worked for brother Bruce on home construction for many years as a carpenter. He and his wife Shirley Crawford were married for 49 years and they have three surviving daughters - Ann Duncan (Lavern) of Ottawa, Beverley Visneskie (Andy) of Renfrew and Kathryn Kobus (Mike) of Arnprior. He was predeceased by a daughter, Nancy Jane. Sadler was also grandfather - "Poppa" - to Trevor Duncan, Ryan, Dana, Pat and Shane Malone, and Ian Pippy."I used to call him the 'Godfather of the family' when it came to his girls." said Bruce. "He called then every day to see where they were and what they were doing. he was quite a family man." He continued to work with wood through membership in the Lanark Woodworking Club, and he was a member of Mississippi Lodge AF & AM 147, as well a long-time member of the Mississippi Mudds dramatic group - he loved to sing.
Sadler could also be the centre of humor, including taking up as much room as he could around the table. "He took up two chairs, and we always teased him for taking up two chairs at the table - "here comes Carl, we better make room", said Irwin. "He could take a joke and he could make one too."Sadler continued the family market garden tradition, as he provided hundreds of dozens Gladiolus for cemetery decoration services throughout the area. He also grew pumpkins there, and those pumpkins became part of a Lions Club fundraiser. Coleman also noted that Sadler was the person who pushed the club to get involved in the Carleton Place bingos, which has been one of the largest sources of funds for the past five years. Just a week before his death, Sadler and brother Bruce had returned from a visit to Western Canada with their brother Rev. Ray Sadler of Saskatoon, who is suffering from terminal cancer. Bruce Sadler said his brother had a minor heart attack about nine years ago, but recovered quickly from it. The Masonic members paid their respects at a service on Thursday evening, and Lions Club members assembled in the Gamble chapel for a memorial service on Friday evening. Visitation took place at the C. R. Gamble Funeral Home and Chapel on Thursday evening, as well as Friday afternoon and evening.