In Loving Memory: Ronald Buchenroder – Northern Lights Funeral Chapel

Ronald (Ron) John von Buchenroder passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the age of 93, in St. Paul, Alberta. Ron was born in Bethelsdorp, South Africa, on May 26, 1932.

Ron is survived and missed by his loving wife of 41 years, Eefje (Eva) (née Folpmers), and his children, Anna (Jon), Eva, and Carl, as well as his granddaughters, Madilyn, Brielle, and Isleigh. He will be forever cherished and remembered by many nieces (Jacqui, Lisle, Heidi, Penny, Abigail, Judy, Ruby), nephews (Jeremy, Albert, Theo, Beverley, Anton) and numerous other members of the seventh generation of the von Buchenroder family in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Ron was predeceased by his beloved father William in 1948 and his beloved mother Wilhemina (Minnie) in 1973. He was also predeceased by his four siblings, Susan (1993), Richard (2008), Dorothy (2018), and Willy (2020). Ron’s bond to his family members remained unbreakable throughout his life.

Ron was a kind, compassionate, and generous soul who touched the lives of many. He was known for his warm heart, wisdom, and unwavering support to family and friends near and far. In order to help disadvantaged young people from the village in Bethelsdorp where he grew up, he and his brothers formed a rugby club called Temperance. The rugby club took the highest honours every year, and Ron maintained a love of rugby his entire life.
Ron had a curious spirit. As a young man, he was always eager to explore—whether it was the rugged trails, or the bustling city streets of Port Elizabeth in South Africa. He had a deep love for nature, and often spent weekends fishing with his family by the Swartkops River, sharing stories around campfires, and teaching younger family members to respect nature.

Ron trained as a teacher at Hewat Training College in Cape Town and began his teaching career at Veeplaas, Port Elizabeth, in the 1950s. In 1961, Ron escaped apartheid—South Africa’s system of racial segregation and discrimination—and the country’s security police, fleeing South Africa via Mozambique. He had been pursued for his support of the African National Congress, which opposed apartheid, and his activism in civil affairs. He moved to the United Kingdom, where he met his first wife Julie Jones in Wales, and eventually emigrated with Julie to Alberta, Canada, in the mid 1960s. Their first and only child, Anna Louise, was born in Canada in 1975.

Ron built a respected career as a teacher and principal in Canada, teaching in many communities in Alberta, including Vermillion, Paddle Prairie, Chateh, Edburg, and Joussard. Throughout his life, Ron maintained a deep connection to the land, nature, and animals. As well as teaching, he also farmed in Canada, staying true to his family tradition of working the land. He was an enthusiastic gardener who particularly loved roses, but grew many fruits, flowers, and vegetables, and enjoyed experimenting with plants such as Calla lilies and the watermelon native to his South Africa. He had a passion for animal husbandry and, over the course of his lifetime, tended to horses, sheep, chicken, and goats, as well as many cat and dog companions. Ron also had a creative spirit; he painted, carved wood sculptures, and built furniture.

In 1983, Ron met his second wife, Eefje (Eva), and they welcomed their first child, Eva, in 1984 and their second child, Carl, in 1986. Ron and his wife Eva and their children settled in the 1990s in the Creston Valley in British Columbia, where Ron tended an orchard and home-schooled his children after his retirement. The family subsequently moved to St. Paul, Alberta. In his later years, Ron could rarely be found without a book and a cat (Phyllis or Archie) near at hand. Reading was one of the joys of his life, and reflected his lifelong love of words and respect for knowledge.

Ron lived a life full of strength, adventure, and integrity. He had a quiet wisdom. He taught by example rather than, sometimes, by many words, showing us the value of hard work, patience, and humility. From standing up against apartheid to building a new life, first in the United Kingdom and then later in Canada, Ron’s actions of courage and resilience inspired those who knew him. His love for the land, commitment to education, and devotion to his family are qualities that will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Even when life was difficult, he carried himself with dignity, calm, and forebearance.
In keeping with his wishes, Ron will be laid to rest in South Africa with his forebears and siblings. A memorial service for him will be held at that time.

Rest in peace, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. You will be dearly missed but never forgotten. Your legacy lives on in your family in Canada; the United Kingdom; and in your cherished fatherland, South Africa.