The Community Foundation supports donors who include CFSEA in their future plans as well as donors who choose to leave a living legacy. Rod and Shirley Siegle do both! They are Heritage Club Members and have a Smart and Caring Fund to support the community’s greatest needs.
Rod Siegle was born and raised in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan and completed his Auto Mechanics training in Moose Jaw. Shirley lived in various small towns throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan, eventually moving to Maple Creek in high school. This is where she and Rod first met. She graduated from Maple Creek Composite High School in 1971 and promptly married Rod, the love of her life. Four years after they were married, a job opportunity presented itself and they relocated to Medicine Hat.
Rod worked for over 40 years as an Automotive Mechanic. In addition to his full-time job, he started a home-based photography business in 1984. Shirley assisted him in the business, and they were kept extremely busy most weekends with wedding and family photos. Shirley had a few careers of her own including being a Seamstress, Medical Office Assistant, and Surface Land Administrator. Both have since retired and are thoroughly enjoying their free time together. The pair enjoy long walks, dogs and cats, trips to the Crestwood Gym, gardening, reading, and puzzling.
“Medicine Hat has been very good to us, and we want to give back to such a great community.” – Rod and Shirley Siegle
Rod and Shirley certainly give back to this community. They both find time for many volunteer activities, such as helping with the pond clean up through SEAWA, Rod with the Medicine Hat Stampede’s Risk Management Team, and Shirley with Canadian Mental Health Association’s Keep in Touch Program. They have also committed to leaving a future gift to the community through CFSEA’s Heritage Club program. Their intention is that this gift will be used to establish a scholarship fund to encourage the importance of education, with the rest being distributed to a charity that works with animals.
Rod and Shirley were drawn to the Community Foundation in 2015 after hearing a presentation from the Executive Director at the time about the history and purpose behind CFSEA. They resonated with John Ignatius’ story, since they too, do not have children to leave an inheritance to, but want to make an impact and leave a legacy. They were impressed that their original donation would never be spent, but rather, invested, so that these funds will continue to distribute forever.
“We have been fortunate to live in such a great community, with so many opportunities for citizens of all ages, and we hope to leave a lasting gift as a thank you for all we’ve enjoyed while living here.” – Rod and Shirley Siegle
“30 Stories for 30 Years”