James W Scheller

    It is with profound sadness that the family of James Scheller, husband of Renaye Scheller, of Ketchen, passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025. He was 47 years of age.

    James Wayne Scheller was born on October 24th, 1977, in Canora Saskatchewan to Wayne and Helen Scheller. Three years later, he was joined by his brother, Robert, and three years after that another baby brother, Scott.

    They lived on the family farm, by Ketchen, where James spent all his growing years, helping with cattle, cultivating fields, and doing anything that entailed driving and operating farm equipment. James was four years old when his parents built an auto repair shop, known as Wayne’s Country Auto Repair, where James enjoyed working with his dad.  This is where he developed his mechanical skills.  As a young boy, he liked the job of cutting grass. A trimmed lawn and well-kept yard were very important to him, which remained a priority at his own home.

    Growing up with two brothers, he spent many hours patching up old bikes, snow machines, and cars…anything with a motor and wheels.  It wasn’t unusual for James, along with his brothers and cousins, Glen and Chad to spend all night repairing snow machines, so they could get at least one day’s ride in.  He continued to enjoy their snow machine trips together, every year, including this past winter.

    James always had a strong work ethic, starting his first job at age 15 for cousin, Joanne and Rick Pristie. This is where his skill of handling large equipment and semi-truck driving began.

    James was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in 1993.  He graduated from Preeceville High School in June of 1996, and acquired his Class 1A License that fall.  He was then hired by JR Holdings (Joanne and Rick) and experienced water hauling for oil rigs in northern Alberta.  He soon graduated to running backhoe, trackhoe, and all big equipment, which entailed loading and unloading.  It became apparent that James was a natural born operator/semi-truck driver.  He became their right-hand man, doing many jobs for their company on his own. James took one year off from work and attended Yorkton SIAST taking mechanics and was awarded top of his class.

    James married his high school sweetheart, Renaye Stubbe, on April 21st,2001, in St. John Lutheran Church, Preeceville.  Their first home was at Lady Lake. Soon after they moved permanently to Ketchen. They became the proud parents of Kent James on March 26th, 2004, followed by two beautiful little girls, Maicey Renaye on December 11th, 2006, and Kyla Emily Lorene on December 24th, 2010. During their marriage, James continued to work for JR Holdings, and later worked at various jobs, including a short time at Department of Highways.

    With James’s love for semi-trucks, in 2011, he and Renaye began their own business, Scheller Transport Inc. Their first semi was a white 1999 Peterbilt that they fondly named Wilma. This is the truck that Kent now operates for the business.  With many long hours and hard work, including many hours of book work for Renaye, their business has expanded to seven semi-trucks, along with seven employees.  Their business includes hauling butane in southern Sask. year-round, hauling anhydrous, spring and fall, and hauling peat moss, spring till winter.  Their son, Kent, who was his dad’s right-hand man, will now be the manager of their business.  He inherited his dad’s managing and mechanical skills, along with operating the big trucks.  James was so proud of this and referred to Kent as his hero.

    James was very proud of their daughters, Maicey and Kyla, who are both blessed with the natural gift of music.  He was proud that they are part of the school band, as he played the saxophone in the school band, winning many awards. He was proud that they sing and play in church and also teach Sunday School.

James and Renaye both had a passion for dancing and they were a natural on the dance floor. They would attend a dance every chance they got. James enjoyed snow machining, biking, and travelling with his family. James was a proud husband to Renaye, and father to Kent, Maicey and Kyla.

    James will leave to mourn, his wife of 24 years, Renaye; son, Kent; daughters, Maicey and Kyla; parents, Wayne and Helen; mother-in-law, Sherry Stubbe; brothers and sisters-in-law, Rob (Angela), Scott (Becky); sisters-in-law, Lorena Slade (Carl), Denise (Cam) Taylor; and broth-in-law, Dale Stubbe; nephews, Carter and Wyatt Scheller, Tyson Baskerville and nieces, Abby and Ally Scheller and Jamie Reid.

    Funeral Services were held June 6, 2025, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Preeceville with Pastor Hein Bertram officiating. Joanne Sorestad played the piano for the hymns “It is Well With My Soul”, “Because He Lives”, and “Be Thou My Vision”. The eulogy and tribute were shared by Jason Feeley. Interment followed at Poplar Grove Cemetery, Ketchen, with Rob Scheller, Scott Scheller, Glen Greaves, Chad Palaniuk, Curtis Strijak, and Rick Pristie serving as casket bearers. 

    Memorial donations in memory of James may be made to Poplar Grove Cemetery (Box 1053, Preeceville, SK, S0A 3B0) as gifts of remembrance.