Condolence: Herbert war mein Cousin, vor einigen Jahren besuchte er uns mit seiner Mutter in Koblenz und seine ruhige Wesensart war mir so vertraut weil er darin meinem früh verstorbenen Bruder sehr ähnlich war. Mein Bruder starb mit 52 ebenfalls an einem völlig unerwarteten Herzschlag, daher kann ich gut nachempfinden, wie besonders schrecklich dieser Todesfall -zumal am selben Tag auch seine Mutter Finchen verstarb- für die Angehörigen war. Leider habe ich es erst vor wenigen Tagen erfahren, möchte aber nun Monika und Robert mein tiefes Beileid aussprechen. Sie sind immer in unseren Herzen.

Condolence: My sincere condolences. We all will miss Herb so much!

He was the most understated person I knew. I didn't recognize how important he was in my life until the unwanted opportunity came to be retrospective this past week.

When thinking of Herb, the first thoughts are of his strength of character, determination, clear thought, humour, humility and his capacity for friendship. He had his priorities very well placed. His capacity to recognize and follow through on his commitment to make his Mom’s last years as comfortable as possible was admirable.
Herb had strength that wasn't obvious as he didn't project it in a way to impress others. Those of us who were privileged enough to be around him long enough could sense it.
My first opportunity to sense this was when he allowed me to lift his accordion. I was scrawny and he was “solid”. We were aged 9 or 10, a risky age for two boys up in the country. Herb however brought a civility of city life up from Oakville to the farm land setting where he lived much of his life. His Mom and Dad provided for him some structure not common up in the country. Martial Arts, German School, the accordion expertise, lederhosen and this refined more urban approach was a bit foreign to me as I was raised in the country exclusively. The Roerig family was framed in a warm, kind, gentle confidence. His parents were beautiful people who he obviously respected and cherished. Herb introduced our family to this different culture and sold it to the point that he and his family won us over completely. He would put on accordion performances of “The Three Blind Mice” (in his lederhosen) with his beaming smile, play hockey (he was Bobby Hull while I was Gordie Howe) we would ski as a couple of Jean Claude Killy and Karl Schranz competitors. Basically we mutually got each other into and out of minor amounts of kid fun and mischief in the country without many scars.

An example of Herb’s understated strength that one wouldn’t suspect was that he was ranked as the “toughest kid” at Percy W. Merry School. This was a distinction that he reluctantly earned when we had transferred to that school when we began grade 7. Apparently there was a necessary re establishment of the pecking order when we arrived. I didn’t understand this as I had come from a pretty placid school where not much of this behavior ever surfaced. At Percy W. Merry, this couldn’t be avoided. Herb was handed the assignment of dealing with “Sonny” the most accomplished boxing style fighter at the school. The crowd of grade 7 & 8’s gathered in great mob hostility type anticipation. Herb didn’t shrink from the stage he was placed upon. About 3 seconds later all (but Herb and I) were stunned to see their gladiator flat on his back with the wind knocked out of him and Herb standing there smiling, self effacing saying that it really was nothing and he would show anyone who wanted to learn - including the vanquished fellow as he assisted him up from the ground. I wasn’t surprised at all as I had reluctantly been his sacrificial sparring partner and wound up in the same position as poor Sonny all too often. In fact I was relieved to see someone else in that position!
Herb had the power to constantly change things from hostile to humble and keep ego out of it. Unaware of it, he had an extremely profound effect on my life. Were I to say this to him, he would smile and shrug off the concept that there was any great importance of what he had accomplished. His humility was so refreshing!

We will miss him greatly!

Condolence: Dear Monika and Rob,

Our deepest condolences on the passing of your dad and Oma. We hope that you find peace and clarity during this time. Having each other for support and comfort is a powerful thing.

May they rest in peace.

Condolence: Herb was my first best friend. You could always count on Herb for generosity and helping out. He was a charming man, had great humor and was always so neat and organized. If you’re familiar with 'The Odd Couple,' he’s Felix Ungar but much more easy going. He was fluent in German and English, and loved European football, also known as soccer. In the high school, he played for the soccer team for at least one year. He enjoyed hockey but didn’t play it. Once he told me about Robbie excelling as a hockey goaltender and that through him, he was living his own hockey fantasy.

We went to the same public school and highschool. His early heroes were Mighty Mouse and Robin Hood. We often play acted in a pretend Sherwood Forest, sometimes jousting with staffs. He was the only other guy I knew who wore lederhosen, although he was astute enough not to wear them to school. Then he hoped to be Superman. Alas he did not obtain super powers on his twelfth birthday.

As we got older, we played with model railroad trains, sometimes discussing whose set was better and so on. It didn’t matter, we had fun.

Then highschool came, he was lucky enough to earn more money than me and managed to buy an orange VW beetle. He sometimes used the bug to take the occasional day off school, and only got caught once when the school phoned his parents concerning his whereabouts. There was that crazy ice night at the local arena, when Herb lost his contacts. Folks groped about in the dark to eventually find them. He had a brief acting stint in grade 13, and in one performance was accidentally kicked in the groin. He hid his reaction well and the audience never knew.

Our graduating adventure was a canoe trip down some river in a remote area, somewhere near Gogama. It was first for all three of us. After the first night, we were already sick of portaging. When we encountered the next portage, a timber shoot, Olaf was gung ho to run it, I was mildly supportive and Herb was the voice of reason. Alas, we outvoted him and down we went, only to tip. The current sent most of our belongings out into a lake and it jammed our canoe into the rocks with a force so powerful we couldn’t dislodge it. Hence we bushwacked with whatever belongings remained. But a lucky break came when we spied two fishermen in a motor boat. Olaf and I were too embarrassed to yell for help, but Herb did. “Help, help,” he shouts. Then, “Why are you guys yelling for help?” He’s right, we should be (yelling for help). Fortunately these anglers had a float plane and they flew us out.
 
Herb went to the University of Waterloo for civil engineering and I ended up somewhere else for electrical. He would be thrilled to know that two of my children are now Waterloo students. Then after graduation, we maintained some contact, we even rode motor bikes together for a while. Many times I was jealous because he was more charming and popular with women. Eventually he planned to marry and honored me by asking me to be the wedding MC. Later he would MC mine. Then he honored me again by asking me to be godfather to Robbie. Likewise, he is godfather to my oldest.

We all live our own lives and Herb and I lived in different parts of the province. Although we no longer had much contact, we got together a few times. He was always proud of his children, was caring about family and friends, and basically stayed the same old Herb with that odd combo of funny and careful.

The last time I saw him was during a surprise drop in. He was watching soccer and humorously bemoaned the fact that the German team started going downhill after their world cup victory in Brazil. He was a good friend, loving father, caring son, and, from what I hear, a fantastic colleague. Monika and Robbie, we offer you our condolences and whatever we can do to help.

Condolence: I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to the Roerig family on the loss of your father. Herb was an all around good guy who showed very early on what kind of person he was; honest, full of integrity and compassionate. I was fortunate to know him from the Drumquin days and high school. May God's love and your happy memories sustain you during this sad time.

Condolence: Dear Rob, Monika and Family,
Our heartfelt condolences to all of you in the loss of your Oma and Father. We hope all your warm and fond memories give you comfort at this difficult time and in the times ahead.
Sincerely,
Ed, Kathy, Ryan and Nicole Caklos

Condolence: My condolences to the family.
Herb was a generous friend. We enjoyed our company together on the golf course, tennis and squash courts, the many meals at his home, the annual Pizza Party and in many bars. Then Herb settled down and I was there for his marriage to Teresa, and I was there when Robby showed up and then Monica... we kept up with our games and continued to share many laughs...then the years ran away from us.
I find it all so unbelievable.... we were planning a get together after Herb resolved some personal issues- I was planning on getting a good group together.... Rest In Peace good buddy,

Henry Site

Condolence: Please accept our sincere condolences for the loss of your Oma and Father. I will long remember the many great times we shared with Herb in the past.
Sincerely, Vic and Catherine Ujihara

Condolence: Dear Monika,
Our deepest condolences to you and your brother. You will have their love in your hearts forever. ❤️❤️