June 26, 1923 – April 24, 2013
Alan was raised in Jasper, Alberta. He loved the mountains and was an excellent cross-country skier and outdoorsman. However, entering the RCAF in 1942 brought him to Pat Bay where, in 1943 he met his future wife, Lorna Thomson. They were married in May 1947 and their romance continued for 66 years.
Having obtained his journeyman carpenter’s certificate, he started his own business crafting custom built houses. He was highly respected for his integrity and skill. In his busy retirement he applied his expertise to volunteer work at the Historical Artifacts Society, The Draft Horse Club and Mt. Newton Center to name a few. Alan was well-known for driving and restoring a remarkable collection of horse-drawn vehicles that have appeared in the Saanich Fair, movies and stage shows. At 89, he was still an important member of the haying and asparagus crew at Hi-Lo Farm. His garden of bountiful produce and prize-winning blooms reflected the high standards he brought to every endeavour.
He never lost his love of the outdoors and passed on that passion to his children through family hikes, camping and fishing trips. One favourite memory was in 1953 when Alan and his brother Jack traversed the Columbia Icefields Glacier on skis. Family vacations varied from back-packing in the Rockies to cruising the Canary Islands.
Predeceased by his parents, George and Alice, brother Reg, and sister Nancy Stead. Alan is survived by his wife Lorna; daughters Frances, Winona (Bill Jensen), Gillian (Craig Darling), Geraldine (Rob Oldfield); his brother, Jack and much loved nieces and nephews and their families. His gentle strength and encouragement inspired us all.
A memorial service will be held at St. Stephen’s Church, 7921 St. Stephens Road on Wednesday, May 8th at 1:30pm. Reception following at Saanich Pioneer Log Cabin, 7910 Polo Park Crescent.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Saanich Historical Artifacts Society, 7321 Lochside Drive, Saanichton, BC, V8M 1X4, website: www.shas.ca, or a local charity of your choice.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
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Patrick and Sandi Mead-Robins
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Sital & Dale Shoker Our Sincere condolencies to all the family.
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Kathleen & Les Lane Lorna and Family:
We are very sorry to hear of Alan’s passing. We have known Alan for many many years and we can still remember the beautiful job he did on our home when we lived on Sluggett Rd. He was always a very kind and loving person and will be missed by everyone who had met him.
Kathleen and Les Lane
Our deep condolences and we were sorry to hear of Alan’s passing and our sympathies to his wife and family.
Alan was an excellent carpenter and master craftsman and I was fortunate to have known Allan and some of his daughters when they worked at The Butchart Gardens where I worked. His outdoor stories and adventurers were interesting and he was also an excellent source of knowledge which he freely shared and especially of his Saanich Inlet fishing tips.
Allan also trained Mark Brown as an apprentice who followed in Allan’s footsteps and became an excellent carpenter and master craftsman, and who we were lucky to have build and finish our new home some seventeen years ago, just across the road from Allan’s home.
And it doesn’t seem that long ago that we could often hear Allan in his workshop with his planer, saws and router often busily working away, or even the tiller working away in his garden.
Such nice working sounds that we will miss as well as Allan’s presence and all his fascinating stories of long ago now, but still remembered.
Thank you Allan.
Patrick and Sandi Mead-Robins
Greig Road, Brentwood Bay BC
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