Obituary of Alexandr Matheson

Alexander (Al) Matheson, April 20, 1926-May 31, 2017 Al Matheson always loved a challenge but on Wednesday May 31st, at the age of 91, Al met the one challenge he couldn’t conquer and passed away with his family by his side. Al was the definition of a jack of all trades. He worked for Bowman Brothers for 20 years, in various positions, in various locations, and in many roles. Al spent a year as a mechanic with Kramer tractor, and then followed his entrepreneurial dreams with businesses like a second hand store called the Option Shop in Saskatoon. Later at Waskesiu, he and his wife Marj ran the the Red Deer Hotel, WASH-ka Sou DRY and the Fluff N Stuff where multiple generations of kids were able to purchase candy floss, popcorn and candy apples or have summer jobs. In his 50’s, Al also took a pre-employment plumbing course at Kelsey. He worked part-time at Centennial Plumbing and Marveon Signs and for Armstrong Hillcrest Cabins at Waskesiu . Al was the go-to guy for his neighbours dealing with any plumbing or electrical issues, construction and renovation, tv and satellite dish set-up and appliance repair. Cottage owners depended on him to view playoff hockey this time of year. People often said if he couldn’t fix it, it couldn’t be fixed. Al, or Alec as his sisters Wilma and Bunty used to call him, was the son of Scottish immigrants who came to Canada after the Great War. He went to Pleasant Hill School and Saskatoon Tech. He went into the Navy at the age of 17 and later served in the Canadian Forces Reserve. The defining moment in Al’s life came one summer at Waskesiu where he met Marjorie Davies. Al and Marj would eventually marry in 1950. This May, with Marj by his hospital bed, they celebrated 67 years of marriage. Al built the house in Montgomery Place where the family lived for 27 years and raised three children – Janet, Gail and Scott. Al and Marj loved to square dance and developed many life-long friendships through that activity. Al also served his community as a volunteer helping to run community recreational craft programs, gymnastics and Montgomery’s Saturday night teen dances. He was also a member of the Saskatoon Muzzle Loaders Club and participated in the first Louis Riel Relay race as a canoeist with the club. They won best costume. After retirement, Al and Marj spent 27 years splitting their time between Waskesui in summer and Yuma Arizona in winter. Al continued to enjoy fishing well into his later years and Al and Marj’s place in Waskesiu was always the central gathering place for not only their kids, grandkids and now even great grandchildren. Al was predeceased by his parents Alex and Agnes Matheson, father-in-law Bert and mother-in-law Marion Davies, his sister Wilma Conkey, brothers-in-law David and Bob Davies, Robert Shaw, Bill Wack and sister-in-law Louise Wack. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marj, daughter Janet Sullivan and grandson Connor, daughter Gail (Mike) Gelsinger and grandchildren Brent, Garett and Trevor (Rose) and great grandchildren Jakob and Alex, son Scott Matheson (Theresa) and grandchildren Tyler and Robyn (Aaron) and great-grandchild Marshall, his older sister Agnes (Bunty) Shaw, sister-in-law Mary Davies plus many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the awesome staff at Sherbrook Veteran’s Village and Stensrud. We would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at St. Paul’s Hospital, particularly those in Flex Unit 2, who gave Dad exceptional care and were so respectful in his final days. Please thank a nurse today on his behalf. e.