Francis Allan "Al" Coleridge was born in Wadena, SK on March 11, 1933, the eldest of four children born to Frank and Dorothy (nee Martin) Coleridge. At the time of Al's birth, the family was living in Nut Mountain, SK. Al received the majority of his schooling in Nut Mountain, completing his education in Weekes where the family had moved after Frank found employment in that community. As a young man, Al was very athletic, playing softball and school sports and then becoming one of the best young curlers in the Weekes area. One of his big accomplishments was attending the "big city" Regina Men's Bonspiel in 1951. The opportunity to make money lured Al to Alberta where he worked for a telephone line company called Mcleod's contracting. He was very proud of the line they built from Edmonton to Hinton, AB. He always checked to see if it was still standing whenever family travelled that highway. The move to Alberta proved to be the best thing that Al ever did. It was here that he met the love of his life. While he was employed in the maintenance department at the Wainwright military base he met Jean Bousfield, a personal secretary to the Commanding Officer at Camp Wainwright. They dated briefly, but Jean's English charm was just too much for him. He asked her to become his wife and they were wed on June 1, 1955. While in Wainwright, their first son, Kevin Allan was born on April 8, 1956. That year the young Coleridge family received a phone call from Allan's father inviting them to move to Yorkton to become a partner in the family's service station/grocery store/motel venture. This business was Allan's life work until he retired in 2008. A second son, Robert Kelsey was born on September 24, 1968. Allan and Jean built their own house next to the family business in 1958. The boys both grew up there and the proximity of the business worked well. The family had a large yard and garden and Allan enjoyed barbecuing on the back deck. As retirement approached, Allan and Jean made the move into a new home on Langrill where Allan resided until his passing. Allan was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Jean and Allan were blessed with two sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Even though the family business took up a lot of time, Allan still found time to enjoy his family and many friends. He spent many evenings hooking rugs with Jean when that was a fad in the seventies. He and Jean enjoyed travelling, camping and playing cards with their friends. Many summers they loaded up the camper and headed down #1 highway west to BC to visit with the Bousfield and Coleridge family members who had made their home there. Allan and Jean also bought a cottage at Good Spirit Lake in 1987 and enjoyed hosting and entertaining all their friends and relatives over summer holidays. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with the boys and particularly enjoyed the fishing trips "up north" to the Churchill River with his sons and his two older grandsons. Other hobbies included reading and gardening. Allan was predeceased by his wife, Jean in 2001; his father, Frank in 1974 and his mother, Dorothy in 1981. He leaves to mourn his passing and cherish his memory, his son, Kevin (Barb) Coleridge of Good Spirit Acres, SK and their children, Tom (Nicole) Coleridge and granddaughter, Emery of Regina, SK and Pam (Glenn) Boyko and granddaughter, Paige of Kelowna, BC; son, Robert (Barb) Coleridge of Yorkton, SK and their children, Kyle of Regina, Katelyn and Michael Coleridge of Yorkton; brothers, Don (Caroline) Coleridge of Armstrong, BC, Bill (Gerry) Coleridge of Yorkton and sister, Donna (Garland) Berg of Tisdale, SK; sisters-in-law, Mary (Jim) Boyer of Courtenay, BC, Doreen (Art) Duhaime of Campbell River, BC, Audrey (Dave) Eichler of Okotoks, AB and Susan (Gord) Tupper of Victoria, BC; brother-in-law, Gord Stobart of Victoria, BC as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and good friends. A Visitation for family and friends took place at the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Services took place at Westview United Church in Yorkton, SK on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Deborah Smith officiating. Words of tribute and eulogy were given by Al's sister-in-law, Caroline Coleridge. The organist, Sharon Litvanyi, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "How Great Thou Art", "Lord of the Dance" and "We Shall Go Out With Hope of Resurrection". The Interment Service took place at the Yorkton City Cemetery with Rev. Deborah Smith officiating. Al's Grandchildren, Tom Coleridge, Kyle Coleridge and Katelyn Coleridge and Nephews, Brian Coleridge and Brad Kucharyshen and Godchild, Cory Cmoc served as the Pall bearers. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
