Obituary of Bill Colquhoun

COLQUHOUN - William Alexander passed away on July 9th at Cypress Regional Hospital with his wife and daughters by his side.

William Colquhoun was born November 26, 1936, in a Model T car on the way to the hospital in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, eldest son of William John and Jessie Colquhoun. He always said that was why he never liked the cold winters. His early years were spent helping on the farm, attending a one-room country school in Cherry Ridge District, and of course, hunting and fishing with his brother Dave and two cousins Walter and John.

While attending high school in Nipawin, Bill served in the Reserve Army. He never forgot his regimental number, it was firmly implanted in his memory. He said they had to be able to quote it to get paid.  He was always mindful of his uncles and aunts who served in the wars. In 1954, at the age of 17 he began his career with Canada Post and was thereafter employed by the public service for almost 37 years. He worked in eight different locations in the province, mostly in management positions and retired as postmaster of the Swift Current Office in 1990. He then went on to be employed for the following 9 years as co-ordinator for McKerracher Support Services, an independent living program for people with mental illness, from which he retired in May of 2000. Also, for a few years he helped as an assistant at funerals for Parkside Funeral Home.

Bill's Christian faith was very important to him, and it was evidenced in his daily life. In his local churches, he has served as Church Council Chairman and on the Boards of Elders and Deacons, Small Group Bible Study Leader, Youth Leader, Sunday School Teacher and Seniors' Ministry Co-ordinator.

Bill joined the Gideons (now Shareword Global) in 1964 and has always been an active member in the six Gideon Chapters he has attended. He also served as Zone Leader for southern Saskatchewan and as Saskatchewan Area Trustee on the National Board. One of his greatest joys was being able to present New Testaments to his girls and his grandchildren when they were in grade five.

Bill was involved in his community as a member of the Rotary Club for 37 years, serving a term as club president. For many years he was responsible to organize the annual Christmas Carol Festival and also assisted in many other ways. After retiring as co-ordinator of McKerracher Support Services, he served on the board of directors for 18 years. He served for 15 years as a board member for Canadian Mental Health Association in Swift Current, for several years on the board of the Swift Current Counselling Centre, a term on the Swift Current Chamber of Commerce, and while living in Maple Creek, on the local School Board.

A few years ago, Bill became excited over a pet project of setting up a postal museum in Maple Creek, where he was postmaster for eleven years. He had collected a lot of post office memorabilia and wanted it displayed. So, in 2014 they set up a postal museum room at the Jasper Cultural Centre and he was very proud of his display.

Following his retirement and that of his wife, they volunteered for eight years at Wycliffe Bible Translators in Catalina, Arizona, for approximately two months each year. When they moved from their house to the condo, he soon became involved and served on the condo board for many years.

Bill was an ardent hunter and fisherman, and loved to share his stories. When he retired from the post office his staff gave him a beautiful set of golf clubs, which he made very good use of. He enjoyed the golfing as much as he enjoyed the coffee-time with his friends after the game.

Bill is survived by his wife, Donelda (Donna), his daughters: Karen (Ean) Bull and Cheryl (Len) Gabriel; his grandchildren: Christine (Jimmie) Chau, Ashley Loewen, Ryan Stenstrom, Evan Stenstrom, Connor Gabriel and Parker Gabriel; step-grandchildren: Kale (Maegan) Bull and Carissa-May Bull and seven great-grandchildren; his brother, David (Shirley) Colquhoun; sisters-in-law: Janice Colquhoun-Barry (Tim Barry) and Blanche Harkin, as well as several special nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is predeceased by his parents, one brother, Lloyd, and sister, Gail, as well as a precious infant granddaughter, Ella Alexandra Gabriel.

"The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him."Prov. 20:7 NKJ

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of The Open Bible. The interment will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery, Swift Current, SK. Donations in memory of Bill can be made to Shareword Global - Box 3619 Guelph, ON. N1H 7A2

Watch the Bill Colquhoun's Funeral service- Livestream-BillColquhounFuneralService.youtube.com