01/07/2025
In loving memory of Allan Sidney Orchard. 🤍
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Allan. He is deeply missed by all who knew him. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Paul and Melanie Green (Allan’s daughter) for their generous donation of $1,001.00 in Allan’s memory. Allan had a profound love for all animals, and this contribution will help carry on his legacy and passion.
Allan Orchard Tribute:
I would like to thank everyone who has come to share in the story of my Dad’s life.
My name is Mark, oldest son of Allan and Jean.
As the story goes, my parents left Regina to begin a backhoe business in Lanigan and also raise their family. One of my earliest memories of my Dad was out at the Eichorst family farm. Dad had his new backhoe on the farm and was using the machine to move a 45 gallon drum of water for the chickens. However he needed his right hand man to operate the machine. Dad sat me down showing which lever to push, pull for the different functions. At the age of five I was a little scared of the machine. Dad said, “you got this Mark”. So when I nod my head push the lever gently forward. With my dad grasping the 45 gallon drum, he nodded his head. I looked down at the levers again, picked one of the two pushing with all my might. The bucket tipped forward, Dad jumped backwards with a wave of water rolling over him. Scared of what happened, I closed my eyes, hearing the tractor shut off, his hand on my shoulder, laughing he said “you did good Mark! I needed a bath.” From that moment on I always felt his love, his forgiveness, his humour.
Dad took pride in all that he did, his workmanship always had to be the highest standards. His word was golden, if he said he’d be there, he’d be there. From time to time a job would be completed with the farmer not having the funds to pay. He would graciously take payments over years with no interest.
It was very common for Dad to receive Christmas cards yearly from the customers he did work for. The reputation for Dad’s honesty, workmanship required no advertising from Lockwood to Leroy, Colonsay to Dafoe he covered a lot of ground.
Now let’s go fishing. Even before there was a road to Nemeiben Lake, Dad would beat his way over logging roads enduring a 12 hour trip of mud, ruts and potholes big enough to swallow a truck, in his ’67 Plymouth, a good reliable car. No matter how busy Dad was in summer working 16 hour days, 7 days a week, just to get work wrapped up to take 2 weeks holiday with the family. Nemeiben Lake became Dad’s sanctuary, a place to relax and unwind while listening to sound of a Zebco reel crying out in delight was a Northern pike takes line. Once he was at the lake he would switch gears helping us kids get out special hooks, which colour would work best, making sure our knots were tight and the line strong. So when sudden storms would blow up on the lake, Dad would improvise shelters protecting his family from the storms of nature and storms of life.
One day during winter with Melanie, Murray and I were at the farm helping Dad with feeding and looking after 600 head of cattle. His leg got caught in the tractor PTO, breaking his leg. During Dad’s recovery with so much time on his hands, he discovered a hidden talent of drawing, painting horses and landscapes. His eye and attention to detail taught me to look beyond to imagine and create.
My brother and sister enjoyed countless hours of playing cards, games, reading books, telling stories of when he was younger, of riding, roping, and of his family. His stories of survival during the 30’s and 40’s, a time of little money and basic food, meant someone had to hunt, where every shot had to find it’s target and Dad was the one to do it.
The many hunting trips Dad was on he would sit point, earning him the reputation of “1 shot Al” or “Eagle Eye Al”, for with the naked eye, miles away he would spot game. For hunting and fishing some basic requirement had to be met to be successful - “Potato Power”. So every breakfast required potatoes of some form. Hash browns, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, scalped potatoes, French fries, you name it, there had to always be a potato somewhere.
Dad once he moved to the farm would spend countless hours, tending his beloved potato patch. He loved to pick berries of all kinds. He shared his produce with the family making sure everyone had enough potatoes for winter. With the surplus, he would deliver produce to families who he felt needed help or encouragement.
Dad always made a point to be there for the many building projects over the years, building fence, repairing, trenching, building homes, fixing problems, solving problems, his love for family was very evident as he says “actions speak louder than words.” Dad loved nature, he loved animals, his calm disposition had animals come to him, he had his own language with animals and nature.
At the many weddings over the years, Dad would get all suited up with a splash of aftershave and take Mom onto the dance floor. They would glide and spin their way effortlessly smiling from ear to ear. His love for Mom always evident and ever caring, he would call her “Girly”. Even in the care home from time to time he would say “I love you” to his sweetheart, what he couldn’t speak his eyes would say you are with me in my heart always.
His love for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren was always evident as he loved
playing crokinole, cribbage, horseshoes, and card games. The many wiener roasts we had on the shores of lakes, at the farm, gathered around a crackling fire, we would remember the stories of days gone by, of fishing, hunting gardening, trips and adventures, of future journeys still to be had.
During his days at the lodge we would use the community bus to bring Dad for meals at Mel and Paul’s house. When the great-grandkids were around they would all get into the bus with Grandpa noisily and cheerfully they would bring Grandpa back to his room. Over time, the bus became known as the “struggle bus”.
One time Melanie was visiting Dad holding his hand, Melanie asked: “what are you thinking Dad?” Looking into her eyes with a tear in his eye saying: “I’m wondering whether I’ve done enough with my life”. I know that even though Dad had dementia, his spirit was always connected to his family offering up prayers in his quiet manner, even if he didn’t speak or say much - his eyes spoke volumes. His eyes were the gateway to his heart to his Saviour. He loved to sing the J***y Apple Seed song. When asked got pray, he would pray a prayer that could have only come from the Holy Spirit within.
Dad loved to tell stories about his past. He loved to hear stories about his children and families. He was our biggest cheerleader in life. After telling the story with a twinkle in his eye and a smile he would end with a quote from Paul Harvey - “And now you know the rest of the story”.
