ESTEVAN - Allan Senchuk is being described as a “hard worker” who became a successful business leader and an important member of the community.
Allan died on Aug. 29 at St. Joseph’s Hospital at the age of 88. He was born in Estevan and lived in the Energy City his entire life. His sons Brian and Ron remembered him as a good man who played an important role in the community and “always went above and beyond for everybody”, Brian said.
“He was just a true gentleman, is what everybody has said who has come in and expressed their condolences,” said Brian.
Allan Senchuk was the owner of McComb Automotive Supply in Estevan and Carnduff for more than 50 years. The successful business continues to be operated by his family.
He started as an employee fresh out of high school and purchased the business when the opportunity became available in 1969. McComb has undergone considerable growth since Allan purchased the business. It has added employees and it has diversified its product offering, while still providing the services needed for an automobile.
The company has also supported numerous community initiatives.
Allan was also a big part of the Estevan Lions Club. Earlier this year, he was recognized for being a Lion for 60 years – the first member of the club to ever receive the distinction. He became a Lion just a few years after the club was chartered.
Among his roles were as president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and tail twister within the club, and he was also a zone chairperson.
Allan will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Lions Clubs’ Hall of Fame, which is another first for the club. To be inducted into the hall, the local club had to show that Allan had done certain things, like serving as president and treasurer and other positions in the club. He also had to be in charge of different fundraising events, not just with the Lions but with other organizations. And he had to be involved at the district level.
“He seldom missed a meeting,” said Ron, who is also a Lions club member. “He believed in supporting anything that he could do to help fundraise. He lived and he went to conventions all over Saskatchewan and travelled as far away as Vegas to go to different conventions.
“He believed the work he was doing was helping others, and that’s where he helped, or did what he could to help.”
His other involvements included church groups and delivering Meals on Wheels.
Brian noted that his father always supported all of the different clubs financially and with his time. The community always came first for Allan, and it was always important to give back.
“He was always a hard worker. He always finished what he started and he had a good heart,” said Brian. “He was kind and would do anything for anybody. But yet he expected people to work hard, and he had a lot of high expectations for people, and he wasn’t afraid to let them know they needed to pick things up or do a little better.”
Brian recalled that his father’s first home was in a boxcar, and when Allan was young, he sold milk from the family cow to make money.
Ron echoed the statement that his father was a hard worker who taught all of his children to do what it took to get what they want.
Ron recalled the time in which a man walked up to Allan and said Allan gave him a loan for $40 six years earlier when the man was in tough financial straits.
“After the man left, I asked Dad what had happened, and he said the person came in and he couldn’t afford anything, so he lent him some money years ago for something,” said Ron.
It impressed Ron that Allan would help out someone he didn’t know.
“I think that’s what led him to the Lions Club where he could work for people who were less fortunate than him,” said Ron.
Allan is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lynn, and their children Ron, Blaine and Brian, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and numerous other family members and friends.
A celebration of Allan’s life will be held on Sept. 3 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Church in Estevan.
