Alfred Gordon Robinson was born on January 5, 1940 on the farm south of Weyburn and passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 7, 2014. Alf grew up on the farm, the second oldest of Stan and Dorothy Robinson's four children. Upon completing Grade 12 he attended Aldersgate Bible College for a year, then on to University of Saskatchewan where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture majoring in economics in 1962, and marrying Marilyn Hamilton two weeks after convocation. The newlyweds settled in Wadena where they both started work and their daughter was born the following year. Alfred was the first non-veteran hired to work for federal government in Veteran's Land Act (VLA), he held posts in Wadena, Saskatoon, Ottawa, and Vancouver, with VLA, and Canada Post as well as several assignments coming out of the Career Advancement Program. His son was born during their posting in Ottawa. His accomplishments with the federal government included being the youngest person, at the time, to achieve Chief in VLA, advisory duties on Tax Reform for Revenue Canada, Canada Post as Director for Administration Services and Purchasing, and VLA as Director of the Finance and Administration departments. In 1968 Alfred became an Accredited Real Estate Appraiser. Alfred during this time furthered his education with studies in Public Administration, finance, electronic data processing, and French. He enjoyed curling, hunting, photography and involvement in a variety of roles in the church. In 1976 he left the federal government, relocating to Weyburn to farm and form a Real Estate Appraisal company. When his son completed post-secondary education the two started farming together. In 2000 his wife Marilyn passed away. Alfred filled many roles in the community including Secretary of the Weyburn Seed Cleaning Plant, Chairman of Weyburn/Estevan Gideons, elected member of the U of S Senate, Board Member and Secretary of SE SK Surface Rights Owners Association, Delegate Sask. Wheat Pool, Director with Farm Leadership Co-operative, leadership positions with the Liberal Party, and a variety of roles in the church at local, district, and national level including Chairman of Development Committee for the Weyburn Free Methodist Church during a major expansion. In 2001 he was very proud to receive the Gold Sheaf Award from the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce. Alfred continued throughout his farming career to study, learn, and take on new challenges. Enjoying working with organizations in transition, and helping groups to grow. In his 60s, while continuing to farm, he started a third career in stock trading. To the delight of his family in 2012 Alfred married Jean Ann Mowchenko (nee Cave) and moved to Moose Jaw where he happily resided until his passing. Alfred was a strong Christian who was passionate in serving the Lord and seeing his family live a meaningful life of faith. He taught his children and grandchildren about the Lord, supporting them with love and prayer. He faced his cancer with grace. Listening to him pray always taught us much, and the passion he displayed for his grandchildren demonstrated how the capacity to love grows. He fostered in his grandchildren the belief that anything they had to say was very important to him, and they could talk to him about anything. He showed his family how to be a Christian leader and to approach all aspects of life: business, community and personal as a person of faith. In an interview with the Weyburn Review on being awarded the Golden Sheaf award, Alfred said "his life's philosophy was comprised of three points on a triangle - farm, family, and faith. All three were connected by arrows point in either direction." His family, friends, and church will sorely miss him. Alf was predeceased by his parents, Stan and Dorothy Robinson; his first wife Marilyn Robinson; his parents-in-law Burton and Florence Hamilton; his sisters, Norma Scott and Elaine Blatz, and his brother-in-law, David Scott. Alf is lovingly remembered by his second wife Jean Ann, his mother-in-law Grace Cave of Moose Jaw; his children Sharilyn Robinson of Toronto, ON, Jeff (Colleen) Robinson of Weyburn; his stepchildren Jay (Marilou) Mowchenko of Weyburn, and Joel (Cheryl) Mowchenko of Mossbank; his grandchildren, Logan, Katie, and Thomas Robinson of Weyburn, and step grandchildren, Keisha and Joshua Mowchenko of Weyburn, and Olivia and Eron Mowchenko of Mossbank; his brother, Vern (Sharon) Robinson of Weyburn; his brother-in-laws, Frank Blatz of Winnipeg, MB, Dave (Joan) Hamilton of Kingston, ON, and Bill (Kathy) Cave of Calgary, AB; as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Our family was blessed with a loving and Godly husband, father, and grandpa. The funeral service was held on February 13 from 11:00 am from Weyburn Free Methodist Church with Pastor Jay Mowchenko officiating. Interment followed at the Hillcrest Cemetery, Weyburn. All those in attendance were considered honourary pallbearers. The active pallbearers were Rod Robinson, Ed Stinson, Glen Ridgway, Mark Alexander, Marcel van Staveren, and Don Hand. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Alfred Robinson to the Weyburn Free Methodist Church or Arlington Beach Camp. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapel, Weyburn, 306-842-5432.
