Obituary of Al Staff

George Elwyn Staff, late of Regina, passed away on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at the age of 82 years. Elwyn, as his family called him, was born in 1936 in the Melfort area and grew up on a farm near Star City. He was the middle child of five children born to Hjalmer and Alfie Staff. Elwyn eventually became “Al” as he accepted his first job out of school at the CO-OP Lumber Yard in Melfort. Lumber would become his lifetime career as he moved from the CO-OP to Beaver Lumber and ultimately McMillan Bloedel in Regina. Al took great pride in knowing that his life’s work helped build homes for thousands of families in this province. He was very skilled at estimating the exact cost of a new home for a potential buyer. It was while working in this industry when Al sought higher education and received an Administration Certificate from the University of Regina. It was during his early years working at Beaver Lumber when he met and married Wilma Kenyon from Milestone. They would have two boys, Larry and Les. Al worked hard to provide for his family and to be a role model for his two boys. Family trips with a camper trailer in tow took the Staffs across almost all of Canada and much of the western United States. Road trips ultimately gave way to cottage life where Al the builder really flourished. His hard work at building a summer cottage became the foundation for countless family memories that endure to this day. Eventually, Al’s family matured and changed. In 1995 he met Gladys, a wonderful woman that became his loving long-time partner. Al would tell his grown boys that Gladys had become his partner in life and in love. The pair satisfied their appetite for travel by spending winters in Arizona and Texas. Al eventually rescued a retired STC bus converting it to an RV they both enjoyed as they racked up thousands of miles over the years. Together for 24 years, Al and Gladys’ commitment continued to his final day. She made his life full. Al is survived by his partner Gladys; his two sons, Larry, wife Jan, and Les, wife Corry; his grandchildren, Josh, Jordon and Jaydin, and their grandmother Wilma Staff. Al was also very close to and is survived by Gladys’ daughter Karen; husband Neil and their children Tucker and Caelen; and by Gladys’ daughter Donna and husband Dave. A Service Celebrating the life of Al will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, those so wishing, may make memorial donations in Al’s name to the charity of your choice.