Alexander Konkin

The family of Alex Konkin is saddened to announce his passing on Sunday, August 5, 2018 in Nanaimo, BC at the age of 101 years. Alex was born on July 17, 1917 at Buchanan, SK into a family of nine children.  He was the youngest son and seventh child of Russian immigrants Aleksay (Alex) Konkin and Masha (Mary) Hritchen. In 1918, the family moved to a farm 6 miles north east of Watson and Alex attended nearby Daisy School.

Alex received his accounting diploma from Saskatoon Business College in May of 1938 and married Anne Sheloff on February 28, 1940. Alex worked at many and varied jobs across Canada including the Federal Government in Ottawa, Oil Industry in Alberta, railroads and orchards of BC and Federated CO-OP in Saskatchewan.

In 1956 he left Calgary to settle back in Watson, bought an acreage a half mile east of town and resumed to farm the home place. It was at this time that Alex started his own public accounting/income tax filing business to supplement the farming income.  He kept accounting records for several businesses in Watson over the years and filed income taxes for over 250 clients from the Watson area. In 1977, Alex sold the farm land but kept on working at his accounting practice until 1994.

Alex and Anne enjoyed visiting with their children and grandchildren, motorhome trips, gardening on their acreage, playing cards with friends and neighbors, going to bingos near and far and many bus trips to Reno, NV and casino resorts in the northern USA.

Alex was involved with community organizations and his sons’ activities. He was the statistician for town league hockey in the 60’s and was secretary/treasurer for the Watson Band, McNabb Regional Park, New Horizons and Watson Public Cemetery. Alex was a member and leader of the Doukhobor community in Watson.

After Anne passed away on July 28, 2000, Alex sold the acreage and moved into town. In June of 2008 Alex moved to Nanaimo, BC.  He resided in an assisted living facility until 2016 when it became necessary for him to enter Long Term Care.

Always happy, always healthy, Alex will be remembered by many as a kind and gentle soul and for his meticulous work as an accountant.

Alex was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Anne; his parents Alex and Mary; sisters Polly, Annie, Dora, Mary, Mabel and Florence; brothers John and George. He is survived by his four sons, daughters-in-law, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren:  Bill of Penticton, son Sean, his children Alexandra and Emma; Fred of Calgary, son Bernie; Patrick (Joyce) of Nanaimo, daughters Natasha and Elena (Curt); Sandy (Marianne) of Nanaimo, daughter Lacey (Mike), their children Benjamin, Isaac, Desmond and son Tyson (Megan); as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

Many thanks to the Town of Watson for providing a home and community for his family over the years and to the staff at Nanaimo Seniors Village in Nanaimo for their loving care, patience and devoted kindness during his years there.

A Funeral Service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday August 12, 2018 at Watson New Horizons, Watson, SK.  Interment to follow at Watson Public Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Watson Public Cemetery Fund.