Obituary of Robert James Allen

Robert passed from this world on June 22^nd, 2018, unexpectantly on his farm, doing what he loved- taking care of his farm.

He was born to John James & Kathleen Allen on May 1^st, 1931. He was the oldest of six children, born on the same farmland that he passed on, just north of White Fox, SK. He attended school in White Fox until he quit after grade 8 to help his dad with the family farm. Robert had numerous & sometimes interesting jobs from the time he left the family farm until he eventually took it over. Some that we can recall was logging in BC & underground mining, doing blasting with dynamite. A couple that he told us about that were quite interesting were in BC, one was shooting wood-peckers off the wooden derricks in the oilfields & another job was changing light beakers on communication towers.

On June 25^th, 1967 he married Elvira Keim and they were blessed with their daughter Leora. Together they farmed on the Allen homestead. He was a member of the Church of God (7^th Day Adventist). He was devoted to his faith & beliefs and was very active in the church. He held various positions in the church organization and would often deliver sermons after the congregation no longer had a pastor. He was also the Division #4 councillor for the R.M of Torch River for what seemed like forever but we believe it was 30+ years. Being a councillor also lead him to be involved in various boards & committees throughout the area over those many years.

Robert was healthy for most of his life but tempted his fate on more than one occasion. Like the time in 2003 when he broke his back when a round bale rolled over him, that landed him in the hospital for 2 months laying flat on his back. In 2011 he had another brush with fate which was a triple bypass and a valve replacement. He came through these fates as he would say “with flying colors” and still kept on farming. He did end up giving in and selling his 80 head of cattle at age 80.

Finally, this year he decided to slow down a little and rent most of his land but there wasn’t much that could convince him to move off of the farm & into town to enjoy his last years.

Robert was predeceased by his wife Elvira, mother Kathleen, father John James, step-mother Helen, step-brothers Malcolm & Stewart Morgan, brothers Samuel & David, sister Shirley & brother-in-law Ed DeMone, step-sister Hilda Wildey & brother-in-law Robert “Sandy” Young.

Robert is survived by his daughter Leora (Bruce) Kurenoff, sister Gladys Young, sister Maggie (Duncan) Clarke, sister-in-law June Allen, brother-in-law Dale Wildey, step-sister Martha (Don) Evers & Step-brother Lester. As well as numerous nieces & nephews.