Obituary of Alan Freethy

Alan Elmer Freethy, 82, passed away on Friday, April 6, 2018, in Saskatoon, SK. Alan was born on June 8, 1935, in Rosetown, SK, to Elmer and Sofia Freethy. He was raised on a farm in the Strawberry Valley, near Aberdeen, SK.  
Alan achieved his Teacher’s Certificate from Saskatoon Teacher’s College in 1955, and gained a B.Ed from the University of Saskatchewan in 1970.  Alan taught in Eastend, Finley, Major, Dinsmore, Hudson Bay, Wadena, Wilkie, and Rabbit Lake over his 33 year career. He coached and enjoyed every and all sports, creating successful programs in track & field, softball, volleyball, wrestling, and football, but was particularly known for his love of basketball.  A point of pride was coaching his Rabbit Lake high school boys’ basketball team to a silver medal in the 1A Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association provincial championships in 1985.  He was awarded the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association Service Award in 1989 for his contribution to encouraging athleticism in his students. 
In the fall of 1981, Al moved his family to a ¼ section on the north west corner of Meeting Lake.  Laughably small to be a farm, ridiculously large to be a garden, Al pursued both interests with gusto, and wholly embraced a philosophy of no piece of equipment too old, no potato patch too big, no pair of coveralls too dirty. Alan was born to farming people, and that experience never left him for as long as he lived.  His home at the lake was his piece of heaven on earth.  

Alan is survived by his wife of 47 years, Gail (née Whittaker), son Glen (Christine, Manuelle and Soleil), daughter Patricia (Michel), sisters Mary (Keith) Davidson and Sheila (Neil) Sullivan, sisters-in-law Ruth (Don) Prime and Elaine Whittaker. Predeceased by his sister, Rena (Carl) Zimmer, brother-in-law Gary Whittaker and parents, Elmer and Sophia. Funeral services will be held at Saskatoon Funeral Home in Saskatoon on Saturday, April 14 at 3:00 pm. Memorial donations may be made in Alan’s name to the Saskatchewan NDP and the Parkinson’s Society of Canada.