ALGAR LEON WEDHORN  “Lee”

A courageous gentleman with a remarkable determination to live passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 4th, 2011.  Lee was born at home on the farm near Herbert, Saskatchewan, February 20th, 1929.  He was predeceased by his mom Annie (Buhr) and dad Fred Wedhorn of Herbert; older brother Alvin; younger brother Lorne; other relatives and friends; and good buddy John Giofu.  Cherishing Lee’s memory and missing him so much are his wife Jessie (Boan) and their children Ronda (granddaughter KaLee) and Randall (grandchildren Jacob and Tye).  He is further survived by nieces and nephews who loved to share laughs with Uncle Lee; brothers and sisters-in-law; and other relatives and many friends.  Lee’s parents came to Canada from Holland and settled in the Herbert District where Lee grew up and attended Lundeen School.  Lee dreamed of being a Civil Engineer and he would have been the best, but money was scarce and so he left home at age 18 to travel to school in Calgary, where he graduated as a Journeyman Carpenter with High Honours.  He built the schools in Brooks, Bassano, Strathmore and MacLeod, the Hospital in Lethbridge and numerous homes for families.  He worked all over Alberta and then effortlessly passed his Journeyman’s test to work in Saskatchewan.  Lee and Jessie were married June 23rd, 1956 and they first lived in Medicine Hat in a little one room “building” where Lee played many tricks on his employees who came over to visit.  Lee and Jessie came back to Moose Jaw in December 1956.  They lived west of Moose Jaw and then settled south near Buttress where Lee built their own home and homes for many neighbours.  Lee worked for Thatcher Construction for two years, then went to Cairns Construction from 1958-1961 where he and Bryce Boan worked on Lee’s first Cairns project.  Lee leaves a legacy of fine craftsmanship.  When he came back to Saskatchewan, he built the schools in Maple Creek and Lumsden, the church in Avonlea and a huge plant in Maple Creek.  When you drive across the wooden bridges in the south country, you may be driving across ones that he built.  When you see those wooden grain or fertilizer bins, they are just one of thousands designed and built by Lee.  He really enjoyed his friends in Briercrest and Avonlea, where he made lifelong friends through his work in construction.  Lee started work as a private contractor for Westrum Lumber in the fall of 1961.  He soon had the neighbourhood boys working for him and many friends that Randy brought along including a couple of bearded, long haired bikers from the Rebels Biker Gang that Lee nicknamed Moses and Jesus.  Teddy McHolm was with him when he worked at Moens and this always remained the favourite job of his 54 year career.  Lee remained with Westrums for over 43 years.  Lee has had 83 employees, including his son Randy, and he remembered the name of each and every one.  Lee is a craftsman – a jack of all trades and truly a master of them all!  Lee was a respected and highly sought after carpenter with a long waiting list.  A talented hockey player, incredible ball player and a lover of curling, he was looking forward to the Brier and proudly informing the nurses that Pat Simmons was his neighbour.  Lee loved having Elwood Lynds come to visit and shoot the bull about their ball playing days on Camlachie Ball Team and travelling to sports days.  People tell us all the time that Lee was the best carpenter in Saskatchewan and he sure took a lot of pride in a job well done.  Lee could fix anything and if needed, would just up and invent something to do the job and he loved to make a jig for everything.  Lee had so many friends and I hope you know Lee thought the world of each and every one of you.  He liked nothing better than when his buddies, especially Sid, would stop in for coffee and spend the afternoon swapping stories.  Dad, we are so proud of you, your lasting accomplishments, the lasting legacy’s you built with your own hands, your strength and kindness and caring for others.  Even when you were sick, you always worried about the rest of us and not about yourself.  No one has ever heard you say a word of complaint, you just went with the flow and tried to do your best.  Lee was funny, always had a story, a nick name for you and just loved life and people.  His sparkling blue eyes, jokes, sense of fun and humour and love of life make him impossible to replace.  Lee you are admired, respected and highly regarded and you will be so sadly missed.  Lee persevered through an ordeal most of us would not have endured, yet his bright spirit, love for others, and sense of humour never wavered – right up until the moment his heart of gold stopped beating.  Dad you had a will to live that was so strong, you truly did “give it your best shot”!  Special thanks to those that came to visit Lee in Regina, he treasured those visits.  And to our RCU family and Dr. Abdulla, Lee loved you, each and every one.  Lee would never voice a favourite but we know he had a soft spot for his nurse Lish.  No flowers please but for those so wishing, memorial donations in Lee’s name may be made to the Respiratory Care Unit 6F at the Regina General Hospital, 1440 – 14th Avenue, Regina, SK, S4P 0W5.  An Interment Service will be held at Sunset Cemetery on Sunday, March 13th, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.  Please be at the cemetery by 12:45 p.m. (Those wishing to attend should dress for the weather and not for fashion or Lee will worry you’ll be cold!)  A Celebration of Lee’s life will be held on Sunday, March 13th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sportsman Centre, 276 Home St. E., Moose Jaw, SK.