Nelson Saunders

Nelson Alfred Saunders of Saltcoats, SK, age 67, passed away August 9, 2022 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre after a valiant fight with cancer.

Nelson was born in High Prairie, AB on December 25, 1954.  He was the eldest of four children born to George and Robertine (nee Allan) Saunders.  His mom said “Nelson was the best Christmas present she ever received”!  The family moved to Gleichen, AB in 1956.  Nelson attended Gleichen and Cluny schools for most of his public education and then completed his grade twelve at St. Peter’s College in Muenster, SK in 1972. 

Nelson loved cars and this led him to both of his careers.  In 1973 he completed the Pre-employment Motor Vehicle Mechanical Repair program at S.I.A.A.S. in Saskatoon, SK and in 1976 he completed the Upholstery course in Weyburn, SK.   He received his M.V.M.R. journeyman status in 1983 and his interprovincial status in 1986.  He worked as a mechanic in Regina, SK and Yorkton, SK and as an upholsterer in Yorkton, SK.  He opened his own upholstery shop, A. Goode Upholstery in Yorkton, SK on April 4, 1994 and continued to operate it up until he entered the hospital a few weeks before his passing.  He also taught Ladies Know Your Car and Upholstery classes for the Parkland Community College and the M.V.M.R. portion of a P.E.E.C.C. Job Readiness Training class.

Nelson married his wife, Sharon (nee Kolebaba) on March 8, 1975.  Their marriage was blessed with two children.  Their son, Tyler was born in 1980 and their daughter, Tanice was born in 1982. 

Nelson had a distinct voice, a loud laugh, a big heart and lived life to the fullest.  He had the knack of making friends quickly and keeping them for life and always being there for them if they needed help.  He enjoyed going to car shows, fishing or getting together with friends for supper and drinks or to play cards. He was a Chevy man.  He had a great sense of humor, loved to tease people (especially if they owned a Ford or Dodge vehicle) and tell jokes or stories.  He loved to restore and customize older vehicles but as his health deteriorated he started to fix kid’s electric cars instead.  Most of all he loved his family.  His two precious grandchildren were the light of his life.

Nelson will be forever remembered and sadly missed by his wife, Sharon; his son, Tyler; his daughter, Tanice (Brandon) Mackie and their children Isabelle and Zachary; his siblings: Allyson (Kevin) Stroeder, Karen (Mark) Mitchell and Brian (Tammy) Saunders; step-brothers:  Ken (Vi) Schneider and Gordon (Tracey) Schneider; brother and sisters-in-law: Gordon (Gail) Kolebaba, Joyce (Dean) Rogers and Bev (Ron) Creelman;  aunt, Anne Allan; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and many friends.  He was preceded in death by his father and step-mother, George (Lil) Saunders; his mom and step-dad, Robertine (Sam) Schneider; father-in-law and mother-in-law, George (Ann) Kolebaba, brother-in-law, Douglas Begin and nephews, Scotty Creelman, Brendan Kolebaba and nephew- in- law, Tylor Jennings.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Yorkton Home Care, Pasqua Hospital and Yorkton Regional Health Centre for their amazing and compassionate care of Nelson throughout his illness and during the last three weeks of his life.  We would also like to thank family, friends and neighbours for their support during this difficult time.

A graveside service will be held at the Saltcoats Cemetery at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022 with Reverend Walter Farquharson presiding and Mike Kardynal, Michael Nabozniak, Dave Padar, Ray Sharp, Cheston Tate and Kirk Weinmaster serving as the casket bearers. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to The Canadian Cancer Society or to the Town of Saltcoats for the Saltcoats Historic Cemetery Rejuvenation Project.

Nelson, on this final journey you are taking, please drive carefully, go slow if the roads are icy, watch for deer and call us when you get there. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nelson Saunders, please visit our floral store.