With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Melvin Ross Annand. Mel left us on August 25^th, 2023, at the age of 69 in Melfort, Saskatchewan. Mel’s passing was very sudden due to complications with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Mel was born on July 13^th, 1954, to Irene and Bob Annand. He was raised with his three siblings, Rod, Glenn and Jill, on the family farm near Mossbank,  Saskatchewan. Mel was an active community member from a young age. He enjoyed many sports and started his first business as a chicken farmer before he left for university. Mel earned a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1978, so that he could become a lawyer and, as he said, help people. Mel was married to Lorie Baxter in 1977. In 1978, Mel and Lorie moved to Melfort, where they had three children, Wade, Lacey, and Holly. Mel practiced law in Melfort from 1978 to 2023. Mel was married to Imogene Schick in 2009. Imogene and Mel worked tirelessly together building Creekside Orchard and Creekside Community development.

Mel was a very active member of the Melfort community up until his passing. He enjoyed his time volunteering with the Kinsmen, MAD local theatre and the Melfort United Church. He also held several leadership positions across the province, including Governor and Life Member of District 3 Kinsmen, Kings Counsel Appointee, Chairman of the Fruit Grower’s, and Bencher with the Law Society.  Mel loved to volunteer as it created an opportunity to serve the communities that he cared about. Through volunteering Mel developed many deep and lasting relationships.

Mel was passionate about life and lived it to the fullest. The thing he loved most about life was being a grandpa, father, brother, and husband. Beyond that he was a lawyer, farmer, gardener, land developer, fruit grower, trucker, director, and teacher. He enjoyed canoeing, horseback riding, travelling, skiing, running, reading, and listening to podcasts. If you knew Mel, you very likely participated in one of these activities with him – a lucky few participated in many. In all of these moments, it was the time spent with people and the conversations he had that mattered the most to him.

Mel empowered those closest to him by offering guidance, encouragement, and  mentorship. He took every opportunity to impress upon his grandchildren his knowledge of the outdoors and arithmetic. Mel shared a great passion for business and agriculture with Wade; he inspired loving without judgement in Lacey; and he shared a deep curiosity about the world with Holly. Mel enjoyed time with his    siblings throughout his life; this often included hunting with Rod, fishing with Glenn, and deep theological conversations with Jill. He especially loved sharing life and what it offered with his wife, Imogene. Family was an integral part of who Mel was.

Upon Mel’s passing he was survived by wife Imogene Schick; children Wade (Kara) Annand, Lacey Annand, Holly Annand (Claire Meadows); step-children Jacqueline (Gilles) Denis, Calvin LeBarre and Roxanne Elkew; grandchildren Ty, Lane, and Aubrie Annand; Robyn and Kyle Wilton and Evie Steffen; step-grandchildren Madelaine, Eva, and Blaize Denis; and Korabella LeBarre; and siblings Rod        Annand, Glenn (Judith) Annand and Jill Burt; nieces and nephews; and father-in-law Paul Schick.

Mel is predeceased by parents Irene and Robert Annand; Aunt Muriel Patterson; nephews Landon Burt and Colton Burt; mother-in-law Elaine Schick; and step-son Rowland LeBarre.

A Service Celebrating Mel’s Life was held from the Melfort United Church on Friday, September 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM with Reverend Jonathan Worrall and Chaplain Jill Bert officiating.

Friends so wishing may make memorial contributions to the North Central Health Care Foundation, or to a Charity of One’s Choice.

To leave condolences for the Family, please visit the online guestbook at www.fedusiakfuneralchapel.com.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Fedusiak Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Melfort. (306) 752-3838.

• Date : 2023-08-25
• Location : Melfort, SK