Alan James Pochailo

June 10th, 1957 - November 15th, 2025

It is with profound sadness that the family of Alan Pochailo announce his passing on November 15, 2025 at Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora, Ontario.

Al was born in Kenora at Lake of the Woods District Hospital 68 years ago to Carl and Eva, but grew up in Atikokan, Ont. spending his entire childhood there graduating from Atikokan High School. In the late 70's, his family then moved to Hearst, Ontario where he met the love of his life April; they married in 1980, built a home as he worked as a scaler and supervisor for local lumber mills. Job closures and new opportunities meant moving to Kenora in 1985. Al apprenticed as a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic before opening and operating his own business: A & A Refrigeration for nearly 25 years.

Al loved the outdoors. He loved to fish and hunted moose, deer and small game. He enjoyed ice fishing, cutting trail, and snow machining; there were many rides with his friends where the final stop was one of their garages swapping stories and having a few. Summers meant family camping trips, fishing Lake of the Woods, Winnipeg River and other area lakes. Al also loved bringing his family to his childhood camp on Eva Lake near Atikokan; downrigging for lake trout, fishing bass, outings to the beach, cruising the lake with the kids tubing and water skiing, and a lot of time spent in the sauna. That cabin was also base camp for annual fall moose hunting trips. There were occasional winter vacations spent basking in the heat in Mexico, Cuba and Dominican Republic and a few summer road trips to Vancouver Island to visit his daughter. These are only some of the wonderful family outings and memories that will be forever cherished.

Al is predeceased by his father Carl, mother Eva, infant sister Diane, aunt and uncle Joy and Don Stock, cousin Barb Stewart, and his father-in-law Tauno Suni.

Al is survived by his wife of 45 years April, sons Adam (Jodie) and Aaron (Ashley), daughter Alena (Dan), and his 3 grandchildren Caleb, Taia and Ayla. Al is also survived by his brother David (Gail), sister Patricia (David Lavicker), Aunt and Uncle Bill and Diane Pochailo, cousins Doug, Janis and Eric, his mother-in-law Rita Suni, brother-in-laws Raymond (Bonnie) Suni, Wayne (Susanne Bubnick) Suni, sister-in-law Kerttu (Mike Ladouceur), and numerous nieces and nephews. As well as his fur baby, Harley who is also missing her daddy.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and ambulance attendants for the high quality and excellent care shown to Al during his stay at the hospital.

Thanks to Cory and Debbie at Brown Funeral Home for their care and compassion.

To all his support personnel from Health at Home, Paramed, and CSI Northwest, you all made it possible for Al to stay at home longer. Thank you.

A special thank you to Patricia Barnard. Her love and compassion that she showed to Al will be forever cherished. Thank you for your help, support, time and love.

As per Al's wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be a celebration of Al's life in the summer of 2026.

If you are out and enjoying nature, catching a fish, hunting partridge, moose, or deer, snowmobiling, seeing an amazing sunset or sunrise, cruising in your boat or riding bush trails on your quad, do me a favour, think of Big Al, an amazing hubby, father, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend.

Good night Dear, Good night Moose.

A limb has fallen from the family tree.

I keep hearing a voice that says, “Grieve not for me.

Remember the best times, the laughter, the song.

The good life I lived while I was strong.

Continue my heritage, I'm counting on you.

Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.

My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.

Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.

Continue traditions, no matter how small.

Go on with your life, don't worry about falls.

I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin.

Until the day comes we're together again."