John Joseph Coflin

With deep sadness, and gratitude for his life, we announce the death of John Joseph Coflin of Regina, Saskatchewan, at the age of 76.  John died, with his wife Joanne Skidmore, and daughter Caitlin Coflin at his bedside, at Regina General Hospital on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, after a sudden, severe, and short illness.

John is survived by Joanne (his wife of 49 years), daughter Caitlin, and Caitlin’s husband Steven Mock, and their children Olivia and Gideon.  As well, John is survived by his siblings, Karen Coflin (Bruce Carscadden) of Vancouver, BC, Mary Jaye (known as BJ) Coflin and Patrick Coflin (Gerry) of Calgary, Alberta, and their children and grandchildren. He is also survived by the widows of his deceased brothers Jim Coflin (Barb), and Kevin Coflin (Connie Carruthers), and by Joanne’s family of Bill Skidmore of Ottawa, Ontario, Colleen Skidmore (Joe Owens) of Victoria, BC, John Skidmore (Diane Buckingham) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and James Skidmore of Waterloo, Ontario, as well as their children and grandchildren. John was predeceased by his parents Alice Elizabeth Hogan and Allan Richmond Coflin, brothers Jim, David, and Kevin, and sister-in-law Sharon Coflin. John was also predeceased by his parents-in-law, A.M. Leona Skidmore and H.M. “Skid” Skidmore.

John was the third child of seven born to Alice Elizabeth Hogan and Allan Richmond Coflin. He lived on a farm near Blaine Lake and started his schooling in a one-room schoolhouse. His family moved to Saskatoon, and in later years made Calgary their home. John attended the University of Saskatchewan and received an Advanced Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in philosophy. He participated in the social life of St. Thomas More College and made good friends there.

John and Joanne shared 49 years of marriage marked by love, partnership, and striving to meet some of the needs of the community. They assisted various non-profit organizations through their time, skills, and financial resources. John and Joanne set up the Coflin Skidmore Community Fund held at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation, to continue their service for years to come.

They also shared a deep love for and commitment to their daughter, Cailtin, her husband Steven Mock, and their children Olivia and Gideon. John and Joanne travelled across Canada to see the country, and to visit family members. They also enjoyed spending time at lakes in Saskatchewan, and traveling with some of John’s siblings to Italy, Scotland, and Ireland.

John worked in Saskatoon for the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living (now known as Inclusion Saskatchewan). He and Joanne moved to Regina in 1989 for her work with CBC Radio. He was the work-at-home parent to Caitlin until she started preschool. John later became Executive Director of the Regina Association for Community Living.

John’s purpose in his work life was to advocate for intellectually disabled young people through working with their parents/families and helping them make decisions about the care and education of their children including how to help them live successful lives when they became adults.

John retired from the workplace in 2005 and took up another job, documenting the history of the Coflin and Hogan families and publishing volumes of information about what he had discovered. He also enjoyed solitude and devoted many hours to working with the charms and challenges of a large, 70+ year old backyard. He made it a peaceful place for people, birds, rabbits, squirrels, the neighborhood cats, and ducks. Geese preferred the front yard and the roof of the house.

John was recognized in 2016 with the Community Award from Inclusion Regina for his work for people with intellectual disabilities. Also that year, John received a Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Public Service, as part of the Self-Directed Funding Committee of the Ministry of Social Services. In addition, John served on many committees such as the Provincial Implementation Advisory Team for Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability, Individuals with Disabilities Equity Alliance of Regina, Planned Advocacy Network, and the Disability Income Support Coalition. He also participated in meetings with the provincial government about how to close the Valley View Centre, an institution near Moose Jaw that had housed 100s of people with disabilities during a period of 60 years. As well, he has worked on the Campus for All project to help people with intellectual disabilities receive an opportunity to take classes at the University of Regina.

John was an advisor to People First Saskatchewan, a member of the national board of a centre that pursued financial security for Canadians with disabilities, and a member of a national committee on the Registered Disability Savings Plan. His deepest joy was to help families develop networks of support outside of their own families. It was his honour to work with the families of Margaret Forgay and Ashleigh Ferguson.

John loved cooking, especially for his family, and family suppers on Sundays became an important tradition. In addition, he enjoyed drinking scotch and red wine, and the cupboards were always stocked with food and drink. John was a lifelong fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and watched on tv as many curling competitions as he could fit in between going down the rabbit hole of researching the history of the Hogan and Coflin families, and spending hours working in his backyard. 

John’s family is thankful for the efforts of skilled and compassionate health care workers in Emergency and ICU at Regina General Hospital.

A Celebration of Life will take place at the MacKenzie Art Gallery (Agra Torchinsky Salon, 3475 Albert Street), on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Coflin Skidmore Community Fund held at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation. (If sending a cheque, make it out to the Saskatchewan Community Foundation and write the Fund name on the memo line.)