It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Alex A. Jmaeff on Monday July 13, 2014 at the age of 81.
Alex was born on May 19, 1933 in Winlaw, B.C. to Alex and Helen (Osachoff) Jmaeff. He had four brothers; Nick, Pete, Walter and Fred, and one sister; Helen. Alex grew up in Blewett on the family farm and attended school in Nelson.
In 1956, Alex married Natalia Wlasoff of Grand Forks and the two settled in Six Mile, near Nelson. They had three children; Victor, Cheryl and Yuri. In 1962, the family moved to Kinnaird where Alex started his own business; Alex Bakery in the Castlaird Plaza. In addition to baking and raising his family, Alex spent time on creeks prospecting for gold or volunteering time to help build the Castlegar golf course. In 1966 Alex and Natalia had their fourth child, Tamara.
In 1971, the family moved to Port Alberni on Vancouver Island where Alex opened a new bakery; Port Bake Shop. Alex often travelled with Natalia and the kids to Mexico where Alex built a home. He became fluent in Spanish and spent time establishing life-long relationships with the local Mexican community.
In 1980, Alex and Natalia sold the bakery and moved back to their new home in Shoreacres. At first, Alex worked at a small mine near Slocan City but then he returned to baking; first at a small bakery at Central Foods in Castlegar, and then in Fruitvale where he helped his son Yuri open a new bakery.
Alex retired from baking in 1992. Following retirement Alex volunteered for the Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO). With CESO, Alex made numerous trips to Russia and Nicaragua to assist bakery operations.
During his trips to Russia, Alex, on several occasions, had the opportunity to visit Yasnaya Polyana, the estate of Leo Tolstoy. Alex became inspired with the idea of establishing a bakery operation at the Tolstoy estate with sponsorship by the Doukhobor community as a way of acknowledging the support Tolstoy had provided to the Doukhobors in their migration to Canada. The project was successfully completed in 2005 and was well received. Alex was very proud to have so many of the Doukhobor community attend the opening.
Alex and Natalia continued to enjoy spending time in Mexico, working their garden, and helping their children and grandchildren where needed until his passing.
Alex is survived by his wife Natalia, sons; Victor and partner Lindsay Lister, Yuri and wife Colleen, daughters; Cheryl Posnikoff and partner Jim Morash, Tamara Johnson and husband John Johnson, grandchildren; Nik, Ryan and Aleksey Jmaeff, Matti and Jett Jmaeff, Aaron, Brayden, Curtis and wife Dyana Posnikoff, and Javen, Joren and Johnny Johnson, great-grandchildren: Carter and Reese Posnikoff and Johnlyn Doskoch, brothers; Walter and Fred, and sister Helen Kanigan.
The family would like to thank everyone for their support and love and many thanks to the doctors and nurses who attended to Alex at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital prior to his passing.