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Mount Joy, PA — Members of the local Mount Joy community, as well as members of the archery industry at large, are mourning the loss of Jim Kinsey who passed away Tuesday, Jan. 18th, 2022 at the age of 84.

Jim’s father, Vernon, founded Kinsey’s as a local archery retail store in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania in 1952.  It was through Larry Smith’s close contact with Vernon’s company while he was growing up in PA that led South Nation Archery Supply to start an account with Kinsey’s as our first wholesale supplier when we started in business in 1983.  So our personal and business ties go back to both Vernon and Jim.

Jim Kinsey pioneered the distribution portion of the business laying the ground work for what Kinsey’s is today. Starting in 1957, Jim was instrumental in distributing arrows to retailers throughout the Northeast. He also spearheaded the company’s arrow manufacturing division by cementing contracts with both Colt Firearms and Bear Archery.

Jim led the family business for 40 years from 1957 through 1997 before passing the reins onto his children, 3rd generation owners, Rick Kinsey and Sherri Gorman. Mr. Kinsey stayed connected to the business through 2013 when he formally retired.

Jim loved skiing as well as archery; we would share stories with Jim and his staff every year at archery trade shows.  He had a great smile and a good sense of humour.  We enjoyed his company. We send our condolences to Rick, Sherri and their families.

We are saddened to report that Joan McDonald, who exploded on to the Canadian recurve archery scene in the early 1960s, has lost her battle with cancer.

Joan was a fierce and talented archer who won an astounding number of national championships over the years, and went on to become an influential coach, administrator and mentor, both at the provincial and national level.  A fervent Olympic supporter, she was Canada’s Olympic Team coach 5 times.

She leaves behind her 2 dedicated sons, David and Christopher, and her life partner Gary Gillies, and all of those who worked with her over all the years.  Memorial services will be planned for the summer, but it was her fervent wish that everyone stay safe from Omicron and not come together at this time.  We will post more information when it becomes available.

We are saddened to relay information from Peter Garrett that Ted Ladelpha, our passionate barebow archer over the past 20 years, did not survive a heart attack on January 21st, 2021.  South Nation Archery Club extends its condolences to Ted’s family and friends.

Ted was famous for his opinions, but also for the wonderful roasted turkey he would bring every year to our SNAC awards banquets.  He was generous to our SNAC members, and Larry E. Smith and Kathy Millar remember him fondly.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Violet was born in Jedburgh, SK on August 28, 1936. Her family moved to Yorkton when she was four years old, where she attended elementary school and Yorkton Collegiate for high school. In her youth she was involved with the United Church Youth Club and C.G.I.T and eventually became troop leader. Violet earned her teaching degree at Moose Jaw Teacher’s College in 1955.

In 1972, Violet and her husband Atley moved to a quarter section of land just east of Regina on Highway #1, where they lived and set up their archery business. She was involved daily in its operation.  Violet also participated in archery tournaments and collected a large number of trophies. She taught elementary school at Burke School in Yorkton and Pilot Butte Elementary School.

In 1974, Violet retired from teaching to work full-time in their archery business. In 1996 they built a lodge north of Norquay, where they spent their summers and ran an outfitting business. Violet was a great cook and grew a huge garden at the lodge.

Violet passed away peacefully in Sun City, Arizona (her winter home with her husband since 2001) on Tuesday, February, 27, 2018.