RUSSELL, John
April 17, 1939 - May 26, 2017
John's difficult years of dementia mercifully ended as he was graced to be called Home. A people person to the end, engaging as best he could with staff and fellow Residents, he was loved by Caregivers at Points West Living, his home for the past four months. Born, raised, and educated in Ontario, with Degrees in Divinity and Education, he gathered lifelong friends as a schoolboy, a young rural Minister, a Teacher, and an Administrator. Blessed with an abundance of integrity, wit, and sociability, teaching High School English was his passion and his Calling, evidenced by the thank yous former students sent, for his mentoring, role-modeling, and solid grounding for their higher learning and future careers. After seventeen years in Administration with the Academic Division of Continuing Education in Calgary, he retired in 1996 and eagerly began substitute teaching in Calgary, then in Red Deer for several years. Volunteering, yard-work, and cycling were his favorite pastimes. He was a devoted husband, cherished his Children, step-children, and the nine grandchildren, and treasured every family gathering. Predeceased by his parents Jock and Velma and younger brother Alf, John leaves his loving wife, Marion; children Mark (Lori), Kent (Jenn), Lisa; step-children Steve (Lisa) Morrical, Christine Day; grand-children Taylor, Bailey, Caitlyn Russell, Aryn Morrical, Emily (Matt) Klein, Abbey Morrical, Lauren, Ryan, Brooke Day; great-grandchildren Lukas, Jacob, Rosalind. Also survived by brother Don (Leila); Aunt Mona; sisters-in-law Joan Russell, Bev Doucette, Colleen Graham; nieces, nephew, close cousins, and many many old friends. For all the caring support, we thank Chess Nesom, Dr. Meryl Hart and Dr. Kamal Daniel; Janet Miller and Maureen Wielinga of AHS; special caregivers Sarah-Lynn and Kim, and all the kind and loving staff at Points West. Couldn't have managed without you! A celebration of Life will be at Sunnybrook United Church, 12 Stanton Street, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 0B8, on Friday, June 2, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Memorial gifts may go to Sunnybrook's Special Gifts Fund or to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 1400-522 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2RS.Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of PARKLAND FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM,
6287 - 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.