McLUHAN
Dr. William John
Dr. William John McLuhan passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at the age of 86 years. John will be lovingly remembered by his son Bruce; his daughters, Jean (Ron Zegil), Jo-Anne (Kevin Baldwin) and Sandy (Guy); his grandchildren, Graham (Raelyn), Neal and Amy; sister-in-law Anne Watts; brother-in-law Jim Hunter; and his nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Betsy, in 2012, his parents and siblings. The only son of Llewellyn and Blanche, John was born in Edmonton and grew up in the family home overlooking the North Saskatchewan River. John had an idyllic childhood with his sisters Margie and Betty playing along the river valley and at "The Point" with their springer spaniel, cousins and friends. His father, a WWI vet, passed onto John the family passions for hunting game birds and auto mechanics, which John shared with his son Bruce for almost 50 years. His mother schooled him in the fine art of gardening, which John taught to his daughter Jo-Anne. John attended the University of Alberta and earned a BSc (Honours BioChem) and was working as a lab technician when he was encouraged to pursue medicine by a mentor. During this time, he met Betsy Hunter through his sister and they married in 1952 following Betsy's nursing graduation. John then entered medical school at the University of Alberta and graduated with his M.D. in 1957. Hard work was John's mantra ("When the going gets tough, the tough get going") and he worked odd jobs throughout his youth and during his 12 years of post-secondary study as a lab technician, lab instructor and Army Officer reservist. John and Betsy moved to Red Deer in 1959, where John joined the Associate Clinic as a partner and worked as a family physician and anesthetist until his retirement in 1993. He loved his family practice and the operating room, delivered many babies and enjoyed the time he spent as the team physician for the Red Deer Rustlers. The family would like to thank Dr. McIntyre and his associates at the Associate Medical Group for their care and support through the years as well as the nursing staff on Unit 22 for their compassionate care. Friends and family are invited to celebrate John's life at a Memorial Service and reception at Eventide Funeral Chapel, 4820-45 Street, Red Deer, on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 202, 5913-50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB, T4N 4C4 or to the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, 3942-50A Avenue, Red Deer, AB, T4N 4E7 or the charity of one's choice. Condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.eventidefuneralchapels.com.
Arrangements entrusted to
EVENTIDE FUNERAL CHAPEL
4820 - 45 Street, Red Deer.
Phone (403) 347-2222