Obituary of Marlene Elaine RANKIN

October 4, 1935 – Roblin, Manitoba May 5, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta Marlene Elaine Rankin, beloved mother of Diane and Laura Rankin of Calgary, Alberta, passed away on Sunday May 5, 2019 at age of 83 years. Marlene was born in Roblin, Manitoba on October 4, 1935, the eighth of nine children of Charles and Edna Rogers. Marlene grew up in Makaroff, Manitoba, where she completed high school. While visiting her sister Marie in Centralia, Ontario she met her husband Alexander (Sandy) Rankin, who she married September 23, 1955. This began a whole new life for Marlene, as Sandy was a member of the Royal Canadian Armed Forces (RCAF) being posted at St. Jean Quebec, Marville France, Lahr Germany, Vancouver and Comox, BC and Cold Lake, AB. Marlene loved the life, traveling to different parts of the world, meeting new friends. Places they also travelled to included France, Italy, Belgium, England and Germany. After Sandy retired from the RCAF, the family moved to Calgary in 1971, where Marlene became a secretary at James Fowler High School and Sandy worked for CP Rail. They then moved to Brooks AB, in 1977, where Sandy was a Waterman at EID and Marlene became the secretary at Brooks Composite High School until Marlene retired. She then moved back to Calgary to be closer to her family. Three words to describe Marlene were family, community and music. Family was most important to Marlene. She made a home for her family wherever they happened to be in the world. Marlene was a social butterfly and she found community in many groups. She was involved in quilting, scrabble, bridge, seniors groups, and church. Of all the things she enjoyed, music was her passion. She attended the CPO, sang in a choir and recently learned to play the ukulele. Marlene is survived by her sister Jean’ne Loomis and sister-in-law Audrey Rogers, granddaughters, Cara (Marek) Polujan and Caitlin McKean, great-grandson Alexander and Sebastian Polujan, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Marlene was predeceased by her husband Sandy, parents Charles Edwin Rogers and Mary Edna Rogers (nee McKnight), brothers James and Raymond Rogers, and sisters Christine Beck, Mae Strachan, Marie McDonald, Lucille Bach, and Isabel (Dolly) Ashby. Funeral Services will be held at St. Thomas United Church () on Monday May 13, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow at the church. Condolences may be forwarded through www.McInnisandHolloway.com. The Family would like to thank the staff at the Foothills Hospital stroke unit for all their care. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, or the Women In Need Society, 128 – 1220 28th St NE, Calgary, AB, Telephone: (403) 252-3826, . In living memory of Marlene Rankin, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.