Obituary of Harry Irving

Harry Irving, of Irving Wire Products Corporation passed away on the morning of Monday, May 22, 2006 with his family present at the Bethany Care Centre at the age of 79 years. Harry put up a courageous fifteen year fight with Alzheimer’s disease. Harry is survived by his wife Sheila; son and daughter-in-law, Sandy and Pam Irving of Turner Valley; daughters and sons-in-law Jill and David Wiesinger of St. Albert, Sally and Rick Benner Castlegar, B.C., Polly and Richard Erb of Herbert, SK, and Julie Irving of Montreal; grandchildren, Janice and Justin Wiesinger, Tyler, Kate and Heather Irving, Eric, Dave, Jennylyn and Lisa Benner, Josh, B.J., Hannah, Jael and Jesse Erb. Sheila’s parents, June and Jack Copeland of Ottawa, ON; Jeff Copeland of Val des Monts, QC, Anne and Ian Glasgow of Ottawa, ON, Bob and Donna Copeland of Oakville, ON; brothers and sister-in-law, Don and Kit of Okotoks, AB, John and Goo of Ladysmith, B.C., and Benton Mackid of Calgary; many nephews and nieces; and grand nephews and nieces. Harry was predeceased by his son, Fred in 1986; his parents, Fred and Elizabeth Irving; and five sisters and brothers-in-law, Jean, Marg and Guy Morton, Betty and Brian Locke, Lorna and Fred Schmidt, Emily Love, Joe and Jack. Harry was also predeceased by his first wife Joan Arnold in 1970. He is survived by Joan’s family, Bob Arnold and Christina, Joan and Ely Raman, Ann Arnold and Hank Kinderdyk, Ann Greyburn, and numerous nephews and nieces. Harry began Irving Wire Products Corporation with his brothers Don and John, and friend Dave Kinjerski in 1953. The company makes wire mesh products to reinforce concrete. Harry helped form Wire Products of Hawaii, Irving Holdings Ltd., H.A.I. Resources, and Irvco Resources. During his career, Harry sat on a number of boards, including; Irving Wire Products Corporation, Wire Products of Hawaii, Foothills Steel, Alberta Gas Trunkline, Alberta Energy, Inter Provincial Steel, Page Petroleum, Ranger Oil, Munich Reinsurance of Canada, and Great Lakes Insurance. As a teenager and young man, he excelled at many sports. He enjoyed football, hockey, baseball and polo, and skied, hiked, swam, and exercised regularly at the Glencoe Club until he was 76. In football, he was a quarterback who played and coached on a number of teams. One of his favourite teams was the 1946 undefeated West End Tornadoes. He also played for the McGill University Redmen, the University of Alberta Golden Bears, and the winning 1948 Calgary Stampeders Grey Cup team. Harry revelled in the life long friendship formed with his many team-mates and competitors. Funeral Services will be held at Christ Church Elbow Park (3602 – 8th Street S.W.) on Friday, May 26, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the families and friends for their wonderful support during Harry’s long illness, and the wonderful care given by Harry’s doctors; Dr. Nancy Brager, Dr. Barbara Scurfield, Dr. Ryan and Dr. Latsch, and private Caregiver Aileen Munar, as well as the staff at the Wentworth Manor and the Bethany Care Centre. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to either The Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Suite 201, 222 – 58th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 2S3, Telephone: (403)290-0110, www.alzheimercalgary.com, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. In living memory of Harry Irving, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.