Obituary of Gardiner Edward Shaw

Gardiner Edward Shaw died peacefully on March 20th, 2006 at his home in Calgary with his loving wife Jeanne at his side. He was 83 years of age and his death came as a result of complications from cancer. Gardie was born on July 1st, 1922, the eldest of four sons of Norris & Carrie Shaw who farmed in the Lacombe area. He married Jeanne Elizabeth Saunders on December 22nd, 1942, and she was the sunshine of his life and his inseparable partner for the 63 years they spent together. Throughout his life, his adventuresome and entrepreneurial spirit lead him into many challenging and successful business ventures including Shaw Drilling, Thompson & Shaw Line Construction, Midland Superior Express, Shaw GMC, Rentway Canada, Bennett & Shaw Storage & Distributing and G.E. Shaw Holdings. As a proud Calgarian he served on the board of the Calgary Stampeders, chaired the Calgary International Horse Show, and supported the Calgary Stampede, the Calgary Flames, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Calgary Handi-Bus Association. He was an active member of Parkdale United Church and then McDougall United Church. Gardie had a deep love for his family. He helped to bring Little League Baseball to Calgary when his sons started to play the game, he built and operated Chinook Stables when his daughters were interested in horses, and became a partner in McKenzie Meadows Golf Course when his grandsons started to golf. Gardie was a passionate and involved Rotarian for over 40 years. He was the President of the South Calgary Club in 1971, District Governor in 1984/85 and proudly chaired the host committee 1996 World Rotary Convention in Calgary. Gardie will be lovingly remembered by all who knew him, including his wife Jeanne, his son Wayne (Marilyn Pilkington) and his daughters Judy (John Heynen) and Pam (John Tronson); his grandchildren Meredith & Robert Shaw, Robert, Jared & Stephen Heynen, and Emily & Avery Tronson, along with his brothers, and the extended Shaw and Saunders family. He was predeceased by his son Robert Lee and his brother Norris Shaw. The Shaw family wish to extend their deepest appreciation to Dr. Terry Groves and the staff at the Rockyview Hospital, Dr. Dean Ruther and the staff at the Tom Baker Cancer Center, Dr. Martelle Preller, the nurses at Home Care – especially Sue Pearce, and to our good friend Sylvia Sowerby. If friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to a charity of their choice. A Celebration of Gardie’s life will be held Saturday March 25th, 2006 at MacDougall United Church located at 8516 Athabasca Street, S.E., Calgary, AB at 2:00pm. In living memory of Gardie Shaw, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Fish Creek Chapel 14441 Bannister Road S.E. Calgary, AB, T2X 3J3 Telephone: (403) 256-9575.