Alexander (Alex) VALESTUK

Obituary of Alexander (Alex) VALESTUK


October 21, 1926 - Broadview, Saskatchewan
November 14, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Alex, beloved husband of Winona Beryl Valestuk (nee Buzan) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at the age of 94 years.

With hearts full of love and gratitude, we wave goodbye to our darling Alex, the best husband, father, and grampa in the world. He was born and raised in Broadview, SK, a place that occupied a large part of his heart for the rest of his long and happy life. After a fabled boyhood of riding the rails, getting lost in the bush, and giving the local constabulary a run for their money, he joined the Navy at age 17 and did his part in the Atlantic during the second world war, including a stint on Canada’s first aircraft carrier. In a surprising turn of events, he then completed his BComm at the University of Saskatchewan and became a Chartered Accountant in Calgary in the early 1950s. A serial entrepreneur, he was involved in everything from silver mining to small-town newspaper publishing, from imaginative feedlot supply chains to oil and real estate development. In all that he did, he brought the easy-going charm and deep integrity for which he will be remembered.

The center of Alex’s life was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-eight years, Beryl (nee Buzan), and by his three girls, Elizabeth (Charles Henderson), Catherine (Gavin Fitch) and Lorraine (Luke Bresky). He adored his granddaughters, Winona, Lucy and Eleanor Fitch, and his grandson Lief Bresky, and we are proud to see so many of his best traits - bravery, adventurousness, curiosity and kindness - in them.  Dad is also survived by his brothers, John, Edmund and Jake. He was predeceased by his siblings, Edward, Michael, Stephen, William and Peggy (Rice). Their children grew to be his friends and the family is so grateful for their love and support.

When we think of him, which will be so often, we will remember him heading out for his evening stroll, with his off-key whistling and a smile for everyone. God bless him.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to either The Skipping Stone Foundation, 407 2 St SW #1250, Calgary, AB T2P 2Y3, Telephone: (587) 333-4342, https://www.skippingstone.ca/donate, The Alzheimer Society of Calgary, 800, 7015 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, AB  T2H 2K6, Telephone: (403)290-0110, www.alzheimercalgary.com., or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, Unit 590, 1212 – 31 Avenue NE, Calgary, AB  T2E 7S8   Telephone: (403) 263-5300 or (toll-free): 1 (866) 547 – LIFE (5433), www.lls.org/canada.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Alexander’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Alexander Valestuk, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.

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Alexander (Alex)