Obituary of Kenneth Norman KERWIN

August 9, 1954 - Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
November 13, 2020 - Calgary, Alberta

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Ken Kerwin announce his sudden passing due to complications from cancer on November 13th at his home in Calgary, Alberta.   

Ken was born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba to Norman and Claudia Kerwin and, shortly thereafter, he moved to The Pas, Manitoba when his father assumed the northern health inspector position for Manitoba with his new bride, Claudia, a social worker.  Ken often said that he had a wonderful childhood growing up on an acreage and spent his summers swimming, fishing, and boating at the family cottage with his parents and Ken’s three brothers, Jim, Donald and Dale, getting up to all kinds of hijinks.  Ken also had a large extended family of grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews that he loved dearly and he often said that some of his favorite childhood memories were of spending time over the summer with his cousins at their grandparents’ farm in Manitoba. 

Ken attended the University of Manitoba, graduating with a degree in Geological Engineering in 1978. He then embarked on a wonderfully rewarding forty-year career in the oil industry, beginning with Pacific Petroleum and subsequently transitioning to Petro-Canada/Suncor, finally retiring from Suncor as Director, Petroleum Engineering E&P. Ken valued and respected his colleagues and friends immensely, keeping in touch with many of them over his career and beyond.  

Always up for a challenge, Ken then turned his focus to the golf course, a sport that he loved and strived to perfect, but it was the company that he kept with his good friends that brought him back every time.  And, though he travelled extensively to many places and countries for his career, it was home where he really shined. For all of his professional accomplishments, he was most proud of his children and grandchildren. Ken loved nothing more than getting together to catch up with them as they were the apples of his eye and he would have gone to the moon and back to help them out in any way he could; that was his way, through and through, and family meant everything to him. Ken was a kind, beautiful man and we will miss him so very much. 

Grieving Ken’s passing is his wife of thirty years, Sharon Gray, who loved Ken beyond measure and will miss him terribly for the rest of her time. Godspeed my love; until we meet again. 

Also grieving Ken’s passing is his family that loved him with all their hearts: Ken’s beloved daughter, Jennifer Kerwin, who Ken was so very proud of, and her husband, son-in-law, David Loney; son James Kerwin and daughter-in-law, Karen Kerwin, and their children, Mitchell and Levi, Ken’s grandchildren, who he adored and they loved him so very much; son Michael Kerwin, who admired and loved his dad; and son, Taylor Kerwin, who was so very close to his dad and loved nothing more than hanging out with his him when they got the chance; Ken’s brothers Jim Kerwin (Pat) and family; Dale Kerwin (Delphine) and family; Donald Kerwin (Carol) and family, 

Extended family grieving Ken’s loss is his father-in-law, Ken Gray; mother-in-law, Cathy Gray; brother-in-law, David Gray (Iris) and family; brother-in-law Garry Gray (Brenda) and family; sister-in-law, Judy Linton (David) and family; brother-in-law, Colin Gray; brother in law, Cal Gray (Cathy) and family. 

A future, private family celebration of Ken’s life will take place at the lake, his “favorite place in the world”. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Ken’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Ken Kerwin, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.