Obituary of Jack Begg

August 21, 1937 - Coronation, Alberta

January 21, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

John (Jack) Begg, beloved husband of Marlene Begg (nee Bauer), of Rockyview County, AB, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 21, 2022, at the age of 84 years.

He was born on August 21, 1937, in Coronation, AB, as the oldest of thirteen children, on a ranch. It was there that he finished school, where he was also an avid and talented baseball player. He worked on ranches and in the oil business before earning a degree in teaching from the U of A in Edmonton, where he met and married Marlene. Jack taught in Pincher Creek, was a principal in Burdett, and then taught in Edmonton. Jack and Marlene bought their first farm in Gwynn, and Jack taught in Wetaskiwin. They spent a year on their orchard in Penticton, BC, before moving to Calgary, where Jack worked with Amoco until he retired in 1992. They bought their retirement forever home/farm at the edge of Calgary, building it from the ground up with their two boys, where they have spent the last 30 years, except for a time, teaching English in Ethiopia. Upon return to their farm, they decided to start the “Garden of Eat’n” with retirees from Amoco and BP Oil, which provided a harvest of fresh vegetables for 22 years for the Calgary Food Bank. Many oil companies through the years were also volunteers. Jack had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. He loved his farm life, especially his cattle, the winters in Nevada, cruises, and travelling. He loved coffee at the casino most mornings, tinkering with whatever were his latest purchases from farm auctions (at which he was a regular), listening to Bob Dylan, reading any and all newspapers, watching football, baseball, and teaching, and coaching kids.

He is survived by his loving wife Marlene of fifty-three years, his two sons and one daughter-in-law, Brent, and Derek and Tammy; three grandsons, one great-granddaughter, five brothers, seven sisters, and sister-in-law Lori.

Jack was just a really good guy! Great husband, father, brother, friend, and will be missed by us all. Rest in Peace Jack. We love you.

Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Special thanks to the wonderful, caring staff at Calgary Seton Age Care, where Jack spent his last years, after sustaining a debilitating stroke.

In living memory of Jack Begg, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.