Obituary of Gregory Michael Ewonus

EWONUS, Gregory Michael

November 20, 1933 - Melville, Saskatchewan

February 2, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

Gregory Michael Ewonus passed away peacefully at home in the morning hours of February 2, 2022, with his wife of 62 years, Merle by his side; he was 88 years old.

Greg was born on November 20, 1933, in Melville, Saskatchewan to Patricia and Nicholas Ewonus. He was the youngest of eleven children. Following the untimely death of his mother when he was only 11 years old, Greg found comfort in the home of Mr. and Mrs. “Mac”, Les and Millie MacDonald. Their son Dick was a lifelong friend and Greg often spoke lovingly of the kindness he received from the MacDonalds.

The Ewonus boys were not only known for their academics but also their athletic gifts, and Greg was no different, particularly when it came to hockey.  In 1953, Greg's skills at hockey earned him a four-year scholarship to Colorado College, in Colorado Springs.

Greg made many friends while in Colorado. He often shared a loving story of how a local dentist fixed his teeth for free. The kindness that others showed towards Greg in his youth never went unnoticed. In turn, paying this kindness forward became a daily tenet in Greg’s life.

After graduating, Greg began his almost 60-year career in the oil business. As a young geologist, Greg had some very interesting experiences including living in camps “up north”, picking up a significant amount of Cree dialogue, and a multitude of rides in helicopters and bush planes.

In December 1958, while working for City Service in Edmonton, Greg met Merle, a teacher at Hardisty Elementary. This meeting would lead to Merle and Greg’s 62 ½ year union.

Their first date was very romantic when Greg took Merle to a movie in Edmonton on a 40 below zero evening. While the movie was not very impressive, Merle was very impressed by the fact that, to ward off the cold, Greg left his car running the entire time they were in the movie theatre.

When Merle and Greg were married on August 15th, 1959, Greg gained a life-long partner and a loving family in the Dahlstedts. Merle’s parents, Jane and Willard, loved him like a son.

In 1961 they bought their first home in the community of Lakeview. Shortly after their move, their first baby Leslae Jane arrived, followed three years later by (Jennifer) Dawn, and then three years later by (Jon-Paul Claire) Jake.

The three-bedroom bungalow would become their home for almost twenty years. The neighborhood was a source of many lifetime friendships.

In 1967, just a few months before Jake arrived, Greg courageously decided to start out on his own and establish Merlin Petroleum Consulting. Being a WWII buff, Greg named the company after the Merlin engine in the Spitfire plane.

Over the next few years, Greg’s business grew to a point where he began to hire other geologists. Eventually, he gave up sitting wells himself and became a full-time salesperson for Merlin. 

Greg’s dedication to Merlin, though great, never surpassed or outweighed his commitment to his family. Despite regularly working out of town, Greg never missed a single event in his children’s lives.  Without hesitation he would drive ten or twelve hours to attend a parent teacher conference, a band concert or a dance recital and then turn around and go back.

Greg’s company continued to grow, eventually having offices in Calgary, Denver, Wichita, and London, England. He employed and trained hundreds of young wellsite geologists, and took special pride in hiring numerous women geologists, which at the time was very uncommon in the industry. During these years, Greg honed his sales skills, with Merle by his side, entertaining clients at luncheons, and dinners, and events. He was a familiar face at one of his favorite locations, the Professional Club.

It was at this time that Greg began travelling internationally for business and pleasure.

This sparked Greg and Merle’s love of travel, and they travelled the world whenever they had the chance. While trips to places like England, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Morocco were driven by work, others, like St. Petersburg, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand were merely for pleasure. Greg’s work gave them the chance to go places and do things they might not have sought out otherwise, such as taking a helicopter to offshore rigs in Morocco.

In 1977, Merle and Greg and their three kids moved to Longridge Drive to a home that was to be theirs for 40 years. Being an avid golfer, Greg secured a membership at the Earl Grey Golf Club, and over the years, he enjoyed many golf get-togethers with his boyhood friends from his hometown of Melville.

Though work and travel kept Merle and Greg busy, his commitment and dedication to family only grew in 1989 with the arrival of his granddaughter Miranda Jane, and again in 1996 with the arrival of his grandson John Gregory, who was named after Greg. From that day forward, he was affectionately known as Poppy. Once again, the fact that his grandchildren lived in Missoula, Montana, an 8-hour drive, did not stop him or Merle from popping down for special events or just a quick visit. In fact, in over 33 years of visiting Missoula, Greg developed many friendships there. In turn, both Miranda and John spent many summers in Calgary, learning how to golf at Earl Grey, learning how to clean lobsters, and generally having one heck of a good time.

Greg was also blessed with two great-grandchildren. His great-granddaughter, Poppy Jane, arrived in the summer of 2018 and was named after him. She possesses many of the same friendly and outgoing traits of her namesake. Then in 2021, great-grandson MacLean John arrived. In August of 2021, Greg was able to travel to Missoula to celebrate “little” Poppy’s third birthday.

Greg was known for his generosity and giving ways. He gave away thousands of dollars to young students in need without any expectation other than to pass it forward if they could. His generosity to those in need during the holiday season was renowned. He was governed by kindness and never had a bad thing to say about anyone.

A large amount of gratitude goes to someone who meant a lot to Greg; Rob Thompson: a friend, a son-in-law, and a caretaker. Daughter Dawn’s husband, Rob, was there with Greg and Merle every day in the last few weeks of Greg’s life. Rob was a kind and patient friend to Greg.  Thank you, Rob, for your love, kindness, and generosity.  A special thank you also to son Jake, and great friend Tom, who’s regular visits were greatly appreciated.

Besides his loving wife Merle, Greg is survived by his three children, Leslae (Tom) of Missoula, Montana, Dawn (Rob) of Calgary, and Jake (Linda) of Calgary, grandchildren Miranda Jane (Henry) and John Gregory of Missoula, Montana, and great grandchildren Poppy Jane and MacLean John of Missoula, Montana.

Greg is also survived by in-laws Roy and Margaret Dahlstedt, Larry Dahlstedt of St. Paul Alberta, and Glen and Lynn Dahlstedt of Peshastin, Washington as well as numerous nieces and nephews in Canada and the United States.

Greg was predeceased by his parents, his beloved in-laws Willard and Jane Dahlstedt, and Janis and Gus Buziak as well as all eleven of his siblings and their spouses.

A memorial service will be held at McInnis and Holloway Fish Creek Chapel, on Friday, February 18 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow at the hospitality center. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mr. Ewonus’s service streamed on the day of the service (see below). For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.  A celebration of life and burial at the family cemetery in Owlseye, Alberta will occur later this year.

In lieu of donations or flowers the family asks that you share a story here.

In living memory of Gregory Ewonus, 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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