Obituary of Alex Kowalchuk

 July 3, 1932- Venice, Alberta

February 18, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

It is with deep sorrow and sadness that we mourn the passing of our father, Alex Kowalchuk, of Calgary, AB, on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the age of 90 years.

He grew up on his family farm in Boyle, Alberta. Graduated high school in 1950 and was accepted into the RCMP program until his mother dissuaded him.  He joined the Alberta Wheat Pool in Stoney Plain as a relief grain buyer. In 1955 he married Anne Radmanovich and they moved to Sangudo where he became a full-time grain buyer. Sherry was born in Mayerthorpe and Darlene was born in Edmonton.

Alex became a traveling superintendent in 1965 and the family moved to Edmonton and then Grande Prairie. When he was promoted to Divisional Superintendent they moved to Calgary, in 1972. His last promotion was to Executive Director of Country Operations which he retired from in 1993. He and Anne moved to an acreage in Bearspaw on which they worked very hard developing it into a haven for their grandkids.

Alex was passionate about playing baseball, golf and curling. As an avid sports fan he spent hours watching curling, hockey, baseball, golf and the CFL. 

He was a proud member of Bearspaw and Country Hills Golf and Country Clubs for many years. He was community minded and a dedicated member of the Elks and later joined the Bearspaw Lions Club.

Alex enjoyed travelling to many destinations including Russia, Siberia, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Scotland, and England.

Alex had a great sense of humor and kept family and friends entertained. He always had a joke to share, and a friendly bet with his fellow residents over sports.  He was continually eager to participate in activities at the Rocky Ridge Retirement Community, his home for the last eight years.

Alex is survived by his two daughters Sherry (Terry) Pysyk and Darlene (Roy) Honeychurch; five grandchildren, Nicole (John) Cosgrove, Jeff (Amy) Honeychurch, Mark (Oakley) Pysyk, Matt (Chrissy) Honeychurch, and Megan Honeychurch (Kevin Estabrooks); three great-grandchildren, Mylo, Croft and Kalani; and his sister Kay Bayda and brother Orest (Rita) Kowalchuk. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and his good friend Marg Houston. He was predeceased by his wife Anne, sister Pauline, and parents Pearl and Philemon Kowalchuk.

A Funeral Service will be held  at McInnis & Holloway (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB), on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Alex’s service streamed live on the day of the service (see below). For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos may also be shared and viewed there.

Special thanks to the staff at Rocky Ridge Retirement Community, Dulcina Hospice and Dr. Peter Thornton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, 200 – 325 Manning Rd. N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 Telephone: (403) 205-3966, email donor.services@cancer.ab.ca. 

In living memory of Alex Kowalchuk, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.

Click Here to View Alex Kowalchuk's Memorial Card

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