Lord Ivan Buchanan

Obituary of Lord Ivan Buchanan


February 20, 1955 - Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Co, Nova Scotia

March 4, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

 

It is with great shock and profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Ivan “Lord” Buchanan on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at age 68.

 

Born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia on February 20, 1955, Ivan relocated to Calgary, AB in 1980 where he commenced his 30+ year career with the City of Calgary, Parks Division. Throughout his years of work, he came to be known by friends and co-workers as “Dr. Dolittle” for his ways with animals. In 2007, Ivan and his wife Donna re-united in Calgary and married in 2011, celebrating their union with all their friends and family from home in North Sydney.  Ivan embraced the full retirement life with Donna in 2020 when he completed his employment with the City of Calgary. They embarked on new adventures, which included international travel, motorcycle rides, camping trips and time with family, friends and their grandchildren.

 

Along with his ‘partner in crime’ and best friend Donna, Ivan is survived by step-children, Leah Ivey and Steven Ivey (Ashley Oravevz) of Dartmouth, NS; and chosen family Sébastien (Crystal) Côté and grandsons, Cameron and Logan Côté of Edmonton, AB. Ivan is also survived by his four brothers, John (Ann) Buchannan of North Sydney, NS, Lee (Jane) Buchanan of New Brunswick, Herman Rohrback of British Columbia, Henry Rohrback of Ontario and two sisters, Georgina (Joey) Macintyre of Nova Scotia, and Theresa (Gower) Quirk of Alberta. missed dearly by many nieces, nephews’ family and friends, notably his close friend Dennis MacDougall of New Brunswick, and family friends, Darrell Dubeck of Calgary AB, and Greg (Marianne) Custodio Fox and their two children, Emilia and Alexander of Victoria, BC.

 

Ivan was predeceased by his parents, Kay and Eddie Buchannan of North Sydney, and his siblings: Willena, Cathy, Sheila, Walter and Bernie. Ivan was blessed to have the love and admiration of children big and small, through a dynamic social network in which his presence will be deeply missed and felt, as he himself was a big kid at heart. You could easily find him engaged in a game of make-believe bear hunting, playing at the park on the swings or ripping down a toboggan hill with any of the children lucky enough to be part of his life.

 

Ivan was an adventurer, he treated life every day like a new discovery, to be encountered, explored, and enjoyed. He found joy in simple things like, road trips on the bike to British Columbia for coffee or Banff for a sweet treat, or dancing and humming to his own personal soundtrack of music. He absorbed every drop that each day offered in a new and exciting experience, with his wife and best friend by his side. Most recently, Ivan and Donna embarked on a BIG NORTH adventure to the Canadian Territories, where they shared in the vast beauty the land and sky had to offer and where “Dipsy Doodle” was belted out each day in with great enthusiasm and gusto.

 

At Ivan’s request, no service will be held. For those fortunate enough to have known him, wherever you are, raise a glass, think of him, laugh about his silly kind nature and most of all, in his honor, embrace life as it comes, enjoy it and live it as he did. For tomorrow is not promised and it all goes by so fast.

 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.
 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca. 

 

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



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