Obituary of Ronald (Ron) Bourgeois

March 16, 1946 - Edmonton, Alberta
September 15, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Ronald (Ron) Bourgeois, of Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, September 15, 2023, at the age of 77 years.

Ron grew up in St. Albert, Alberta, in a very large family. He graduated from St. Albert High School and went on to complete the Oil Exploration Technology Program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). He met the love of his life and future wife, Joy, in high school and they got married in 1969 and moved to Calgary that year so that Ron could pursue a career in the oil and gas industry. 

Ron spent his career working as a petrophysicist in Calgary, with a career spanning almost 50 years. Even after he formally “retired”, he still loved to work and would pick up consulting jobs from time to time. Ron also loved travelling and spending time at his condo in Mexico, where he and Joy made many wonderful friends over the years. Ron was a very intelligent guy (and also very opinionated) and he always loved going up to visit his family during the holidays so that he could argue with various relatives about politics, the economy and religion (and anything else they could find to argue about). In addition, he loved watching hockey and the CFL and despite having lived in Calgary for more than 50 years, he remained a die-hard Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos fan and refused to cheer for any Calgary team. 

Besides his loving wife Joy, Ron is survived by his son Michael Bourgeois, his daughter Robyn Bourgeois and his son-in-law Jes Herman. Ron is also survived by his mother Jeanne Bourgeois; older sister Juanne Gill and brother-in-law Larry Gill; younger sister Simonne Lougheed and brother-in-law Dave Lougheed; younger sister Maggie Neilson and brother-in-law Justice James Neilson; younger sister Laurette Sutherland and brother-in-law Brian Sutherland; younger brother Paul Bourgeois and sister-in-law Sandy Bourgeois; younger sister Gisele Bourgeois; younger brother Rene Bourgeois and sister-in-law Loretta Bourgeois; and sisters-in-law Debbie Clendening and Ruth Taylor. This is not to mention all of his many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved very much.

Ron was predeceased by his father Joffre Bourgeois and mother Laurette Bourgeois, his father-in-law Wes Clendening, his mother-in-law Jessie Clendening and his brothers-in-law Jack and Bill Clendening.

Ron, Joy, Mike and Robyn are huge animal lovers and have always had a house full of pets. Ron is survived by his dog Crosby and his cats Don Pedro and Bonnie, as well as his granddaughter (cat) Miss Kitty. He was predeceased by his dogs Lance, Sheena, Riley, Ben and Tucker and his cats Rodney, Heather, Muffy and Molly. Ron – we know that you have met them over the rainbow!

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Bonaventure Church (1600 Acadia Drive S.E., Calgary, Alberta) on Monday, September 25, 2023 at 12:00 p.m., with a reception to follow at the Church. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed with Ron’s family here. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Ron’s service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

If family and friends so desire, you can make a donation to the Calgary Humane Society (https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/donate/donate-money) or the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (https://aarcs.ca).

In living memory of Ron Bourgeois, 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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