Obituary of Frederick Charles Allan

April 9, 1934 - Glasgow, Scotland

December 2, 2023 - Calgary, AB, Canada

Fred Allan beloved husband of Irene Allan (nee Gates) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at the age of 89 years.

Fred was born in Glasgow, Scotland on April 9, 1934, the first born to John and Jane Allan and would eventually be followed by younger brothers John, then Andrew.

Fred was introduced to his first wife, Harriet, by his aunt when they were 15, the same year he started an apprenticeship with the Sunday Post in Glasgow. They were engaged on October 19, 1957 and were married September 5, 1958 at Parkhead Congregational Church. They immigrated to Canada with their two children, at the time, in 1967, when Fred worked for The Albertan. They would have a third child in 1968 and he would move to work for the Calgary Herald, where he retired from in 1996. After seeing their son married and welcoming three beautiful granddaughters, Fred and Harriet celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary in September of 1998, before Harriet passed away in November of 1998.

He had been active the Masonic Lodge in Scotland, and joined a Calgary Lodge when he emigrated, eventually joining Eastern Star with his wife, Harriet, where they had both been active for many years.  The friendship and fellowship they received there would help them through many things, not least of which, Harriet’s passing. 

It was through Eastern Star that he met Irene Petruic, who had been a friend for many years and who, as a fellow widow, helped Fred navigate a new life without his partner. That friendship grew to love and on January 15, 2000, Fred and Irene were married at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, a friendship and love that has lasted 24 years.

Fred will be remembered as a good man. And he was a good man, who enjoyed taking care of the people he loved, and living a life of service to the organizations he supported. He loved reading, could do crossword puzzles without ever using Google, and took desktop publishing in his late 60s in order to do an Eastern Star newsletter for Irene. He had a sharp wit, a Dad joke for most situations and gave wonderful, bone crushing hugs.

Besides his loving wife Irene, Fred is survived by his son, Ken, and daughter-in-law, Donna, his two daughters, Sandra and Diane, of Calgary, Alberta, his step-daughter, Randene (Ed) Dittrich, of Red Deer, Alberta, his five grandchildren, Kimberley (Chris) Fielder, Lauren Allan and Jeff Tayler of Calgary, Alberta, Alexandra Dittrich (fiance Chris Gordon), of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Regena (Jackson) Berndt, of Edmonton, Alberta, Josh (Jenna) Dittrich of Red Deer, Alberta; his four great-grandchildren, Christian Tayler, Caitlyn Tayler, Claire Tayler and Ava Fielder, of Calgary, Alberta; as well as various nieces and nephews throughout the UK.

Fred was predeceased by his wife, Harriet, his parents, John and Jane Allan, his brother John, and his granddaughter Heather Allan.

Memorial Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Heritage, 1708, 16th Avenue N, across from the North Hill Shopping Centre, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Fred’s service streamed live on the day of the service at www.MHFH.com. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Fred’s family there.

In lieu of flowers, if desired, donations may be made to The Canadian Lung Association online at www.lung.ca/donate ; by phone 1-613-569-6411 or by mail to The Canadian Lung Association at 502-885 Meadowlands Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K2C 3N2.

In living memory of Fred Allan, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Heritage, 1708 – 16th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 0L7, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Thank you for joining us for the live streaming of this event

(The event start time on our video player has automatically adjusted to match your time zone)

Our technical team does everything possible to ensure the best quality of the live-stream service. 

Unfortunately, there are times when the internet connection at the venue or where you are viewing from may cause interference and buffering.

We apologize if this is the case with today’s live stream, but we want to assure you that this service will be recorded and uploaded following the service.