Obituary of Edward Alan Coffey

October 6, 1954 – Winnipeg, Manitoba

August 4, 2024 – Irricana, Alberta

Edward “Ted” Alan Coffey of Irricana, AB, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at the age of 69 years.

Ted was born in Winnipeg, MB, on October 6, 1954. He moved to Irricana, AB, with his family in 1998.

Ted lived in Baden-Soellingen, Germany, with his family from 1959 to 1963. And as an adult served in the Armed Forces.

Ted married Debra Mohrbutter in 1984. They had their first son, Sean, in 1986, and their second son, Matthew, in 1988.

Ted accomplished much throughout his life and was particularly proud of doing good for the people of the town of Irricana while acting as CAO; including organizing both a town food bank from local businesses during the Covid-19 lockdowns, and a street party for the people in town.

Ted was well known for being a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and this earned him the title of Canada’s Greatest Know-It-All by winning the competition on the eponymous Discovery Channel TV series. He spoke highly of his time on the show and loved getting to spend time with a group of people with similar minds.

He also lent his acting chops to several productions, including the “Fargo” TV series, “Knockaround Guys”, and “Hold the Dark”.

Ted was a well-seasoned traveller. He had a particular fondness for India, where he took his wife Debbie in 1988, and sons, Sean and Matthew in 2006; he also spent much time in Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Iran.

Ted was a lifelong maker and creative, from painting “Looney Tunes” murals in their backyard to space scenes in his kids’ bedrooms, the Japanese Rising Sun on his wife’s Yamaha motorcycle, to making elaborate props and costumes for Halloween, to hand forging his own knives and swords, to making his own chess board, lost wax casting, crafting brass sculptures, restoring pianos, milling glass to form his own telescope lenses, and so, so many more things.

He was a great lover of VW vans which he and Debbie restored and maintained a pair of them which they often travelled to the warmer states in.

Ted, like his mother Ilien, was a brilliant poet who could recite every poem he had ever written upon prompting; he often caused spontaneous eruptions of laughter from anyone nearby due to his creative and hilarious verses. One of Ted’s favourite poems was “The Cremation of Sam McGee” by Robert W. Service, which he could recite at will and once did so at the actual gravesite of the real Sam McGee, which is located just a few kilometres from Irricana.

Ted was a man of many ideas, talents and abilities. His knowledge and experience spanned as many topics and disciplines as the countries and regions he travelled. His warmth, generosity, sincerity and humour will continue to influence the world throughout time through all the people impacted by his remarkable life and manner of being.

Ted is survived by his beloved wife, Debbie of Irricana; his two sons, Sean (Savannah), and Matthew (Alice). Ted is also survived by his siblings, Jerry (Barbra), Maxine and son, Daniel (Tara), Linda (predeceased Ron) and sons, Sam (Carolyn) and Joe (Damaris).

Ted was predeceased by his parents, George and Ilien Coffey; four cats, Fender, Kirby, Maya, and Bowden; and four dogs, Fritz, Jake, Sheba, Coco and Lily.

A Celebration of Ted’s Life will be held at The Irricana Lions Community Hall (300 - 1st Street, Irricana, AB) on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in The Irricana Lions Community Hall.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Ted’s family here.

In living memory of Ted Coffey, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Airdrie, 300 Towerlane Drive, Airdrie, AB T4B 3L8, Telephone: 403-948-1100.