Obituary of Jack Steen

January 12, 1943 – Montréal, Québec

August 15, 2024 – Millarville, Alberta

It is with great sorrow that the family of Jack Steen announces his passing on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at the age of 81 years. Jack was a loving husband, amazing father, caring grandfather, and friend to anyone he met. He will be truly missed.

Jack was born in Montreal, QC, in 1943, and his family moved many times before settling in Calgary in 1954. Jack met Patsy Allan in 1967, and they married in 1968. Their daughter Laurie was born in 1970 and their son Tyler in 1972. Jack moved the family to Millarville in 1974 where they built a wonderful home and community, with loving friends and neighbors—with a menagerie of horses, dogs and cats, and a herd of 40 red Angus cows.

As part of the community, Jack served as Director of the Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society (MR&AS). He helped to start the Millarville Rodeo, gaining sponsors over his twelve years on the committee. Jack was very proud to be a lifetime member of the MR&AS.

Alongside Patsy, Jack was also a dedicated volunteer with the Calgary Stampede (CS). He joined the Downtown Attraction Committee in 1972, and in 1986 he was elected to the Board of Directors. This eight-year volunteer commitment as Second VP, First VP, President, and Past President ended in 2000. Jack was then on the Board of Directors of the Stampede Foundation for ten years. He really looked forward each year to help put on the CS Divit Classic Golf Day and particularly enjoyed selling mulligans.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Jack was a long-standing member of Rotary with the Chinook Club. He was very proud of his Paul Harris Awards, and of the contributions he made to Rotary International. A few other areas in which Jack contributed his skills were on the Advisory Council for the Sheep River Health Trust, covering neighboring communities: Turner Valley, Black Diamond, and Okotoks. He was also a board member of Scouts Canada Foundation Chinook Region as Chairman of the Investment Committee that raised funds to send needy cubs and scouts to camp.

Jack worked his entire career in the investment business starting at Midland Osler, then Pitfield Mackay Ross, which was acquired by RBC Dominion Securities, where he stayed until his retirement in 2008. After his retirement, his true love became woodworking, and he spent many days making countless shaker boxes, furniture, and carvings—notably a complete carousel horse. Despite living at 4,800 ft, Jack spent a year building a sixteen ft cedar strip boat he called “Miss Lolly,” and restored a 1946 Chris Craft cruiser over three years, which he launched on the Chain Lakes with his family and friends looking on.

Jack was an accomplished artist and picked up his pens every ten years or so, which is where his daughter Laurie got her talent. Both Jack and Patsy were patrons of the arts, starting a scholarship at Mount Royal University in Musical Performance, leaning toward classical.

He was also passionate about Scotland, and as a Lieutenant of the 78th Fraser Highlanders, he helped raise funds to take the Youth Highlander Pipe Band to Scotland where he chaperoned them twice to play in the castles.

Jack’s passing has left a large void in his surviving family and friends. His wife Patsy, son Tyler (Sally) of Fernie, BC, son-in-law Adam Bowles, grandchildren, Arthur and Harriet of Thorverton, UK; brother Bill Steen, nephews, Rick and Mike Steen (Ashleigh); and all his dear friends too numerous to mention. Thank you all for being there for him.

Jack was predeceased by our loving, unbelievable daughter Laurie Steen Bowles, whose legacy will live on with her children and her amazing art; parents, Jean and Bert Steen; and sister-in-law Sherri Steen. All are looking after him now.

We love you Jack and know you and Laurie will always be watching over us.

A Celebration of Jack’s Life will be held at the Highland Stock Farms West House (232152 Range Road 52, Bragg Creek) on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Directions: Take Balsam Avenue North past the shopping center, cross the bridge to the T-intersection, turn left onto Centre Avenue, go West 3 km, turn right on Range Road 52, go North 1.5 km, turn right at the highland Stock Farms sign.

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

In living memory of John Steen, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.