Obituary of James-Roderick Maclean

Maclean: James (Jim) Roderick 1925 - 2004 It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Jim MacLean, beloved husband of Reta MacLean of Rimbey on March 15, 2004. Jim was born on November 25, 1925 in the Craigmyle, Alberta area. One of nine children, He was truly a Ohomestead boy growing up on their family sheep farm. Jim worked on various farms and ranches in Southern Alberta as a hired hand before joining the Oil & Gas Industry on numerous seismic crews in various bush camp locations. He met the girl of his dreams in Stettler, Alberta after joining BA Oil in 1951. He and Reta (nee Milner) were wed on April 20, 1954 in Stettler, where they resided for the first few years. They then lived in various parts of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan before settling down in Pincher Creek, Alberta in 1958 where Jim worked at the BA Gas Plant. Along their travels Jim and Reta were blessed with their four children. In 1965 Jim transferred to the Rimbey Gas Plant and he and Reta built the first home of their own. Dad loved his work and the guys at the Rimbey plant, he retired in December 1984. Dad was a soft spoken and gentle man that loved first his family, attending the Hand Hills Stampede every year to see old childhood friends and relatives in the area. Each year we kids always anticipated summer and our numerous camping adventures at Little Fish Lake. Recently, he and Reta enjoyed their regular camping trips to Fairmont in the spring and fall each year. Dad always wanted to be a farmer he loved the land and being outdoors. He and Reta spent much time at his Oother home at the DeMott farm in the Delia area. He worked there as a young man and as a senior he loved to lend a hand to his God daughter Dianne and her husband Harold Meyer. Around town everyone knew Jim to always have a moment to say hello and to offer any help to anyone that needed him. Those in the neighborhood knew they could always count on Jim for anything. Dad loved to keep busy with a building project for one of the kids, taking care of the yard and most know not many snowflakes had a chance to sit for long on his driveway. Dad loved cards and they often got together with friends to spend an evening doing so. He always loved a good game of crib as much as a good western on television. He loved his feathered friends and years ago raised homing pigeons that could be clocked on return flights to Rimbey from as far away as BC and the Yukon. Dad kept in great shape walking and picking bottles along the roads leading to town he figured it kept the land a bit cleaner, he could exercise and make a few coins to bet with the Coffee Guys at the hotel. His greatest joy was having his family together at home. He was very excited as we were making plans to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this April. He will be dearly remembered by Reta, his wife of 49 years, his son Bill MacLean and his wife Carla, grandchildren Gillian and Will of Edmonton, daughter Joanne and her husband Keith Braaten of Calgary, daughter Colleen MacLean of Red Deer, son Wayne MacLean and his partner Brent Rock of Calgary as well as numerous furry four legged Ograndchildren that always got a hug and scratch from their grandpa. Jim is also survived by his sisters Eunice Wyman, Trudy McAdam, Jean Biengessner and brother John MacLean and sister-in-law Claire, brother-in-law Ted Houghton, father-in-law Bill Milner along with many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Dora (nee Beck) and John MacLean, sisters Annie Proudfoot, Clara Houghton, Evelyn Proudfoot and Catherine Bolduc. Reta and her family would like to express their sincere appreciation to everyone for helping us through this tragedy. We take comfort in knowing how loved Jim was and that is the true measure of a man. We hope everyone is blessed to have such a wonderful person touch their lives with such gentle care. A memorial lunch to celebrate Jim was held on Saturday, March 20, 2004 at the Rimbey United Church basement. A private graveside service will be held this spring at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. If desired, in memory of Jim please make any donations to the S.P.C.A. or the Heart & Stroke Foundation. In memory of the late Mr. James MacLean a donation will be made to the Rimbey Hospital Bed Project. A lasting memorial presented by Wilson's Funeral Chapel. Wilson's Funeral Chapel serving Central Alberta with locations in Rimbey and Lacombe in charge of the arrangements. Phone: (403) 843-3388 or (403) 782-3366 " A CARING FAMILY, CARING FOR FAMILIES ."