STANLEY ELLSWOOD “STAN” WICKSTROM, WAS CALLED HOME TO HIS LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST OCTOBER 1, 2000 AT THE TOM BAKER CANCER CENTRE, CALGARY, ALBERTA, FOLLOWING A SHORT STRUGGLE WITH CANCER AT THE AGE OF 77 YEARS.
STAN WAS BORN DECEMBER 27, 1922 AT VULCAN, ALBERTA TO PETER AND AMELIA WICKSTROM, SWEDISH IMMIGRANTS. HE GREW UP IN CALGARY WITH HIS MOTHER AND FOUR BROTHERS. STAN ATTENDED THE BALMORAL AND WESTERN CANADA HIGH SCHOOLS. STAN BEGAN WORKING WITH WILSON STATIONERS UNTIL 1942 WHEN HE JOINED THE NAVY. HE SERVED AS A SAILOR ON A FRIGATE ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC UNTIL HIS DISCHARGE IN 1945. HE RETURNED TO CALGARY AND RESUMED EMPLOYMENT WITH WILSON STATIONERS. IN 1946 HE AND A PARTNER OPENED THEIR OWN BUSINESS, CALGARY OFFICE EQUIPMENT REPAIR. STAN MARRIED BETTY SMITH IN 1949, THE FOLLOWING YEAR THEY CLOSED THEIR BUSINESS AND MOVED TO THE SMITH FAMILY FARM, IN THE BERRYWATER DISTRICT, NORTH OF VULCAN, WHERE THEY BUILT THEIR OWN HOME. TOGETHER THEY WORKED THE LAND AND RAISED THEIR FAMILY. IN 1981 THEY MOVED INTO VULCAN AND STAN CONTINUED FARMING WITH HIS SON, HE ALSO PURSUED WOODWORKING IN HIS GARAGE IN TOWN.
AS A YOUTH STAN WAS A CONFIRMED MEMBER OF THE FIRST LUTHERN CHURCH IN CALGARY HE ENJOYED LUTHER LEAGUE, THE YOUTH GROUP. HE WAS VERY ATHLETIC AND PLAYED HOCKEY, BASEBALL, HORSESHOES AND GLIDED FOR MILES ON HIS SPEED SKATES. IN HIS LATER YEARS STAN ENJOYED CAMPING, TRAVELLING AND SUPPORTING HIS FAMILY IN THEIR SCHOOL AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES.
STAN LOVED HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THE MANY SPECIAL TIMES TOGETHER. HE WAS A DEVOTED MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST, SERVING FOR MANY YEARS AS AN ELDER AND DEACON AS WELL AS SINGING IN THE CHOIR. STAN SUPPORTED THE UNIFARM ORGANIZATION AND ENJOYED THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BERRYWATER DISTRICT. IN 1999 STAN AND BETTY CELEBRATED THEIR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
STAN IS SURVIVED BY HIS LOVING WIFE BETTY OF VULCAN, BELOVED FATHER OF A DAUGHTER CHERYL (LORNE) MUELLER OF OLDS, SON RON (TRINA) WICKSTROM OF VULCAN, FIVE GRANDCHILDREN CARLEEN MUELLER, NADINE (CAM) LAYDEN AND COLIN MUELLER ALL OF OLDS, TIANA AND KYLE WICKSTROM BOTH OF VULCAN, THREE BROTHERS-IN-LAW ALAN SMITH OF BELLE RIVER, PEI, DOUG (EVELYN) SMITH AND RUSSEL (RUTH) SMITH ALL OF VULCAN, A SISTER-IN-LAW BEA WICKSTROM OF CAMROSE, COUSINS REINHOLD (ILA) LUNDGREN OF VULCAN AND MILLIE (NICK) RICCUITI OF CALGARY, NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
STAN WAS PREDECEASED BY FOUR BROTHERS DUFF, BILL, CHESTER AND LLOYD AND HIS PARENTS.
FUNERAL SERVICE THURSDAY OCTOBER 5, 2000 AT 2 P.M. AT THE CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST, VULCAN WITH REV. DOUG BARRIE OFFICIATING.
HONORARY BEARERS WERE JACK AND JOYCE DEANS, STAN AND FRANCIS KEHR, JIM AND JEAN REATH AND JOYCE PELHAM.
CASKET BEARERS WERE DOUG SMITH, BYRON SMITH, DWAYNE SMITH, KENT WICKSTROM, BOB WICKSTROM AND TERRY WICKSTROM.
INTERMENT VULCAN CEMETERY.
IN LIEU OF FLORAL TRIBUTES, DONATIONS IN STAN’S MEMORY COULD BE MADE TO EITHER THE ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION 1331- 29 ST. N.W. CALGARY, ALBERTA T2N 4N2 OR THE ALBERTA BIBLE COLLEGE 635 NORTHMOUNT N.W. CALGARY, ALBERTA T2K 3J6.
ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME. DIRECTORS. TELEPHONE 1-403-485-2633. E-MAIL CONDOLENCES TO vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.