Obituary of Calvin Fitzsimonds

B I O G R A P H Y FITZSIMONDS: Calvin Roy Fitzsimonds passed away in the Lloydminster Hospital on Thursday, October 14, 2004 at the age of 80 years. Calvin is survived by: eight children: Linda Sayn; Bob and Kirsten Fitzsimonds; Bill and Dorinda Fitzsimonds; Elaine and Jim Green; Brian and Debbie Fitzsimonds; Susan and Glen Forty; Kathy and John Koep and Bruce Fitzsimonds; twenty-three grandchildren; ten great grandchildren as well as numerous other relatives. The memorial service for Cal was conducted from the Stockade Convention Center, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Harold Martin officiating. A eulogy was prepared by the family and read by Brian Fitzsimonds. Hymns sung were “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” “Amazing Grace,” and “The Old Rugged Cross,” accompanied on the organ by Brenda Findlay. The Grace United Church Choir was also in attendance. Honorary pallbearers were: Dave Fisher, Gib Groseth, Roy Leifson, Henry Mills, Jim Hunt, Ron Banda and Terry Anderson. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy I would first like to thank family and friends for coming together today to celebrate the life of our father Calvin Fitzsimonds. Dad was born on July 13, 1924 at Spruce Lake, Saskatchewan to Jim and Blanche Fitzsimonds. He was one of five boys, Vernon, Lorne, Dale and Norman. Dad took his schooling and resided in Spruce Lake. In his early teens he would use a horse and wagon to cut and haul firewood to local residents or help out area farmers with their harvest to make a few dollars. At the age of 15 Dad enlisted in the armed forces to go overseas. After finishing boot camp the army found out that he was underage and sent him home until he turned 16 at which time he re-enlisted. Dad served in Holland, England and Italy during the war, often telling us kids while growing up that he had never been so cold as those winter months in England. Upon returning from the was Dad asked a beautiful young lady from Turtleford named Evelyn Violet Harrison to be his wife. On October 14, 1947 they were married in the Anglican Church here in Lloydminster. Mom and Dad made their residence in North Battleford, Saskatchewan during their first few years together, with dad working in a local garage delivering cars and machinery. While living in North Battleford Mom and Dad were blessed with three children, Linda, Bob and Bill. Shortly after the birth of our brother Bill in 1953 they decided to pack up and move to Lloydminster not knowing that their home would hear the feet of many more children to come. In the next ten years their home would be blessed with five more children: Elaine, myself Brian, Susan, Kathy and Bruce. During the first few years in Lloydminster, Dad worked for a number of companies. While working for a man named Clair Ross, a company was formed between them called Double “C” Oilwell Services Ltd. Dad and Claire were partners for a number of years until it was decided that Claire would sell his part of the company to Mom. In 1985 Double “C” Oilwell Services Ltd. was awarded with an honorary lifetime membership from the Saskatchewan Wildlife Association for their many contributions and commitment to Saskatchewan Wildlife. Through their many ups and downs in the oi patch in the 70' and 80's Mom and Dad ran their company for many years until they retired in 1990. Sometime in the late 1960's Dad spoke to Joe May, a friend of his about purchasing a lot at Little Fishing Lake and building a cabin. Together they moved an old pump shack from Blackfoot to the lot and over the next few years added rooms onto it. Over the next 35 years Mom, Dad and the family spent many weeks and days at our second home at the lake. In 1995, five years after his retirement, Dad was very honoured to be named Oilman of the Year. He very much enjoyed going to the Oilmen’s banquet every year and reminiscing with friends from the old days in the oil patch. In 1996 Mom passed away after 49 years of marriage, leaving a tremendous hole in Dads and our lives. After a time Dad decided to sell his home in Lloydminster and move to Little Fishing Lake enabling him to live closer to his love of nature and the great outdoors. While living at the lake he enjoyed many things, berry picking, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and especially quadding with his many friends and family. More than once John had to pull Dad out of the muskeg somewhere. One of Dads greatest interests over the last few years was sitting in his hunting shack watching and photographing wildlife. Dad spent many hours wit his sons and son-in-laws watching the deer come to his feeder. Dad was never happier than when he was quadding the trails with his kids, grandchildren and friends. His many friends were always amazed how Dad could find his way around all the trails and cutlines around Little Fishing Lake. Another interest of Dads was his garden and all the flowers that he planted around his home. The yard around his cabin was always vibrant with colour from all the flowers. Over the years Dad’s family grew immensely to include 23 grand children and 10 great grandchildren. Dad was always a very active person even at the age of 80 years young he thought he would like to try riding a sea-doo for the first time, so on his 80th birthday he walked out into the lake with his shoes, socks and pants on and climbed onto Bill’s sea-doo and away he went. The grandchildren thought that was the greatest thing watching grandpa riding around the lake on a sea-doo. If it had anything to do with outdoors Dad was always game. For the most part Dad always had a great sense of humour. Practical jokes were always a lot of fun when it came to Dad. Bruce recalls the time he put scotch tape over Dad’s bi-focals. Upon returning home from quadding, Dad put his glasses on to read something and caused much amusement trying to clean them. After many attempts and much laughter Bruce was forced to admit what he had done. Bob recalls the time he woke up in his bedroom in the basement to find that live turkeys occupied the basement; to this day we are not sure how they got there. Some of the fondest memories for Linda was when Dad would pick up his guitar and play his many songs that he wrote for each of his children. Elaine recalled the time Dad took his two horses to the lake. While sitting in the cabin, Dad coaxed his young colt Joker through the open back door right into the living room. It’s probably a good thing mom wasn’t there that weekend because I’m sure she would not have been impressed. Sometimes through the eyes of Dad’s children we didn’t think things were done quite fairly; like the time Dad let Bob use the family car and he returned it with some minor damage done to it. That pretty much blew Bill’s chances of getting it to take a girl on a date. Susan always said that if you went quadding with Dad you had to make sure you kept up because he seldom looked back and you could end up being lost by taking a wrong cutline. Kathy was always the worrywart of the family when it came to Dad, especially during hunting season when Dad would cross the lake on the ice with his quad or ski-doo. I have many fond memories of spending time with Dad learning to hunt and fish. Spending time in the woods with Dad was always a great joy for me. I also remember giving Dad reason to sometimes lose his sense of humour on occasion when I found it necessary to get into some kind of trouble. Dad was especially proud of all his grand children and great grandchildren. He loved them with all his heart. Nothing made him happier than spending time with them picking berries at the lake. One thing I know for sure is that the trails and cutlines around Little Fishing Lake and Bronson Forest will be a little quieter and a little lonelier without Dad. So as Time and years pass by and we all ride the trails that he rode, I am sure that his spirit will ride with all of us through our memories. I would like to take this time to thank all of you that have been a part of our father’s life. His life was richer for knowing you. We will all leave here today with our own fond memories and thoughts. He was a man that touched many lives, be it wife, daughter, son, grandchild or friend. I THANK HIM FOR BEING OUR FATHER AND OUR FRIEND. Card of Thanks The Fitzsimonds family would like to thank Dr. Kerlis, for his kindness and compassion to our family and especially Dad, as well as the Third Floor Nursing Staff for all their help, understanding and support. We want to thank Reverend Harold Martin for the beautiful service and to Brenda Findlay and to the Grace United Church Choir. Thank you to all who sent flowers, cards, food and donations to the Cancer Society to be made in Dad’s memory. To everyone who called and came for visits, your thoughtfulness did not go unnoticed. Thank you to all the pallbearers, you were so important in our Dad’s life. Thank you to all the Legion members for their support and a special thank you to Dale McCaw and McCaw Funeral Service for helping us through this difficult time. Linda Sayn Bob & Kirsten Fitzsimonds Bill & Dorinda Fitzsimonds Jim & Elaine Green Brian & Debbie Fitzsimonds Susan & Glenn Forty Kathy & John Koep Bruce Fitzsimonds and families