February 19, 1937 – January 17, 2025
Just a month shy of his 88th birthday, Al passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family members.
He had endured several years of living with the increasingly debilitating effects of Parkinson’s Disease, but managed to keep active with regular golf games with friends, gym workouts and walks for most of that time.
Al began his life in the heartland of Alberta, growing up with one older brother and two younger ones on a farm near Stettler. He worked hard on the family farm and carried that strong work ethic into his future career.
He started driving truck and in the late 1960’s began his oilfield career in wireline work. He then moved on to become one of the first Canadians trained in the art of “snubbing”. He would eventually launch several different companies specializing in pressure control services.
In the latter stages of his career, he developed innovative wellhead and downhole equipment which were tailored to work with snubbing and coil tubing equipment.
Al was very respected within the pressure control industry, and many people would attest to his sage advice and solutions brought forward on tough jobs and situations.
Al was a pioneer in the snubbing industry, with many innovations developed by him that can still be seen in today's modern equipment and current techniques. Those working in snubbing today are indebted to him for the designs and techniques still used on a daily basis.
In the late 1950’s, Al met and married a single mother named Thelma, taking on the care of her two children, David and Barbara. They then had three more children – Cherise, Lisa, and Cal.
In the early 1990s, Al married Carole, welcoming Carole’s children Raquel, Kale and, later, Lionel into the growing clan. More recently, Al acknowledged another daughter – Sandy – from a long-past relationship, who searched for him through Ancestry.com.
Al will be remembered for his gentle and quiet nature, his deep love for his family, his distinguished career in the oilfield (often referred to as “The Old Man”), his mastery of BarBQ cuisine (his ribs were legendary), the care he extended to many others, and his abiding love for the Oilers.
Al is lovingly missed by his wife Carole, children and their respective partners, Barbara, Lionel (Lynn), Cherise (Darren), Lisa (Peter), Cal (Nickey), Raquel (Paul), Kale (Trina) and Sandy (Armin) as well as his grandchildren; Rael (Jess), Nathan, Anna (Shane), Jared (Brenda), Brandy, Brianna, Caden, Siena, Amalia, Stephanie(Scott) and Tyler, his great-grandchildren; Cameron, Elizabeth, Emily, Nora, Conor, Ruby and Owen and Al’s one surviving brother, Wayne (Janice).
Al’s family wishes to thank the caring staff at Big Hill Lodge in Cochrane where Al resided for the past couple of years, prior to going to extended care. Also, particular thanks to the staff, nurses and doctor of Unit 84 at the Rockyview Hospital in Calgary for exceptional care and compassion shown to Al and his family during the difficult final week of his life.
He has left a us a rich legacy and will be greatly missed by all.
Rest now Al, fly high and be a good angel.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.
