It is with deep sadness we announce that our most wonderful Michael “Mike” Marples completed his life journey on May 5th after a 14 year battle with Parkinson’s and most recently pneumonia. Mike was born and raised in Edmonton and loved this city. Mike was always Mr. Personality and had countless friends.
He was kind and honourable and had a crazy sense of humour and fun. He loved horseback riding, flyfishing, golf, and sports on tv…hockey, football, curling, and western movies.
He started working for Canada Packers at 18 and in 1967 joined the Canadian represented company out of the U.K. which basically owned the world’s scotch whisky business…the largest spirits company in the world, called The Distillers Company. Mike eventually became the Canadian Regional Vice President in charge of the prairie provinces and the N.W.T.
Mike was grateful for the opportunities life afforded him and was determined to give back. He sat as a volunteer position on the Board of Directors for 40 plus years with Edmonton Northlands and it was Mike who initiated the very first Special Friends Day where Northlands hosted families with special needs. He was on the Board of the Edmonton Police Foundation, on the Board of the Alberta Winter Games and volunteered at Little Bits, walking miles in the ring at the Equine Centre leading horses with special needs people in the saddle. He was also on the Board of various wine and spirit organizations and an original board member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs.
Mike treated everyone he met with kindness and respect. He was a fierce competitor business wise but honest and highly respected. Mike and his beloved wife, Merle, shared 56 years of a great marriage, filled with laughter, travelling the world and enjoying every moment with family and friends. Mike leaves a daughter, Michele (Garry) Meijer and son, Kelly (Terri) Marples; 5 grandchildren, Sarah (Joe) Kramer, Noah and Josh Marples, Michael and Daniel Meijer, all of whom he adored with huge pride; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews; as well as countless friends and extended family.
Mike was predeceased by his parents, Ernie & Pat Marples; brother, Peter; and nephew, Brian.
The family thank and appreciate the outpouring of love and support, and especially the kindness of the staff on 8E and emergency dept. at the Miseracordia Hospital. A private family service will be held after cremation and one day…when Covid is tamed we will celebrate the life of a bigger than life man we all loved.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Michael “Mike Stanley Marples 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta