Mr. Gerald Stanley ‘Jerry’ McLean of Eckville passed away following a brief illness, at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Friday, December 17, 2021 at the age of 92 years. Jerry was born on March 2, 1929 in Calgary and was raised east of Carstairs, in the Bergthal District with his parents and two brothers. Jerry attended Davenport School for his Elementary years, riding three miles on horseback. As a child, and for many years afterward, he enjoyed playing baseball. Jerry and his brother, Robert attended Junior High and High School in Didsbury, sharing a rented room. Their dad would pick them up on Fridays, to come home for the weekend. One regret was, that he only was able to complete Grade Eleven, and then he was forced to quit, as he was needed on the farm. Anyone who knew him recognized that he had a quick mind, right until the end; even his lawyer and accountants would talk about how brilliant he was with numbers and making things work for the best for himself and his family. Gerald met Ruthie, the love of his life, at a dance in Cremona; where he asked her to dance and then told her that he was going to marry her. Her story is that she told him he was crazy and walked off the floor. He showed up to his first date with a truckload of hay. In spite of his lack of social graces, she married him on August 3, 1955, and will miss him deeply for the rest of her days. She called him Jerry, saying that the name Gerald was too formal and most people in his life knew him as Jerry. They spent a couple of years on the family farm before deciding to forge their own way. They both had a dream of farming and were prepared to work as hard as they could to achieve their goal. Jerry drove Milk Truck for Reimer’s Transport and daughters, Linda and Laurie have great memories of getting to go to work with him. Riding in the “big truck,” sometimes being allowed to sit on his lap and “drive” was so much fun. No seatbelt rules in those days! Jerry and Ruthie found thirty acres they loved in Didsbury, and were finally able to purchase it. They lived their dream raising cows, sheep, chickens, kids, neighbor kids, and all kinds of pets. Jerry worked for Kuelker’s Farm Supply for many years as a bookkeeper, and parts man with only on-the-job training, and he excelled. He was well known and well liked by employers, coworkers and customers. He knew a lot of people and his kids will tell you that he would often tell them to introduce themselves as “Jerry McLean’s kid” in order to show who they really were. Jerry continued to do some truck driving for a time, delivering propane. He and Ruthie never lost their dream of owning more land though, and in 1975, they were able to purchase a half section Mixed/Dairy Farm in the Dovercourt area, near Rocky Mountain House. This was a dream come true for them, and Ruthie talks about how blessed she was to be able to work side-by-side with him, for those years. They made so many friends in that community and maintained all their old friendships from Didsbury as well. Jerry and Ruthie had so many friends and family they enjoyed time with, playing cards, camping, fishing and exploring new places. They travelled much of Alberta and BC, and treasured a driving holiday to Alaska with Neil and Ib. Playing cards with Jerry was an experience; he never stopped talking and then would rehash every hand while the dealing was happening. Theirs was always a home anyone could just drop in to, anytime. Jerry’s first words would be, “Can I build ya a coffee?” Then, “Ma, get them a coffee,” even if Ruthie was in labor at the time. Jerry had a great sense of humor and hearing a joke told by him was often more entertaining than the joke itself. He would laugh so hard telling the joke and at himself after, often repeating the punch line a few times. Jerry took up curling at the age of fifty and never stopped until Covid. He loved the game, and like cards, he loved to thoroughly analyze how each end was played. He also enjoyed watching curling on TV, as well as hockey—with the Flames being his favorite team, even when they let him down. Jerry and Ruthie also took up golf and enjoyed a number of different courses, but probably made the best use of Eckville Meadows, playing several times per week after they were retired. They retired and sold their farm in 2005, making Eckville their new home. They made many more friends and enjoyed activities at the Friendship Centre, playing pool and floor curling every week. The golden years have been increasingly difficult for Jerry; as he lost much of his hearing and his sight. He worked hard to do the best he could in spite of that and continued to walk several blocks every day. While in Didsbury, Jerry and Ruthie welcomed four children into their lives; Linda, Laurie, Glen and Geraldine. There were a host of nieces and nephews and neighbor kids; who enjoyed time at their home over the years as well. The kids were blessed with so many great memories, camping nearly every weekend from earliest spring until latest fall. Jerry had strong family values and believed deeply in respect for others. He would go out of his way to help others, but did not want anyone to know. He believed in, and modeled respect and loyalty to others, the value of hard work, the evil of debt and the value of spending wisely. He left a beautiful legacy for his family that will carry on forever. He leaves to mourn his wife of sixty-six years, Ruthie, his children, Linda (Les) Herron, Laurie McLean, Glen McLean and Geraldine (Kelly) Klein, his grandchildren, Chris (Julie) Kroetsch, Marianne Kroetsch, Tiffany (Derek) Smith, Micheal Kroetsch, Jeff (Stephanie) Herron, Michelle (Trevor) Rygus, Matt Herron, Josh McLean, Cody (Luiza) McLean, Riley McLean, and his great grandchildren, Mackenzie, Emma and Haylee Kroetsch, Harley, Wade and Steve Smith, Kaitlin, Kris and Isaac Cullen, Lily Cryderman, Kelsy, Travis and Zoe Tudor, Elizabeth and Lily Herron, Cooper, Nora and Theo Rygus, Logan McLean. Jerry was predeceased by his parents, Stan and Maude McLean, his brothers Stewart and Robert, his granddaughter Charlene. A Celebration of Gerald’s life will be held at a later date.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gerald ‘Jerry’ Stanley Mclean Friday December 17th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Eckville, Province: Alberta