Obituary
Red Weir grew up on the family farm located a top the windy hill just south of Balzac, Alberta. Being the oldest, he was his dad’s right hand on the farm and the sleigh or buggy driver for his two brothers and twosisters as they travelled the 3.5 miles to school – all of which was up hill! Winter found him at centre ice in the Balzac arena and down time in the summer was spent playing ball. At the age of fourteen just before Grade 9 exams, he left school and home, and for the next few years he worked for various farmers in the area. Pay was room & board and maybe $1.00 a day. In the mid 1940’s, at the age of twenty-four, Red purchased his own gravel truck and ventured north to the Ponoka area to haul asphalt for the resurfacing of Highway 2. In 1949, Red and Jean L’Hirondelle were married. They had three children: Doug, Stan, and Barb.
In the 1960’s, Red purchased a cattle hauling truck (RJ Weir Trucking) and he went back to spending time with horses. Summers were now spent trail riding with his kids and racing pony chariots and chuckwagons. He raced on the Alberta circuit from 1964 to 1988. Other than a couple of nasty rolls, Red enjoyed great health and well into his 90’s logged many miles walking the Ponoka river trails and the barns at the Calnash Ag Event Centre.
At 98 he leaves his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren (who were always able to bring a smile), nephews, nieces and a special “baby sister” Jean Dentoom.
“I never thought I’d live this long!! But I’ve had a good life. “
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of James Robert Red Weir September 16 1924 September 29 2022 (age 98)..
Death notice for the town of: Wetaskiwin, Province: Alberta