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RONALD R. ANDERSON
February 13, 1938 - August 10, 2024
BORN
February 13, 1938
DIED
August 10, 2024
RONALD ANDERSON Obituary
We are saddened to report that Ron Anderson passed away on August 10, 2024, at Rest Haven Lodge in Sidney, BC, after a brief battle with cancer. He had also been dealing with advancing dementia for several years which complicated the cancer diagnosis. He was 86 years old and was predeceased in 2021 by his wife of 62 years, Sherry (Rayburn) Anderson. He was the only child of Jack and Dorothy Anderson of Calgary and Sidney; Ron and Sherry were both born in Calgary and they both attended Crescent Heights High School, although not in the same years. Ron is survived by his two children, Deb (also of Sidney) and Ken (Alice), and his two granddaughters, Tori (Roger) and Ali (all of Calgary). Ron and Sherry retired to Sidney on Vancouver Island in 1997.
Ron worked in the plumbing and heating industry and for most of that time he worked at the family business, Anderson Plumbing Company (APCO) in Calgary, which his grandfather, Milward V. Anderson, Sr. had started in 1912. He also served as the Chair of the Calgary Chapter of the Mechanical Contractors Association in 1971/72 and President of the Calgary Construction Association in 1976.
Ron's parents had been very active in the purebred dog fancy since the 1930's. When Ron met and married Sherry, she joined in on the family obsession. Ron served as President of the Alberta Kennel Club (AKC) in the 60's and Obedience Chair for many years in the same decade. Dogs and dog showing would remain an important part of the rest of their lives, with Norwegian Elkhounds the primary breed they were known for.
Ron's love of the mountains dated back to the early 50's, when he learned to mountain climb and ski under the tutelage of Swiss and Austrian mountain guides. Skiing and mountain climbing dominated the 50's and 60's for him and when he met and married Sherry in 1959, she joined in on various mountain sports too. When they had kids, those kids headed to the mountains with them every weekend as well!
All that skiing resulted in their son taking up ski racing, so both parents of course started volunteering at class races hosted by Skimeisters once Ken moved up to class racing by the mid 70's. One thing led to another until Ron would become the Alberta Alpine Chairman for several years during the early 80's; and serve on both the CODA and OCO'88 committees and act as a senior race official for the Olympic Alpine Events at Nakisa.
We've only scratched the surface of all of the things he loved and accomplished in his lifetime – he also loved photography, sailing his racing dinghy sailboat at Glenmore Reservoir, being a Boy Scouts leader, bike riding, curling, fishing, running, badminton, classical music, playing bridge with friends and so much more. It was a life well lived, full of a wide variety of eclectic interests with volunteerism as a central tenet. We knew we were loved and always came first in any consideration, even in the face of his many obligations over the years.
The family would like to thank the staff at Rest Haven Lodge for their loving care of Ron during his time there. He was truly happy while living at RHL (which we had not expected, to be honest) and that was due in no small part to the individuals who cared for him during those years. We would also like to thank Jean Jacobson from Community Plus Home Care, who worked with both Ron and Sherry, providing home care for a year, before working with Ron as a paid companion while he was at Rest Haven, taking him out for coffee and walks, coupled with simple things like doing the crossword or watching Jeopardy together a couple of times a week for three plus years made a real difference in his life while in long term care. Her love and care of Ron was greatly appreciated by both Ron and his family.
At Ron's express wish there will be no funeral or memorial service. His remains have been cremated and the family will take both his and Sherry's ashes up to the mountains next summer to be spread together where they spent so many happy times. Anyone wishing to memorialize Ron could donate in his name to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Ron worked in the plumbing and heating industry and for most of that time he worked at the family business, Anderson Plumbing Company (APCO) in Calgary, which his grandfather, Milward V. Anderson, Sr. had started in 1912. He also served as the Chair of the Calgary Chapter of the Mechanical Contractors Association in 1971/72 and President of the Calgary Construction Association in 1976.
Ron's parents had been very active in the purebred dog fancy since the 1930's. When Ron met and married Sherry, she joined in on the family obsession. Ron served as President of the Alberta Kennel Club (AKC) in the 60's and Obedience Chair for many years in the same decade. Dogs and dog showing would remain an important part of the rest of their lives, with Norwegian Elkhounds the primary breed they were known for.
Ron's love of the mountains dated back to the early 50's, when he learned to mountain climb and ski under the tutelage of Swiss and Austrian mountain guides. Skiing and mountain climbing dominated the 50's and 60's for him and when he met and married Sherry in 1959, she joined in on various mountain sports too. When they had kids, those kids headed to the mountains with them every weekend as well!
All that skiing resulted in their son taking up ski racing, so both parents of course started volunteering at class races hosted by Skimeisters once Ken moved up to class racing by the mid 70's. One thing led to another until Ron would become the Alberta Alpine Chairman for several years during the early 80's; and serve on both the CODA and OCO'88 committees and act as a senior race official for the Olympic Alpine Events at Nakisa.
We've only scratched the surface of all of the things he loved and accomplished in his lifetime – he also loved photography, sailing his racing dinghy sailboat at Glenmore Reservoir, being a Boy Scouts leader, bike riding, curling, fishing, running, badminton, classical music, playing bridge with friends and so much more. It was a life well lived, full of a wide variety of eclectic interests with volunteerism as a central tenet. We knew we were loved and always came first in any consideration, even in the face of his many obligations over the years.
The family would like to thank the staff at Rest Haven Lodge for their loving care of Ron during his time there. He was truly happy while living at RHL (which we had not expected, to be honest) and that was due in no small part to the individuals who cared for him during those years. We would also like to thank Jean Jacobson from Community Plus Home Care, who worked with both Ron and Sherry, providing home care for a year, before working with Ron as a paid companion while he was at Rest Haven, taking him out for coffee and walks, coupled with simple things like doing the crossword or watching Jeopardy together a couple of times a week for three plus years made a real difference in his life while in long term care. Her love and care of Ron was greatly appreciated by both Ron and his family.
At Ron's express wish there will be no funeral or memorial service. His remains have been cremated and the family will take both his and Sherry's ashes up to the mountains next summer to be spread together where they spent so many happy times. Anyone wishing to memorialize Ron could donate in his name to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Published by The Times Colonist from Aug. 30 to Sep. 1, 2024.