Ronald James McKeown

June 29, 1947 – July 21, 2012

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Ronald James McKeown on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the age of 65 years. Ron passed away at his home in Irricana with his family by his side, after a brief yet courageous battle with cancer. Born and raised in Montreal, much of Ron’s early education was spent in the Shriners Hospital for Children in Montreal. He did attend Canon O’Meara Boys School and then later went on to McGill University to study anatomy, physiology and bio-mechanics. Ron started his apprenticeship in prosthetics at Joseph Schlawners in Montreal and spent much of his career working in Prosthetics and Orthotics at the Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. He also worked at the Calgary General Hospital and Calgary Artificial Limbs. In 1987, Ron retired from Prosthetics and Orthotics and went on to try work other areas such as courier, construction, property management and finally spent the last 14 years working as a truck driver at Cana Utilities. In his younger years he was active in teaching disabled skiing at COP (when it was still Paskapoo), sky diving, broomball and slow pitch. Ron came to Calgary in February 1977 but later that same year went to Toronto to work at Sunnybrook Hospital. He returned to Calgary in December 1979 and stayed. He loved hockey and was a fan of the Montreal Canadians but also cheered for the Calgary Flames. Ron loved to travel; he saw all of Canada, most of the United States, Mexico and had been on an Eastern Caribbean Cruise. He also enjoyed numerous trips to Arizona to visit with friends. Ron’s greatest love was music. He played in a rock and roll band in Montreal from the age of 15 to 21. He took a short break from music until 1988 when he decided to try Country music. He played with a variety of people and in many places including most of the Legions in Calgary. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend Jo-Ann; son Sean (Brenda); daughters Amy and Anna (Andre Jean); grandsons Dominic and Issac McKeown, Joshua and Easton Jean. He is also survived by his brother Mick (Carol) in Kingston, Ontario; his sister Gail (Aden) Shea in Mississauga, Ontario; his Aunt Evelyn Gearey in Montreal, Quebec; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins across Canada. He was predeceased by his parents Terrance and Sarah McKeown; Stepfather Peter Kotovich; brother Terry; and sisters Shirley Gilligan and Bonnie McKeown. Ron’s family would like to thank all of the nurses with Airdrie Home Care for their care and compassion as he battled cancer and would also like to thank the boys from Cana for their hard work in finishing the landscaping for Ron. A Celebration of Ron’s Life was held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Friday, July 27th, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. A Memorial Service was held in Montreal, Quebec. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, #200, 325 Manning Road NE, Calgary AB, T2E 2P5. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.

FOSTER'S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial