Obituary for Delmar Merle Fitzsimmons
Delmar Fitzsimmons
Delmar (Del) Merle Fitzsimmons, (born January 3, 1942), passed away peacefully at the Rockyview Hospital on July 5, 2020 after a year-long battle with pleural mesothelioma.
Born in Drumheller, Del spent the early years of his life in Delia, AB. His family moved to an acreage outside Calgary (the Silver Springs area) where he completed grade school. He went to high school at Queen Elizabeth, where he met his life-long love, Carolyn Deines. He was passionate about hockey and played for the Calgary Buffalos in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Del had an opportunity to play for the Chicago Blackhawks farm team but decided that love mattered more. He married Carolyn in 1965.
Del apprenticed at Reggin Industries and became a journeyman sheet metal mechanic. From there, he became head of the food service department. In 1985, Del reformed the company as Reggin Industries Inc., in partnership with Dave Alle, finally retiring in 2003. He was called into service to consult on the rebuild of the Saddledome kitchens after the flood of 2013, using pencil, paper and phone in lieu of technology.
While he had a young family, Del spent his summers camping around Alberta and BC. Camping shifted to staying on a property bordering the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve NW of Cochrane. He built a house there, which was dubbed “The Ranch” by his boys. Many weekends and summers were spent there, enjoying time with family and friends.
Del was heavily involved in the Calgary Kinsman where he whole heartedly enjoyed his time and made many lifelong friends. He was director of fellowship and planned many raucous adventures for his fellow Kinsman. They called him “Mr. Kingo-Bingo’, as he excelled during his term overseeing Kingo-Bingo Fundraising on CFCN.
Del enjoyed golf throughout his adult life and was always keen to get out on the course. He was proud of his hole-in-one at the Water Valley course. Del travelled extensively with Carolyn, visiting 5 continents as he explored. In his later years, he and Carolyn wintered in Loreto, Mexico. There, Del discovered a love for deep sea fishing. He made a mean fish taco, and his chocolata clams were praised by all who tried them.
Del is survived by: Carolyn, his wife of 55 years; his sons Robert of Invermere and Kevin (Lisa) of Cochrane; his 4 grandchildren (Grace, Olivia, Quintin and Elias); and his sisters, Terry and Darlene. Three days after Del’s passing, his identical twin brother Don followed him into death. Del was a loving husband, father, brother, and a dear friend to many. He will be deeply missed.
We invite you to share stories and condolences with the family via www.choicememorial.com. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation will be gratefully accepted. Thank you to the Cochrane Home Care Staff, especially Lisa, and the Dyspnea Clinic at the Tom Baker.
Delmar (Del) Merle Fitzsimmons, (born January 3, 1942), passed away peacefully at the Rockyview Hospital on July 5, 2020 after a year-long battle with pleural mesothelioma.
Born in Drumheller, Del spent the early years of his life in Delia, AB. His family moved to an acreage outside Calgary (the Silver Springs area) where he completed grade school. He went to high school at Queen Elizabeth, where he met his life-long love, Carolyn Deines. He was passionate about hockey and played for the Calgary Buffalos in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Del had an opportunity to play for the Chicago Blackhawks farm team but decided that love mattered more. He married Carolyn in 1965.
Del apprenticed at Reggin Industries and became a journeyman sheet metal mechanic. From there, he became head of the food service department. In 1985, Del reformed the company as Reggin Industries Inc., in partnership with Dave Alle, finally retiring in 2003. He was called into service to consult on the rebuild of the Saddledome kitchens after the flood of 2013, using pencil, paper and phone in lieu of technology.
While he had a young family, Del spent his summers camping around Alberta and BC. Camping shifted to staying on a property bordering the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve NW of Cochrane. He built a house there, which was dubbed “The Ranch” by his boys. Many weekends and summers were spent there, enjoying time with family and friends.
Del was heavily involved in the Calgary Kinsman where he whole heartedly enjoyed his time and made many lifelong friends. He was director of fellowship and planned many raucous adventures for his fellow Kinsman. They called him “Mr. Kingo-Bingo’, as he excelled during his term overseeing Kingo-Bingo Fundraising on CFCN.
Del enjoyed golf throughout his adult life and was always keen to get out on the course. He was proud of his hole-in-one at the Water Valley course. Del travelled extensively with Carolyn, visiting 5 continents as he explored. In his later years, he and Carolyn wintered in Loreto, Mexico. There, Del discovered a love for deep sea fishing. He made a mean fish taco, and his chocolata clams were praised by all who tried them.
Del is survived by: Carolyn, his wife of 55 years; his sons Robert of Invermere and Kevin (Lisa) of Cochrane; his 4 grandchildren (Grace, Olivia, Quintin and Elias); and his sisters, Terry and Darlene. Three days after Del’s passing, his identical twin brother Don followed him into death. Del was a loving husband, father, brother, and a dear friend to many. He will be deeply missed.
We invite you to share stories and condolences with the family via www.choicememorial.com. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation will be gratefully accepted. Thank you to the Cochrane Home Care Staff, especially Lisa, and the Dyspnea Clinic at the Tom Baker.