It’s with great love and sadness that the family of GERALD HUGH ROLLINS announces his passing. Dad passed away peacefully, surrounded by those he loved, on January 13, 2023, at Calgary Foothills Hospital. He was 75 years old.
Childhood was difficult for dad. He was the second child of Cora Rollins and a father who abandoned the family when dad was only six. Early life was spent in Cardston, Alberta, where dad completed high school, after which he left home to begin a career working in seismic surveying. Surveying took dad to far-off places in both Canada and the United States. Dad would later return to Cardston and start a family, which resulted in the birth of a daughter, Brandi Jean, in 1978 and a son, William James, in 1981. During this time, dad would leave survey to be closer to home and took a job as a supervisor with the Department of Highways for the Alberta Government. These years were marked by many wonderful hunting trips often shared with members of the large extended family dad gained through his first marriage to Dixie Leavitt in 1976. Dad loved hunting and fishing and enjoyed the great outdoors, but more importantly, sharing these experiences with those he loved. After a divorce in the early 90s, dad would return to surveying which again would take him away from home for long periods. Dad worked long hours outdoors in remote locations with temperatures well below freezing, but it was the loneliness that dad hated most. Life would change when, by pure chance, dad met the love of his life, Joanne, in 2004.
Joanne gave dad a new lease on life, and as dad settled into his best years, the two made a home together in Lundbreck Falls, Alberta. They married in July 2006. Dad loved each year spent with Joanne. He particularly favoured when it came time to hook up the trailer and head to the States. Montana was usually the destination of choice, and dad shared many pizza’s from Moose’s Saloon in Kalispell with friends and family over the years. Dad and Joanne began welcoming grandchildren in 2004, and dad would go on to shine in his new role as Grandfather. He was a fantastic grandfather. Takai, Koji, Kaz and Mieko cherished him. Dad’s passing will no doubt leave an indelible mark on their lives. As dad grew older and his health grew poorer, one of the true joys in his life that remained was being able to make the trip to see them with Joanne, and he always looked forward to attending one of their baseball or basketball games. He was a proud Grandfather, their biggest fan, and it showed. He loved his family very much. When at home, dad was happy to putter around the house, work on small projects, play with his dogs, Chase and Ledger and relax with Joanne. If asked, dad would say he had everything he needed, and we would say the same about our dad.
Dad is survived by his loving wife, Joanne Rollins, daughter Brandi (Ryan) Harris, grandchildren Takai, Koji, Kaz, Mieko, and son, William Rollins. He is predeceased by his mother, Cora, and brother Kenneth (Tamra) Rollins of Beazer, Alberta.
The family would like to thank the excellent doctors, nurses, LPN and other support staff from both the Pincher Creek Hospital and the Calgary Foothills hospital, along with STARS air ambulance, for their attentive, compassionate and dignified service.
The Funeral Service will be held at the Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston, Alberta on Saturday, January 28th at 11:00 a.m. Friends and relatives may meet the family from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment to be held at the Cardston Cemetery, Cardston Alberta following the service.
Childhood was difficult for dad. He was the second child of Cora Rollins and a father who abandoned the family when dad was only six. Early life was spent in Cardston, Alberta, where dad completed high school, after which he left home to begin a career working in seismic surveying. Surveying took dad to far-off places in both Canada and the United States. Dad would later return to Cardston and start a family, which resulted in the birth of a daughter, Brandi Jean, in 1978 and a son, William James, in 1981. During this time, dad would leave survey to be closer to home and took a job as a supervisor with the Department of Highways for the Alberta Government. These years were marked by many wonderful hunting trips often shared with members of the large extended family dad gained through his first marriage to Dixie Leavitt in 1976. Dad loved hunting and fishing and enjoyed the great outdoors, but more importantly, sharing these experiences with those he loved. After a divorce in the early 90s, dad would return to surveying which again would take him away from home for long periods. Dad worked long hours outdoors in remote locations with temperatures well below freezing, but it was the loneliness that dad hated most. Life would change when, by pure chance, dad met the love of his life, Joanne, in 2004.
Joanne gave dad a new lease on life, and as dad settled into his best years, the two made a home together in Lundbreck Falls, Alberta. They married in July 2006. Dad loved each year spent with Joanne. He particularly favoured when it came time to hook up the trailer and head to the States. Montana was usually the destination of choice, and dad shared many pizza’s from Moose’s Saloon in Kalispell with friends and family over the years. Dad and Joanne began welcoming grandchildren in 2004, and dad would go on to shine in his new role as Grandfather. He was a fantastic grandfather. Takai, Koji, Kaz and Mieko cherished him. Dad’s passing will no doubt leave an indelible mark on their lives. As dad grew older and his health grew poorer, one of the true joys in his life that remained was being able to make the trip to see them with Joanne, and he always looked forward to attending one of their baseball or basketball games. He was a proud Grandfather, their biggest fan, and it showed. He loved his family very much. When at home, dad was happy to putter around the house, work on small projects, play with his dogs, Chase and Ledger and relax with Joanne. If asked, dad would say he had everything he needed, and we would say the same about our dad.
Dad is survived by his loving wife, Joanne Rollins, daughter Brandi (Ryan) Harris, grandchildren Takai, Koji, Kaz, Mieko, and son, William Rollins. He is predeceased by his mother, Cora, and brother Kenneth (Tamra) Rollins of Beazer, Alberta.
The family would like to thank the excellent doctors, nurses, LPN and other support staff from both the Pincher Creek Hospital and the Calgary Foothills hospital, along with STARS air ambulance, for their attentive, compassionate and dignified service.
The Funeral Service will be held at the Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston, Alberta on Saturday, January 28th at 11:00 a.m. Friends and relatives may meet the family from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment to be held at the Cardston Cemetery, Cardston Alberta following the service.