HORMOTH – Ivan (John) Stephen Hormoth passed away peacefully in the arms of his beloved wife of 63 years Anita, on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 at Sunrise Gardens, Brooks. Dad was born in Taber, Alberta on October 8th , 1936, the second child of Ivan and Ivka Hormoth. The family moved to Port Alberni, BC when Dad was a young boy. It was the perfect environment for Dad and his brother Tony to explore and have wild adventures, that would have turned their mother’s hair grey if she had known. They moved back to Alberta to the farm at Iron Springs, when Dad was in elementary school. Dad and his friends could always be counted on to liven up the classroom or any other gathering with their antics. After high school Dad moved to Calgary in 1957 and completed a 2-year course in Construction Technology and later qualified as a Journeyman Carpenter in 1959. In 1984, he became a Certified Engineering Technologist. Dad met the love of his life (a young, beautiful nursing student) at the Holy Cross Hospital while he was recovering from appendicitis. During the time that Dad was waiting for Mom to finish her nursing training, he headed north to Inuvik. It was there that he helped to build the igloo shaped Catholic Church. Dad married Anita Huston on August 20th, 1960 and they have been devoted partners in life ever since. From 1961 to 1964, their family grew to include 2 daughters, Sharon and Kathleen and 2 sons, Stephen and James. Over the years, Dad was involved in a variety of farming enterprises ranging from field crops (peas, sugar beets, cereal grains and hay) to livestock(pigs, Guernsey milk cows, commercial cattle and finally purebred Limousin cattle). Dad and Mom farmed at Iron Springs until they moved to Lethbridge to pursue other careers. While farming, Dad also continued to build houses and later teach Civil Engineering Technology at Lethbridge Community College. He retired from the college in 1991 and spent the next while following Mom back and forth across Canada as she completed her Northern Nursing training. They moved to Port Simpson, BC where Dad kept busy with carpentry related activities as well as instructing at the Adult Computer Learning Centre. Countless hours were also spent on the ocean fishing, and he was happy to share this experience with their visitors. After many enjoyable years, they made the move to Coal Harbour, BC where Dad built their retirement home overlooking Holberg Inlet in 1999. He was an avid gardener and kept their yard beautiful. Dad delighted in sharing their little piece of paradise and welcomed countless visitors over the next many years. Dad was very community minded and a people person. He was involved in The Knights of Columbus, The Lethbridge Northern 4-H Beef Club and The Alberta Limousin Association. While in Coal Harbour, Dad was also a member of the Volunteer Fire Department and the Coal Harbour Ceilidh Band. No matter where he went, he always found someone to visit with. Dad believed in working hard and always putting your best effort forward. As a family we worked together and played together. Many enjoyable days were spent on family horseback rides and boating, fishing and waterskiing on nearby lakes. Dad’s trickster attitude would always surface to keep us entertained and make the work fun. He took great delight in jumping out and scaring us whether it was in the house, the barn or the fields. Even in these last few months, he would pretend to be sleeping. When we bent over to give him a kiss on the forehead, he would jolt “awake” and give us a roar. We knew he was still there in spite of the ravage Alzheimer’s was taking and that he was having a good day. Dad was predeceased by his parents Ivan and Ivka Hormoth, parents in law Hiram and Aloah Huston and their young son Robin, sister-in-law Ina Huston, brother-in-law Ralph Harris and nephew Robert Hormoth. Dad leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife Anita, daughters Sharon (Wayne) Shuttleworth, Kathy (George) Ketchmark and sons Steve (Jill) Hormoth and James (Andrea) Hormoth, 11 grandchildren Russell, Laura, David, Bonnie, Julie, Emily, Eva, Julian, Bobbi, Alex, and Charlie, and 3 great grandchildren Kate, Mitch and Lily. He is also survived by his brother Tony (Rose) Hormoth, sister Irene Harris and brother in laws and sister in laws Dale( Doreen) Huston, Baxter (Ann) Huston and Cherri (Max) Stroud as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Words cannot express how grateful we are to the staff of Sunrise Gardens for their loving care (above and beyond the call of duty) that each and every one of them bestowed upon Dad and ourselves during his final days. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 9th 1:00 PM from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 511 4 St. W, Brooks, Alberta. Rev. Marino Infante Celebrant. The service will be live streamed and available for viewing on the church website for those unable to attend. In memory of Ivan (John), if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Sunrise Gardens Resident Fund, 1235 3 St W, Brooks, Alberta T1R 0P7. Please specify that the donation is to be directed towards Residents Activities.
Cremation entrusted to and conducted at
Smith Funeral Home Ltd. and Crematorium, Brooks
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD. AND CREMATORIUM
BROOKS, ALBERTA
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