The youngest son of Joseph and Magdalena (née Brost) Gartner, he was born on February 27, 1953 in Macklin, Saskatchewan. Irvin was one of 12 children who worked on the farm, went to church, and played ball as many children did in rural Saskatchewan at that time. Following high school, Irvin pursued carpentry and married his wife, Laura (née Ayrey), and shortly thereafter they began a family, building a life together in Peace River, Alberta. They worked hard as Irvin began his career in construction management, eventually running his own company with a focus on commercial projects (particularly IGAs) across the province of Alberta. In the days where he wasn’t working, Irvin enjoyed time spent with his family fishing and camping at Slave Lake, watching the Blue Jays, Roughriders, or Flames on TV, barbecuing a steak on a Saturday or making brunch on a Sunday. Following retirement in 2009, he and Laura eventually landed in Coaldale and settled in to enjoy the life of travel and being grandparents. Despite a series of health issues throughout his later years, Irvin always maintained his love for exploration, travel, and enjoying the simple pleasures of sports, nature, food, and family.

Irvin was predeceased by his parents, and his siblings: Angelina Gette, Theodore Gartner, Wilfred Gartner, and Eileen Roby. He is survived by his wife Laura, their children: Joelle (Scott), Candice (Tarek), Kelly, and Linden (Alison), and their grandchildren: Carter, Keanan, Cole, Odessa and Norah, as well as many siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He will be remembered for his courage, generosity, and sense of humor, but most notably for the sense of fulfillment he enjoyed from the craftsmanship in a job well-done. We know he is resting easy and content, looking back on all the beautiful fruits of his life’s work.

A celebration of life will be scheduled for family and friends to gather in remembrance of Irvin this spring in Lethbridge.