MacKenzie, John Dennis

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Date of Service: January 8, 2019

JOHN MACKENZIE died peacefully at home on January 8, 2019.

He was son of John Finlayson MacKenzie of Mountain View, Alberta, and Jennie May Beazer (the youngest member of the original Beazer family); brother to Ellen Joan Stanford and Mary Diane Ainscough, and husband to Karen Margaret Lodl; athlete, academic, builder, mountaineer, mechanic, fixer, lover of our mammal family--dogs, cats, horses, whales, porpoises, elephants, tigers--political activist, despairer of our future due to climate change.

Burial at Spring Coulee Cemetery. The family wishes to thank the staff at the Jack Ady Cancer Centre, the Palliative Care Program, especially the MAID program, and Cornerstone Funeral Home for the kind and compassionate care received by John and his wife during his last months.

The time I spent with John was always a lesson in generosity, thoughtfulness and humility. He gave unsparingly of his time supporting the 'correct' political causes. His skill in the workshop was impressive. He could fix or build anything, and he would do so for his friends without a thought of compensation. With a lifelong passion for mountaineering, he was always safe, a leader to be trusted, and had scaled all but 10 of the mountains over 10,000 feet in the Continental Divide in Alberta and BC. (There are over 75 of them!) He walked or cycled every day. He worked longer and harder than anyone I know and was still at it weeks before he died. John was the best example of a Renaissance man I ever knew and it was my good fortune to meet him when he was volunteering for a cause he believed in. He didn't care for resting, so an RIP isn't appropriate. They don't make men like John anymore.

Rob Wilson, January 28, 2019

John and I were companions on many mountain adventures. He was always steady and dependable, a source of thoughtful worldly advice, with a helping hand for household repairs. I hope there is peace back on the open prairie.

Pat Michael, January 22, 2019

We are so sorry to hear of John's passing. Our sincerest condolences to the family. Jim & Doris Ratke

Doris Ratke, January 14, 2019

We were so sorry to hear of his passing and our prayers and thoughts are with Karen and his family.

Dave & Kitty Zahradnik, January 11, 2019

It was with great sadness that I learned of John's death. His life was a rare combination of gentleness, kindness and intelligence. Whenever I talked to him I appreciated his insights in all three ways: I felt I had a better understanding of the situation we were talking about, large or small, and that I had a keener appreciation for how one might respond to it in the most empathetic sort of way. John will be missed by those of us who knew him, but he will also be remembered.

Michael Stingl, January 10, 2019

John will be greatly missed. He was a loving friend, a man who gave much of himself to his friends and family, someone who felt deeply about the well-being of the world around hm and a generous teacher to those around him who benefitted from his many skills. May he find peace and well-deserved rest.

Nancy Johnson & Larry Filler, January 10, 2019

MacKenzie, John Dennis

Date of Service: January 8, 2019

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