Obituary of Denis Frederick Bacon

April 22, 1929 – Calgary, Alberta

September 9, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

One of the really good guys has passed away peacefully in his 96th year.

Denis Bacon was the middle child of Frederick W. Bacon and Elsie M. Bacon (nee Maley). Notably, given that Elsie was from a large Irish family while English Fred was one of 21 siblings, Dad’s early memories and upbringing involved a confusing excess of family relatives. Following Elsie’s insistence that sodbuster Fred finally pack up his underperforming homesteading endeavours near Cochrane AB, the Bacons moved to Calgary, where Dad was born in 1929. Shortly thereafter, Fred’s new occupation as a camp cook led to the first of many family relocations within the BC interior and the Yukon. With the expansion of World War II into the Pacific, in 1942 they moved permanently to BC’s Lower Mainland, with Elsie eventually running a large boarding house near UBC. Following his graduation from Lord Byng High School in 1947, Dad proceeded to enjoy UBC campus life for eight years. This ongoing pursuit of higher education was self-funded by rigorous summer employment on various Yukon paddle wheelers and northern government survey parties, jobs which he enjoyed immensely. Dad eventually accumulated sufficient credits for BA degrees in zoology, then, more practically, in geology (with minors in pool and card playing with his Acadia Camp Jokers Club pals).

While still at UBC, in 1955, Dad met schoolteacher Shirley Doreen Lewis, his “first and only girlfriend”. They tied the knot within six months, Mom having finally found “the really nice guy she always wanted”. They remained married for almost 60 years. Dad’s first full-time employment (prompted by Mom) took the newlyweds to the hinterlands of the burgeoning Alberta oil patch. Sons Tim (1958) and Todd (1960) were soon added as Dad began a successful 37-year oil and gas industry career, primarily in exploration then later in middle and senior management. Dad started at Seaboard-Texaco, progressed through several junior exploration firms, and even tried consulting for a couple of years. He finished his working days with a 12-year stint at Wainoco Oil & Gas Ltd. as VP, Canadian Operations, where he very effectively utilized his MBWA (management by walking around).

The family settled in Calgary for three decades commencing 1964. Beyond his work, Dad fully supported Mom in her many teaching, coaching, and athletic pursuits. They remained very active socially with their golf, bridge, and curling friends. Somehow, Dad also consistently found time to pitch in with his sons’ team and group activities. Moreover, as his two boys contended with life’s typical mishaps and challenges, Dad could be relied upon to calmly proffer his usual sound and sensible advice as needed (if not always heeded). Overall, Dad was the proverbial Bacon family rock.

Following retirement, in 1994 Dad and Mom reestablished their West Coast roots with a move to Tsawwassen, BC where they quickly garnered yet another boatload of great friends. Reprising his survey party days, Dad took over the household cooking duties (much to Mom’s delight). Dad’s daily dog walking treks along the local dykes were interspersed with attention to home projects and ongoing business matters. Beyond annual winter golf visits to California, Dad and Mom continued a steady diet of international travel. An Antarctic voyage in 2008 completed their goal of experiencing all seven continents and five oceans.

After Mom’s passing in 2015 and Todd’s unfortunate premature death in 2017, Dad retained his independent living in Tsawwassen into his late 80s. He was especially aided and buoyed by his close friendship with nearby brother Terry and sister-in-law Muriel. Following minor cancer surgery in 2022, Dad returned to his birthplace to be closer to Tim and Josephine. While in Calgary, Dad enjoyed excellent care and attention from the staff at Chartwell Eau Claire Retirement Residence.

A handyman extraordinaire, Dad could fix or build seemingly anything, utilizing his accumulated array of tools and parts inventory for household repairs and upgrades as required. He was equally ready and eager to assist with neighbour and community projects when requested. In addition, any visits to the homes of his sons were invariably undertaken with a trunk load of tools and supplies for their needed fixes and improvements.

Dad was known for his wry, understated, often self-deprecatory sense of humour plus his personal kindness. He had a ready smile and laugh and was the king of clever nicknames. Moderate, implacable. and non-judgemental, he treated everyone with respect and courtesy. A notably good listener, Dad provided a great sounding board to many. He always retained his simple tastes; nothing pleased him more than a hearty meal, a stiff rum and coke, or a close CFL game.

While fiscally conservative, Dad was liberal with his generosity and private assistance. He believed in disciplined hard work, self-reliance, and personal responsibility yet was fair and empathetic to all. His quiet independence and confidence were based on his methodical preparation and thorough organization. Although a modest private man who shunned the limelight, Dad was eminently personable and sociable. Certainly, he and Mom never saw a party or gathering they didn’t like!

Dad was a proud Canadian, a talented geologist, a devoted son, a wonderful husband, and a great father. He is survived by his son Tim Bacon (wife Josephine) of Calgary, his younger brother and best friend Terry Bacon (wife Muriel Perry) of Tsawwassen, and brother-in-law Loren Calder of Waterloo, ON.

Per his request, Dad has been cremated. Private wakes in Calgary and Tsawwassen will be held at later dates. As Josephine would tell him when saying goodbye, “Love ya Daddio!”. Rest in peace.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Denis’ family here.

In living memory of Denis Bacon, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.