Obituary of Lee William Ernest Irwin

March 22, 1950 – Winnipeg, Manitoba

October 27, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Lee William Ernest Irwin of Calgary, AB, passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at the age of 74 years.

Lee was born on March 22, 1950, to Lorna and Alex (Cecil) Irwin in Winnipeg, MB. The Irwin family resided briefly in Winnipeg while Cecil continued his work with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Due to the nature of living on RCAF bases, Cecil was transferred to Saskatoon, SK, where the Irwin clan would grow with the arrival of Lee’s loving sister, Marilyn Joan Irwin (Vaughan), in early January 1954.

Throughout Lee’s youth, the Irwins would make home throughout the prairies, including living on bases in Saskatoon, SK, Gimli, MB, and Cold Lake, AB. Throughout this time, Lee would carry on a family tradition of sport, excelling in hockey, baseball, hunting, and fishing. He also developed a lifelong passion for the Montreal Canadiens and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. For those who knew Lee, he was the most passionate Riders and Habs fan in the history of those franchises – and that is sure saying something!

Shortly after graduating from high school in Cold Lake, AB, Lee began his own family when his daughter Krista Irwin (Crump) was born. Lee and Krista would live as a family together in Calgary, often visited by Lorna and Cecil – who also made their home in Northeast Calgary. Thanksgivings, birthdays, Easter, holidays, and any other reason to get together were spent with Lorna, Cecil and Marilyn, who married Terry Vaughan (He enthusiastically enjoyed Lee’s family nickname “Lee Willy”). Lee’s extended family would grow in the '80s when Ian and Todd Vaughan joined the family and would, along with Terry, enjoy discussing fishing, cars, and why each other’s favourite sports teams were the wrong ones.

Throughout Krista’s youth, Lee would attend the Northern Institute of Technology (NAIT) and begin a 25-year career in the oil and gas industry. This rewarding career would lead to lifelong friends, the first of two dream cars (Corvettes), and a beautiful home in Southeast Calgary near where Krista would eventually lay down roots with her husband, Stuart Crump, and Lee’s granddaughter, Chloe Crump.

Throughout his adult years, Lee’s love for the outdoors was encapsulated by his passion for fly-fishing, spending his time on the Bow and Ram Rivers, and taking excursions to Fernie and Montana with many dear friends, including the guys from the Fish Tails Fly Fishing Shop, where Lee would often spend his days discussing the intricacies of their shared love. These trips were frequently joined by Lee’s canine companions, Buttons, Jake, and Buddy, who you would rarely see Lee-Willy apart from.

Lee would continue to focus on these passions while watching his family grow, becoming Uncle Lee again to Vannessa Mariani (Ian) and Nancy Duhamel (Todd). Uncle Lee became Great-Uncle Lee when Ray Andres and Arlo Vaughan joined the family. This all happened while obvious scholar Chloe grew up before Lee’s eyes, excelling in badminton, graduating high school, and now attending the University of Alberta.

Lee was predeceased by his loving and supportive parents, Cecil and Lorna, after many wonderful years spent together across Western Canada and Northern Ontario.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca.

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

In living memory of Lee Irwin, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.