1935 – 2024
Mr. Leonard Arthur ‘Len’ Abraham of Innisfail, Alberta passed away at Rimbey, Alberta on Friday, September 20, 2024 at the age of 89 years. Len was born in Innisfail, Alberta and was raised in the Oklahoma District on the family farm. He was one of eleven children born to Irvine and Bessie Abraham.
Len completed grade eight at the Oklahoma School. He enjoyed the farm life until he left to work in the oilfield across Alberta and Saskatchewan. In 1957 he met Margaret Collins in Arcola, Saskatchewan and they were married on November 23, 1957. At the time of his passing, they had been married for sixty-six years.
Len and Marg eventually made Innisfail their home and started their own family. Len continued to work in the oilfield and also started to operate backhoes. In 1966 he purchased a backhoe business and continued to operate ‘Len Abraham Excavating’ for almost forty years. In that time, he worked in the rural areas around Innisfail, for the Town of Innisfail, and for Red Deer County. Len and Ben Ritchie also purchased a ditch witch and installed the irrigation system for the Innisfail Golf Club. After selling his business he continued to run backhoes for Don Llewellyn until he was almost eighty years old.
Len loved to hunt, snowmobile and camp in the west country. In later years he also enjoyed a little golf with friends and family as well as testing his patience with fishing. He was very good at everything he decided to try. He also had a love of all animals. In keeping with the wilderness, Len and Marg travelled to Alaska twice with their truck and trailer and enjoyed a cruise once. Len remained his decision maker until his passing and always did it his way. He was an honest hard-working man and expected everyone else to do the same.
Len is lovingly remembered by his wife Marg, his children, Wendy (Jeff) Rothwell, Karen (James) Jarvis, and Dwayne (Candace) Abraham, his grandchildren, Stephanie (Ryan), Alyssa (Wyatt), Chance (Carlie), Shyla (Bryan), Eric (Jasmine), and Shawn, his great grandchildren, Lainey, Brantley, Fletcher, Mason, Emma, Caitlyn and Clay. He will also be deeply missed by his siblings, Helen Dubland, Ron (Jenny), John (Maridell), Earl (Remy), and Stanley, and one sister in-law, Evelyn Wilson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Len was predeceased by his parents, Irvine and Bessie Abraham, his infant daughter, Dianne Lynn Abraham, his great grandson, Cooper Rothwell, his parents-in-law, Lillian and Howard Collins, his siblings, Don, George, Irene, Audrey and Thelma, as well as his special in-laws, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Len's Life will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 104., 5108 - 49th Avenue, Innisfail, Alberta. A Private Interment will take place at the Innisfail Cemetery, Innisfail, Alberta. If desired, Memorial Donations in Len’s honor may be made to S.T.A.R.S at 1441 Aviation Park NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 8M7 or at www.stars.com, as Len was a lifelong supporter. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006
