December 23, 1930 – December 26, 2022
John Albert Kendrick passed away on December 26, 2022 at the Villa Marie Covenant Care, Red Deer, Alberta at the age of 92 years. John will be lovingly remembered by his cousins Bert Lougheed, June Gardin, David Lougheed and Wayne Loucheed; close family friends, Barb and John Rozic; Ivan Rozic and Leesa Rozic and children Faith, Rachel and Ryan; Don Knopp; Darryle and Betty Lou Holt; and other extended family and friends.
John was predeceased by his father Charles Kendrick in March 1977 and his mother Margaret Kendrick in December 1987. He was also predeceased by his uncles and aunts from the Lougheed family as well as a close cousin, June Henderson. John was also predeceased by his aunts and uncles from the Kendrick family. He was also predeceased by his dear friend Dorothy Vahey in 2006.
John grew up on the family farm in the Knee Hill Valley district about 20 miles east of Innisfail. It was a typical mixed farm of that time period – 160 acres of land with a mix of horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and some grain and hay. From an early age John didn’t relate well to the farm animals but he loved the cats. He walked to school at Mount Pleasant which was about two miles from home. In 1944 the Kendricks moved to a different farm about four miles West of Innisfail on Highway 54 just North of the current Innisfail Golf Course.
The Kendrick family moved into the Town of Innisfail in the spring of 1963. John loved gardening and his garden was large and meticulously tended. He usually stored enough vegetables to last them through most of the winters.
In his younger years John enjoyed fishing, duck hunting and other outdoor adventures. He belonged to the Innisfail Fish and Game Association for many years.
John’s real interest was in all things mechanical. He had a section in the basement in the house where he worked on his “inventions”. He was known to have contrived and constructed some interesting “gadgets” for someone so young and they actually did work!
In the 1960s John enrolled in the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and obtained his Steam Engineer’s Certificate as well as his Motor Mechanic’s Certificate. John worked many years at Les’s Auto Repair in Innisfail until his retirement in the mid-1990’s.
John loved his cars – his favourite was his orange coloured Volkswagen Beetle which he drove for many years. He also bought a new Studebaker in 1965 and joined the Studebaker Car Club. He and his dear friend Dorothy Vahey, who also owned a Studebaker, travelled to many Studebaker car rallies over the years.
The family is sincerely grateful to the staff at the Villa Marie in Red Deer for their exceptional care and kindness during John’s last two years.
Cremation will take place and a memorial service will be held at the Innisfail United Church on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers a memorial donation may be made to the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, www.mrwc.ca or to your local SPCA, or a charity of your choice.
