Obituary for Malcolm Thomas McMinn (McMinn)
Malcolm Thomas McMinn
1936-2019
Born in Northern Ireland on Upper Malone Road, Malcolm immigrated to Canada in 1957 at the age of 20. He spent many years as a Manufacture’s Representative in the Food Service Equipment Business; the first decade in Vancouver, then Toronto. He settled in Calgary in 1972 when transferred by GS Blakeslee. He quickly became their top salesman as Western Canada Sales Representative and he traveled Canada and parts of the USA extensively.
Mal married Edith in 1975 and became the proud step father to six children. As Mal’s lines and successes grew, he founded McMinn and Associates, which flourished for 25 years until he fell ill in September of 2018. He had slowed down but couldn’t stay away completely; Malcolm never formally retired. Malcolm was known by many as a cheerful, talkative, singing Irishman. Always a harmonica in his pocket, ready to bring light and laughter into every room he entered, and to every heart he encountered with a joke, and a series of stories, all, of course, over a pint. He would never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Mal is survived by his wife Edith (nee Prefontaine) of Calgary; sister, Anne McNeilly and her children, David (Fiona) and their children, Sam and Ben; Joan (Peter) Burrows and their children, Darcy and Tom; sister, Louise (Keith) Wood and their children Kerry (Johnny) Rachel, Zara, Matthew who all reside in and around Lisbon N. Ireland.
As well as step-children:
Adele Stanford and her children, Erin (Greg) Masuda and their children, Koura, Mio; Patrick and James Stanford; Katie Stanford and her daughter, Jackson.
Jo-Ann Gingras and her children, Jennifer (Ian) Mitchell and their children, Taylor and Micaela; Deidre Stewart and her children, McLane and Dawsen Brand; Shaun Stewart and his children, Isabelle and Argyle; Robyn (Erick) Whyte and their children, Avalynn, London and Fallon.
Gil (Jeanette) Gingras and their daughter, Kaylynn.
Desiree Gingras and her daughter, Melissa (to be married to Brad Seaman in 2019).
Claudette Gingras (Harry Webb) and children, Sheldon (Teighan) Loyer and Deanna Banman.
Jackie Gingras (Dave Coe) and children, Stephanie Gingras (1987-2012) and Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
He will be sorely missed. Godspeed Malcolm.
An Irish Wake will be held at Schooner’s Pub (6416 Old Banff Coach Road SW) on Friday, April 26, 2019 at 7:00 pm.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Mal, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
“May you be in Heaven half-an-hour before the devil knows you’re dead”.
1936-2019
Born in Northern Ireland on Upper Malone Road, Malcolm immigrated to Canada in 1957 at the age of 20. He spent many years as a Manufacture’s Representative in the Food Service Equipment Business; the first decade in Vancouver, then Toronto. He settled in Calgary in 1972 when transferred by GS Blakeslee. He quickly became their top salesman as Western Canada Sales Representative and he traveled Canada and parts of the USA extensively.
Mal married Edith in 1975 and became the proud step father to six children. As Mal’s lines and successes grew, he founded McMinn and Associates, which flourished for 25 years until he fell ill in September of 2018. He had slowed down but couldn’t stay away completely; Malcolm never formally retired. Malcolm was known by many as a cheerful, talkative, singing Irishman. Always a harmonica in his pocket, ready to bring light and laughter into every room he entered, and to every heart he encountered with a joke, and a series of stories, all, of course, over a pint. He would never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Mal is survived by his wife Edith (nee Prefontaine) of Calgary; sister, Anne McNeilly and her children, David (Fiona) and their children, Sam and Ben; Joan (Peter) Burrows and their children, Darcy and Tom; sister, Louise (Keith) Wood and their children Kerry (Johnny) Rachel, Zara, Matthew who all reside in and around Lisbon N. Ireland.
As well as step-children:
Adele Stanford and her children, Erin (Greg) Masuda and their children, Koura, Mio; Patrick and James Stanford; Katie Stanford and her daughter, Jackson.
Jo-Ann Gingras and her children, Jennifer (Ian) Mitchell and their children, Taylor and Micaela; Deidre Stewart and her children, McLane and Dawsen Brand; Shaun Stewart and his children, Isabelle and Argyle; Robyn (Erick) Whyte and their children, Avalynn, London and Fallon.
Gil (Jeanette) Gingras and their daughter, Kaylynn.
Desiree Gingras and her daughter, Melissa (to be married to Brad Seaman in 2019).
Claudette Gingras (Harry Webb) and children, Sheldon (Teighan) Loyer and Deanna Banman.
Jackie Gingras (Dave Coe) and children, Stephanie Gingras (1987-2012) and Bailey Gingras-Hamilton.
He will be sorely missed. Godspeed Malcolm.
An Irish Wake will be held at Schooner’s Pub (6416 Old Banff Coach Road SW) on Friday, April 26, 2019 at 7:00 pm.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Mal, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
“May you be in Heaven half-an-hour before the devil knows you’re dead”.