Mr. Dirk William de Frenne of Innisfail, Alberta passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, Red Deer, Alberta on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at the age of 89 years. Dirk was born at Hilversum, Netherlands on November 17, 1934. He moved to Canada in 1952 and lived in Lethbridge, Alberta. There he worked as a bank manager and eventually he was transferred to the Tofield branch. One day while he was working, a pretty lady walking past his window caught his eye, and the rest was history. Dirk married Elaine Fairbrother on June 10, 1961 and together they had two beautiful daughters; Cindy, born August 7, 1966, followed by Rhonda, on May 25, 1969. They raised their children all over Alberta due to his job at various banks. Finally, they settled in Red Deer, Alberta where their daughters were later married and not long after came five grandbabies. Dirk loved nothing more than being a grandpa, so he decided to switch to a career with Associated Cab to allow him to be in control of his own schedule, this gave him more time to spend with his family that has since grown to include eight great grandchildren. Dirk will be lovingly remembered by his wife of sixty-three years, Elaine de Frenne, his daughters, Cynthia Gabert (Curtis), and Rhonda Whatley (Ted), his five grandchildren, Becky (Brendan), Tony (Aimee), Missy (Tim), Evan (Kaylee) and Brendon, his eight great grandchildren, and his sister, Gerry Bedard. He was predeceased by his father, Johannes Gerardus de Frenne and his mother, Marie de Frenne (nee Hogenbirk). A Celebration of Dirk’s Life will be held at the Innisfail Alliance Church, 4804 – 42 Avenue, Innisfail, Alberta on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations in Dirk’s honor may be made to Gideons Bible International at www.gideons.org. 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

• Date : 2024-10-11
• Location : (Innisfail) LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com