In the comfort of the Red Deer Hospice, Dan passed away peacefully on July 7, 2019 at the age of 56. He is lovingly remembered by his wife Cindy and sons, Stephen, Collin, and Neil. He will be deeply missed by his siblings, Rob (Ingrid), Darrell (Heather) and Judy (Glenn), as well as his brothers-in-law, Rob (Sheila) and Jared (Mindy), and numerous nieces and nephews. A large circle of great friends, colleagues and clients are also profoundly saddened by his passing.

Born in Calgary on July 16, 1962, Dan grew up in Red Deer. He spent an idyllic childhood in Grandview, and it was there that he made friendships that would last his entire life. He attended LTCHS, where he met Cindy in 1979, and formed a legendary partnership that never faltered. They were always together. During university summers he and Cindy ran “You and I Painting”. Family and friends benefited from his skills as a painter as well as an accountant.

Graduating from LTCHS in 1980, he studied accounting at the University of Calgary, then articled with Price Waterhouse in Calgary. He obtained his CA in 1990. Returning to Red Deer in 1991, Dan worked at Burrington Heywood Holmes, Jefferies Lodewyk Chartered Accountants, High Arctic, SEAL, Cuthbertson Sandall Chartered Accountants and BDO. He loved the work he did.

Dan was passionate about skiing and golf; he loved water skiing and time at the cabin at Sylvan Lake. He gave his time and expertise coaching hockey, lacrosse and skiing. He loved to be involved in his sons’ activities and did everything he could to help out. He served as president of the Central Alberta Freestyle Ski Club for 8 years and was a board member of the Alberta Freestyle Ski Association. At ski competitions, he loved taking on roles as Chief of Comp, or Technical Delegate. He was thrilled to be a freestyle ski official for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in February. Most recently Dan enjoyed his work as a board member for the Red Deer Golf and Country Club.

Dan loved to travel, recently enjoying trips to Italy, Spain and Southeast Asia. He traveled to many areas of Canada and the U.S. but it was probably ski trips that he enjoyed the most, especially those with his family and the epic trips with his buddies to Chatter Creek. Ski areas all over Canada and the U.S. were graced with his effortless, smooth skiing style. Dan was an excellent cook and the master of the barbecue. Hundreds of meals were enjoyed at the Jefferies table with family and friends.

Dan was a very determined person. He encouraged people to be confident and to “try their best”. The word “can’t” was not in his vocabulary. When one of the many kids he coached in skiing said he didn’t want to ski moguls, Dan replied “So, do it anyway” – a classic Dan response.

To his sons, Dan was the strongest man they ever knew, a beacon of optimism, pride, and courage, the personification of resilience. He demonstrated to them the lifelong value of friendship, hard work, and approaching life with joy.

To Cindy, he was her best friend and partner in everything. Throughout their years together Dan always provided support and encouragement. He taught her to ski, introduced her to golf, and gave her a nudge to enter politics. Through the good times and the challenges in life, Dan was there – every step of the way.

To his family and friends, he was generous, calm, unflappable, fun, and he loved to laugh. He remained all these things throughout his illness and was an inspiration to all who knew him.

He is predeceased by his parents, Pat and Val Jefferies, and his mother-in-law, Elin Sayers.

Cindy and family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at the Central Alberta Cancer Centre, Red Deer Regional Hospital and the Red Deer Hospice for their care and compassion, with special recognition to Dr. Maureen McCall for her kindness and consideration in Dan’s final days.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Central Alberta Cancer Centre or the Red Deer Hospice Society.

A celebration of Dan’s life will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Hotel & Conference Centre 3310 -50 Ave. Red Deer.

• Date : 2019-07-07
• Location : Red Deer