Dr. Howard Kenneth (Ken) Boake (1935-2021) passed away peacefully on November 26th, 2021.

 

Ken was born in Swalwell, AB, on February 5th, 1935. The 9th of 11 children, Ken spent much of his early years helping out on his family farm near Acme, AB. The first of his family to attend university, he graduated from medical school at the University of Alberta Medical in 1960 and began his career at Red Deer’s Parsons Clinic in 1961. He was proud to have served his community as a physician for 50 years (1961–2011) before retiring at age 76. 

 

It was always clear that medicine was Ken’s passion, and not merely his job. He always joked that he never really worked, only “practiced.” He was always interested in exploring scientific advancements and alternative modalities in his particular fields of interest. Hard-working, humble, and no stranger to serving his community, Ken was appointed President of the North American Association of Manipulative Medicine and was an active member of many local service organizations, including Rotary, Kinsmen/K40, and the Central Alberta Residents Society (CARS), where he sat on the board of directors. 

 

True to his roots, Ken was an avid outdoorsman. Every fall, Ken harvested pheasants on his sister Leta’s ranch and could be found trekking across the fields of Alberta with his brothers, sons-in-law, or his close friends Ken Hanna, Bob Brown, Allan Askey, and Bill Palliser, hunting deer, moose, and duck. The highlight of his hunting career was organizing and hosting a goose hunt for then-Governor General, Roland Michener. In the off-season, Ken would keep up his marksmanship skills at the local gun club, trap- and skeet-shooting. He was a long-time member of Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever, and served as President of the Olds Gun Club.

 

Ken enjoyed camping and fishing with his friends and family, with whom he generously shared his love of the outdoors. “The Cabin,” located west of Caroline, Alberta, was for many years a second home, a favoured destination for summer holidays, and a setting of many happy memories. When the land by Caroline was sold, Ken dismantled the cabin, log by log, and moved it to Peace Country. “The Cabin,” now located up north, became his hunting lodge and place of retreat for his annual “spiritual renewal.” An especially treasured part of Ken’s annual renewal was time spent with his long-time friend Ken Hanna, who, in 50 years of hunting, scotch-sampling, and terrible jokes, never missed a single year. The land in Peace Country was also home to Ken’s beloved herd of bison, which he raised with his brother Matt. He also served as secretary to the Alberta Bison Association for many years because, as he put it, he “was the only person at the meeting who had a pen.”

 

Ken is survived and dearly missed by his wife, Carmen, his five children Kelly (Len), Leah (Mike), Noreen, Les (Aki), Erin (Dan), his grandchildren, Sarah, Kristopher, David, Jesse, Terrance, Matthew, Anna, John, Elizabeth, Maria, Eloise, and Kai, his 13 great-grandchildren, and his siblings Guy and Leta.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 23, 2022 at the Pidherney Centre Curling Rink, Second Floor, 4725 43 Street, Red Deer from 2p.m. – 4p.m.

• Date : 2021-11-26
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home