William “Bill” Fergus Rowat passed away on Monday, July 9, 2018 at the age of 81 years. Bill was born in January of 1937 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. At the time of his birth, Bill’s family lived in Clyde, Alberta, where his father owned and operated the local barbershop and pool hall. The Rowats moved to Summerland, B.C. for a short period before returning to Alberta in 1939, this time to Eckville. While there, Bill’s father operated the pool hall and barber shop while his mother ran the Jiffy Lunch. In 1943, the family relocated to Red Deer, Alberta, where his father continued to operate a barbershop and his mother taught at Central School. Bill was an active youth who enjoyed playing baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter. In 1949, he was part of the club that captured the Natural Ice Hockey Championship for the Province of Alberta. He earned spending money as a paperboy for the “Calgary Albertan”. He would ride his bike to the railroad station early each morning to pick up his papers and then finish his route before school. Bill graduated from Lindsay Thurber Composite High School in 1954. Diploma in hand, he went to work for Dominion Fruit and Scott Fruit in Red Deer, and Burns Food Plant in Edmonton. Bill met the love of his life, Marion Ward, in 1955 in Sylvan Lake, Alberta. The couple wed on June 30, 1956 – a marriage that would last more than 62 years. For a brief time, Bill worked for Halliburton before attending barber college in Edmonton. After graduating, he barbered with his father in Red Deer until 1966, when Bill and his family decided to move south to Calgary. Bill was a very astute businessman. His success in running several businesses in Calgary allowed him to retire in 1990 at the ripe old age of 54. Bill and Marion renovated houses in the summer and enjoyed winters in sunny Arizona. Bill’s three children – Brad, Terri and Carrie Lynn, and their families – brought him great joy. Later on in life, he shared many laughs with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was proud of his family and always looked forward to their visits. Bill lived life to the fullest and will be greatly missed by his wife Marion; children Brad, Terri, Carrie Lynn and their families; sister Joyce (Bill) Beecroft as well as numerous other family members and friends. A Celebration of Bill’s life will be held at the Pioneer Lodge, 4324 – 46 A Ave., Red Deer AB on Friday, July 27, 2018 between the hours of 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm with a short program at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted by the Alberta Cancer Foundation and The Alzheimer’s Society. Condolences to Bill’s family may be emailed to meaningful@telus.net. Arrangements in care of Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service, Red Deer AB 587-876-4944

• Date : 2018-07-09
• Location : Red Deer, Alberta