February 12, 1941 – March 31, 2023
It is with great sadness that the family of William Barry Powell of Millarville, Alberta announce his passing on Friday, March 31, 2023 at High River Hospital.
Bill was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on February 12, 1941 to parents Hillas & Bertha Powell. He was raised on a farm outside of the town of Rouleau, where the values of hard work, commitment to community, and devotion to family were fostered. He began his education at the Prairie Lily School, riding his pony from the farm to the schoolhouse, before completing his final two years of grade school in Rouleau.
His education had only begun and he continued a life of learning, first at the University of Regina, and then at the University of Saskatchewan, where he earned an Engineering degree in 1962 and a Masters of Engineering in 1965. He continued to learn and innovate throughout the entirety of his subsequent career.
He had fond memories of his years at the University of Saskatchewan and many entertaining stories involving the antics of the Engineering students and their endless rivalry with the Ag’s. He and his first roommate, George Lawson, are remembered for their infamous potato home-brew, known locally, or atleast in their basement apartment as “hooby-doo”.
It was at University, on a blind date, that he met the love of his life, Judith Marilyn Stamp. They were married on September 12, 1964 and began a life together that became his greatest and most cherished legacy.
Bill began his career with Keith Consulting in Regina, subsequently moving to Calgary in 1969 to join Associated Engineering, before starting his own company IP Constructors with two former associates, Lloyd Kirilenko and Stewart Mulvey, who would remain his partners and friends for the rest of his career. Early projects had him working on the water treatment plant in High River and on the Calgary Tower, where he claimed to have climbed the entirety of the stairs more than
once. His own company took him to the oil and gas fields of Alberta and British Columbia, before tough economic times challenged him and his partners to risk the company’s survival by expanding internationally. Strong work ethic and long hours led to a successful expansion, travel to Nigeria, Dubai, Hungary and Malaysia, as well as to an International Industrial Equipment Exportation Award in 1995.
Bill and Judi had their first two children, sons Kevin (1965) and Michael (1968) in Regina, before heading west to Calgary where daughter Wendy (1970) and son Christopher (1972) were born. In 1972 Bill undertook the building of a home for his family on an acreage in the community of Millarville ; the family living in the garage and a tent trailer, before upgrading to the partially finished walkout basement. Bath time and supper time were often synonymous and separated only by a framed stud wall. In Millarville, Bill became engrossed in his children’s lives and entrenched in the community. He coached hockey and baseball for decades, for both his children and grandchildren, helped establishand volunteered with the Millarville Sports Association and committed near endless hours to the Millarville Racetrack and Agriculture Society. He played a role in the founding and operation of the Millarville Ride for STARS, and on the lighter side he was known for the occasional cameo role with the Millarville Famous Players dinner theatre. His Saskatchewan farm boy ethos was always evident as he stepped up again and again to lend a hand.
In his leisure time he loved the outdoors. From waterskiing, bird hunting and fishing as a young man in Saskatchewan, to hiking and camping in the foothills and Rocky Mountains, Bill was at home in nature. He continued to return to the Saskatchewan lakes for family camping at Meadow Lake and for treasured fishing trips to Otter Lake with his parents and children, and ultimately with his grandchildren. When at home he enjoyed endless hours walking the land and working in his garden, nurturing his cherished berry bushes and vegetables, with his beloved dogs by his side. He continued to walk the land and to tend to the soil his entire life.
Bill is predeceased by his parents, Hillas and Bertha, and by his daughter-in-law Tina. Bill will be forever remembered and missed by his wife Judith Marilyn (Stamp), his son Kevin (Tanya),and grandsons Branden, Rydan and Kaiden; son Michael (Iska); daughter Wendy (James) and grandchildrenAdam and Lydia; and son Christopher (Sandi) and grandchildren Stephen and Madeleine; and by his extended grandchildren Brianna, Chantel, Anna, Heather, Stephanie and Kamala. He is also survived and missed by his sister Beverly (Dave) and brother Stan, as well as by many nephews, nieces and in-laws.
A special, heartfelt thank you to the Nurses, Physicians and Health Care staff at the High River Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the High River Hospital & District Foundation www.highriverhealthfoundation.ca or to the STARS Air Ambulance www.stars.ca.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, April 21st at 2:00 p.m. at the High River Full Gospel Church (1802 9th Ave. SE, High River, AB T1V 2A6).
To send condolences please visit www.lylereeves.com. Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.4242.
