Garfield MacMillan

MacMillan, Garfield

March 19, 1945 - November 28, 2021

Garfield passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 28, 2021 with Donna and Michelle at his side at Red Deer Hospital.

Garfield is lovingly remembered by his wife, Donna; daughters, Michelle, Shantelle (James), and Crystal (Rick); son, Cassius; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; in-laws, Val and Brian, Rhonda and Greg; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Garfield was predeceased by his parents, Wallace and Gladys; his sister, Freda; brother-in-law, Delmer; sons-in-law, Randy and Tom; nephew, Robert; sister-in-law, Sheila; aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Born in O’Leary, Prince Edward Island, Garfield started his journey in life on a difficult path, losing his father before he was born and his mother when he was 7. As would turn out to be many of such experiences in his life, Garfield’s difficulties turned to good fortune and adventure when his aunt and uncle, who valued the kind soul and kindred spirit in Garfield, welcomed him into their home and raised him as part of their family.

Life with his aunt and uncle meant building treasured relationships with family, as he also would be surrounded by a very large family that would protect him, teach him and care for him. This life also meant that Garfield would work from a very young age on his uncle’s and aunt’s farm doing a wide variety of chores that involved tending to livestock and digging and sorting potatoes. His aunt and uncle would become the mom and dad who would raise him, and his cousins would become his brothers and sisters.

As was common for young men in the early 60s, Garfield became independent very young, and, at the age of 17, he sought his independence and decided that Alberta was the place to be. He often told the story of leaving PEI and jumping on a train that would eventually take him to his sister’s home in Jasper, Alberta. As he told the story, he had very little money in his pocket, $49, and, took the first job offered to him, working at the Jasper golf course. His employment resume would eventually have him building what he called “microwave towers” as well as calling trains for CN Rail, working rigs, owning a detailing business, and hauling water.

If a person were to have listened as closely as possible and actually wrote down the storied and very interesting life of Garfield, all of this would be included: Garfield welcomed his first child when he was 21, and he would go on to welcome 3 more. He was a boxer, in his 20s, winning the lightweight championship in Alberta. He also loved hockey, was a goalie, and played in the Magdalen Islands where he was nicknamed “the Englishman” the Isle being mostly French. He lived between Hinton and PEI and Magdalen Isles as well as many other communities in Alberta. He raised his 4 young children on his own for a long period of time, often taking them to work on the rigs when he was a tool push, and he always knew where they were and that they were looked after.

When Garfield’s kids were raised and gone, he started two water hauling companies, the first Delmac Water Hauling with his brother-in-law and the second with his nephew Rodger, Olds Glacier Water Hauling, which would, between the two, last for 20+ years. Garfield’s favorite truck eventually came to be his potable water truck that gave him the opportunity to not only deliver drinking water to a variety of people and sites, but also to fill swimming pools for kids and make outdoor and backyard ice rinks for kids as well. Garfield loved to see the smiles on kid’s faces when their pools were full and their rinks were ready to go.

As time went on, Garfield met Donna, and they fell in love through their mutual interests of love for camping, family, and travel. They were a couple for 8 years before being married in Las Vegas on September 6, 2014. Donna and Garfield made their home in Olds.

If you know Garfield well, you will know what he meant when he said he was in Bucktush and that you were speaking into his “bad ear.” You would know he loved eagle watching, that he was the supervisor of cutting wood, of building garages, and of stacking wood, he was the fire marshall of fire pits, and that he was an excellent pool player. You would know what we meant that he ‘had nine lives.” You would wonder why one person could get caught in so many bad storms. You would know that he loved to camp.

What you would also know was that Garfield’s difficulties commonly did turn to good fortune and adventure - snowmobiling, pulling family and friends behind his boat on the lake, buying a race horse and totally enjoying every horse race he watched, driving his vintage cars around town and across Canada.

Garfield always kept the close connection with his PEI family, and it was an extremely special day when he finally, in 2016, located the gravesite of his father, a father he had never met

What a life he lived. Garfield was a family man – family meant everything to him. Garfield was a man who felt that every day was a good day, another opportunity to meet new and interesting people. He had few fears, many friends, talents, and interests. He was the type of friend everyone wished for but few are privileged to have.

May you rest in peace Garfield. Your new adventures have begun.

A Private Family Memorial Service is being held. A celebration of Garfield’s life for his extended family and many friends will be held when the sun is shining and the grass is green.

In lieu of flowers, be a child’s champion and donate locally to a children’s organization of your choice.