Gerald “Jerry” Allan Miller passed away quietly at his home on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at the age of 67 years.
He was supported throughout his seven month battle with cancer by his loving and devoted wife Gale (nee: Whitfield); son Lee (Janet) Miller; daughter Kim (Larry) Schamp; and by his grandkids Grayson and Stewart Schamp, and Hadley and Shelby Miller – whom Papa was so very proud of.
Jerry, along with business partner, the late Mel Soloway founded Calgary Fasteners and Tools Ltd in 1979. Very early on, they brought on board partners Ron Hall and Moe Gagnon, and together they built the Calgary Fasteners brand. Today, with many additional partners and dedicated staff members, The Fastener Group has grown and can be found from Thunder Bay, ON to the West Coast of Canada. Jerry built a legacy that will continue on under the direction of Ron, Lee and Larry – and his many other partners who will all miss him dearly.
Jerry’s true passion was cars and anything car related. When he wasn’t at the office or spending time with his family, Jerry could be found puttering at his “car shop”. He was a Ford guy, collecting cars and memorabilia from the 1930’s onward. Show and shines, swap meets and antique shops were Jerry’s candy stores. He was always on the prowl for rarities to add to his ever growing collection of years gone by. Jerry was a member of the Western Vintage Oil and Gas Collectors Club, and both he and Gale enjoyed sharing their collection with the other members, attending meetings and each other’s shops and showing off their latest acquisitions. He will be happy knowing that his collection will be well cared for by Gale and Lee (and the GTO will go for the odd trip here and there with Kim).
Jerry enjoyed spending time with his family at the cabin that he and Gale built on Kootenay Lake, just outside of Nelson, BC. Many hours of creek fishing, golfing and boating were spent as Jerry created memories that his kids and grandkids will never forget.
Gale and her family would like to thank Gale’s sister Cyndi and her partner Lloyd, and, her and Jerry’s life-long friend Marg Hutt, for being their rocks during this extremely difficult time, Don McGregor and Novo Cure for always being our ray of hope, and the amazing staff of Qualicare Family HomeCare who treated and cared for Jerry as if he were a part of their own family. We would also like to thank Gerrit Galesloot for his dedication to the company and for taking on extra duties while Jerry was away fighting his fight, and last but not least, everyone who called Jerry a friend – and stood by his side.
In honoring Jerry’s wishes, there will be no service. “It is what it is.” Please forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to Jerry Miller 5 Wood Memorial Fund (in support of junior golf) at Cottonwood Golf and Country Club, Box 28, Site 2, RR1, DeWinton, AB, T0L 0X0 or at any ATB branch or to the Calgary Zoo, c/o Robert Locke, 1300 Zoo Road N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 7V6, www.calgaryzoo.com. Jerry was very proud of the passion that his grandkids showed for the sport of golf as well as their love of animals, and he would be happy to know that he was making a difference.
In living memory of Jerry Miller, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.