Keith Bryson Johnston
September 11th, 2017
JOHNSTON, Keith
Keith Johnston was born on March 9, 1933 in Swan River, Manitoba and passed away peacefully at the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary, Alberta on Monday, September 11, 2017 with his son, Robert & daughter, Linda by his side.
Keith spent his early life at the family farm & sawmill at Alpine/Benito Manitoba area until he headed west where he signed on with the CPR in Nelson, BC. He transferred to Calgary about 1957 where he met & married Norma Wagner and raised their children, Robert Scott, Linda May & Brenda Alison until their divorce in 1975. By that time, he was a conductor on the freight trains and transferred to Medicine Hat, Alberta. He retired from the CPR in 1982. In 1983, he met Jean Trombley and they were partners until her death in 1989. Keith then met Shirley May and they were partners for 20 years until her death in 2009. Keith moved to Airdrie and stayed with his daughter, Linda and her family until he moved to the Rockyview Lodge in 2012. Keith belonged to the Moose Lodge, Royal Elks and was a Royal Canadian Legion member. He would frequently stop in at legions on visits to family & friends for meals.
Keith enjoyed tinkering with lawn mowers and small engines and developed a small lawn mower business after he retired from the CPR. Keith enjoyed helping with his brother Stan's Cat Service; his brother-in-law's farm in Nanton and son-in-law's farm in Airdrie. Keith was a fisherman, a hunter and loved the outdoors. He loved children and sometimes seemed to be the only one to settle a colicky baby. Keith was an avid curler, he also loved to play ball and play pool. Keith loved to visit with family and friends and play crib. Keith will be fondly remembered by all for his wry humor, generosity, and commitment to family and friends.
Keith is lovingly remembered by his son, Robert Scott Johnston of Calgary; daughter, Brenda Winans & husband Jim Winans of Ohio; daughter, Linda Pagenkopf & husband Bernie Pagenkopf; grandchildren, Dallas, Marshall, Channel, Martina & Harley Pagenkopf of Airdrie; twin sister, Helen Forester of Ashcroft, BC; brother, Robert Johnston of Everywhere and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
A Celebration of Keith’s Life will be held at the Rockyview Lodge, 1220 Hammond Avenue, Crossfield, AB on Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 2:00 pm.
My thoughts are with the family in this time of loss. I didn't know Keith well but I know my mother, Lillian Rever Watland, who was his cousin, always enjoyed his visits when he would return to the prairies.