George Angus McLeod
December 28th, 2019
George Angus McLeod “Jug” passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the Sarcee Hospice on Saturday December 28, 2019 at the age of 85 years.
Jug is lovingly remembered by his children, Thyra and Sandy; his grandchildren, Matthew, Zachary and Nicole-Alec; his sisters, May and Doris; niece, Donna; and numerous other nieces and nephews; his special friend, Elsie Kalyn and her family who were a second family to him; his good friend, Wayne Bealing and family; friends at Lambert Village, the Strathmore Legion and numerous friends made throughout the years.
Jug was predeceased by his parents, Elizabeth and Alexander McLeod; ex-wife, Mary; daughter-in-law, Kim; sisters, Margaret, Mary, Flo, Jean, Aggie and Bella; and brothers Johnny and Kenny; his lifelong friend, Ray Luft; and friend, Charlie Duck Chief who Jug also considered a brother.
Jug was born in Calgary and was the 2nd of 3 boys in a family of 11 siblings. He grew up in the community of Sunalta and attended Western Canada High School. He loved sports and was an accomplished athlete and loved hiking and fishing with his brothers and friends. Jug went on to get his Journeyman Electrician License and was respected and well liked by all he worked with.
He raised his own family with wife Mary in Highland Park and spent his spare time fishing, curling, playing hockey, baseball and golf. He loved coaching his kids baseball and hockey teams, was a tireless volunteer at the Highland Park Community Association and in later years spent many hours at baseball fields, football fields, soccer fields, and at the rink proudly cheering on his two grandsons and their teams. He missed his adored daughter-in-law Kim and was always excited to see Nicole-Alec and hear all the details of what was going on socially, at school and at summer drama camps. Jug encouraged all to live by the motto he believed in and exemplified: “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game”.
He also loved to spend time at the cabin he built at Hidden Valley Golf Resort and spent lots of happy summers there with family and friends, and still enjoyed the camaraderie of those friends even after the resort was destroyed by the 2013 flood.
Jug was proud to have been a volunteer at the 1988 Olympics and for the past 39 years with the Terry Fox Run. He participated on the Olympic Torch Bearer Committee and helped draw up the Olympic Torch Bearer Selection Guidelines. Jug was a driver to Steve Fonyo for his cross Canada “Journey for Lives” to help complete Terry Fox’s “Marathon of Hope”.
Jug was a kind, loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle , and friend who was always there to give a smile, a helping hand, pat on the back, a ride, an honest assessment of the situation and practical advice and encouragement to help out.
The family would like to thank Dr. Joni McNeely, Dr. Helmerson, Dr. Alladina, doctors and staff at TBCC (in particular Dr. Cao), doctors and staff at FMC Unit 47, the Palliative Home Care Team (Strathmore and Calgary) , Community Paramedics Team, and Dr. Cunningham and staff at Sarcee Hospice staff (particularly Mandi) and to all those who did things big and small to help make things more cheerful and easier for Jug and his family.
Jug fought bravely, with great dignity and without complaint to stay with his family and friends for as long as he possibly could and will be deeply missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Strathmore Royal Canadian Legion Br.10, 230 – 2 Ave., Strathmore on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 1:00 PM.
If so desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Terry Fox Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society or charity of your choice.Messages:
Jug was one of my favourite volunteers when I served as Provincial Director for the Terry Fox Foundation from 2003-2017. In an era when we were encouraging more volunteers to adopt email to communicate with us, he would just call. "Rhonda, it's Jug McLeod" with that distinctive voice I will never forget. Later, it just became "Rhonda, it's Jug". He was a very special man who for me embodied the best of Terry Fox - humility, dedication, perseverance, kindness and service to others. I have his picture here beside my desk in the International office of the Terry Fox Foundation so that every day, I will look at him and be reminded of the inspiration I drew from him to always do more and be better.
Tyra and Sandy and families. We were so sorry to hear your dad had passed. The memories go a long way back and we know you will miss him a lot. We first met Jug at Western Canada High School in1952 and over the years we played Baseball, Hockey and golf. In the late 70's we both had cottages at SikSika (later known as Hidden Valley ) We played many games of golf together and in the evening we would sit around the fire eating corn on the cob and singing songs. There was one other get together each year, it was the Stampede breakfast. It was by started by Jug and GeorgeLuft. Over the years it was so popular, we would have to cook100 breakfasts. Even the mayor of Calgary atttended. Jug will be missed. we
We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Jug’s passing. It immediately sent m2fmy thoughts back to when I was a young boy and my first memories. Jug was a boyhood family friend of my parents. He has participated in pretty much every major family event in my life. He was a positive influence in my life. We will miss him dearly. Our deepest condolences to Thyra, Sandy and family.
On behalf of our family and The Terry Fox Foundation, I share our tremendous sadness upon hearing of Jug’s passing. Jug was the kind of Terry Fox volunteer and supporter whose hard work and dedication formed the foundation of The Terry Fox Foundation – literally. He spent almost 40 years of his life ensuring that Terry’s mission for cancer research would continue, thrive, and grow. It was my pleasure to meet Jug at Milo School several years ago, and present him with a plaque as a small token of our appreciation for his efforts. Afterwards, we were able to celebrate with a cold drink at the Milo Hotel. It was a memorable visit. When Jug lost his home at Hidden Valley Resort during the flood of 2013, he was heartbroken that he had lost his collection of Terry Fox Run memorabilia. In particular, he treasured letters and posters given to him by our Mom and Grandmother, Betty Fox. We assisted Rhonda Risebrough & the TFF Provincial office in Alberta to gather what replacement items we could. My youngest Daughter Erin didn’t hesitate to part with her 25th Anniversary Terry Fox Run t-shirt, which was incredibly difficult to find. Jug, in typical fashion, refused to accept it and sent it back to Erin with a heartfelt note about how much the gesture meant to him. Jug raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help find cures for cancer. It saddens us that like our Dad, Rolly, he succumbed to the very disease he dedicated his life to fighting. But in that fight, there was the knowledge that what he was doing was making a difference in the lives of people living with cancer, then and into the future. We wish he could be here to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope with us. We will honour him by doing what he would want us to do, continue Terry’s mission, that Jug shared so passionately. With deepest Sympathy, Fred Fox Terry’s older Brother
I have many fond memories of times spent with my Uncle Jug. The fishing trips and corn feasts at Uncle Johnny's. He taught me how to make pancakes at the Jug-a-Luft Stampede breakfast - "Trent, Trent, don't flip them until the bubbles have popped." Heading out to a movie with a car load of kids and my Dad and getting his Pontiac GTO stuck in the snowbank - no movie that night! He built bleachers in the back of his truck and went and parked it downtown the night before the Stampede Parade so we all had a place to sit and enjoy it. He was a kind soul. We all loved him dearly. Thyra & Sandy and families, my sincere sympathies. Trent & family
I was blessed and honoured to know and take care of Jug, if only for a few short days. Thyra, your dedication and love for your father was beyond measure! Lots of love! Mandi ❤️
I wanted to share a few wonderful memories I have of Jug. I worked with Jug on Terry Fox Runs in Calgary and was his travelling assistant when he was the Alberta Coordinator for the Steve Fonyo Run here in Alberta in 1985. (See Jennifer Lindstrom entry related to this.) He was always creative (a mover and a shaker) and had a positive outlook on making a change in the world. He came up with the idea of a "tree of hope" related to Terry Fox and cancer at the Calgary Stampede exhibition displays where patrons could write their name on a sticker and place it on a tree. This small gesture really caught on with the public. He invited me to an annual Stampede Breakfast where Ralph Klein would always win the sack race (it was rigged of course). I really saw his wisdom, dedication, people skills, and leadership as I travelled with him across most of Alberta with the Steve Fonyo Run. He overcame tremendous challenges (and many difficult personalities) as he organized the day to day operation of the Fonyo Run. There was no manual for this and he was always looking to improve things. For example, I recall he came up with the unique idea of the mileage pylons that were placed each morning on the route to help Steve achieve his mileage goals. I credit Jug with being a major force in the success of the Alberta portion of Steve's run. He was an inspiring person and he made the world a better place. Please accept my condolences.
Dear Sandy and Thyra Our sincere sympathies to you and yours. We have many fond memories of your Dad and know he will be missed. May you find comfort in all your memories. Love and Hugs from Art "the Bum" and Susie Sanders
My condolences to the family of Jug McLeod. I had the good fortune to know him in the 80's. I first met him when I was the Provincial Coordinator of the Terry Fox Run and he was a volunteer leader with the Calgary run. At the time the Terry Fox Run was coordinated out of the Canadian Cancer Society office and Jug, as a well known and highly respected volunteer was hired to coordinate the Alberta portion of Steve Fonyo's run and I was the assistant coordinator. He drove the motor home following Steve and I worked in the office. He was so thoughtful that when Steve arrived in Calgary and almost overwhelming crowds came out to see him Jug somehow arranged for a police officer to pick me up at the office so I could make it through the crowds and join him in the motorhome. It was a great experience, we had the motorhome windows open and people were throwing money through the window, we were covered in bills and they were all over the vehicle! When Jug chaired the runner selection committee for the 1988 Olympic torch relay he invited me to participate on the committee, another wonderful experience which included me having the opportunity to spend a week on the torch relay. He was such a nice, kind man, you are very fortunate that he was part of your family. I'm sure you will miss him very much. Rest in peace Jug. Jennifer.
Jug you were the best of friends. You were loved for all the good things you did for people in your lifetime You accepted my family with open arms & we enjoyed the fun we had from working in your yard to learning to golf & all the fishing trips in Sask plus the party’s We have so many good memories Your love & friendship you shared was so grateful Love& Thanks to Thyra & Sandy for sharing your life with us. You are in our hearts. Sleep in peace. Lots of Love. Elsie & family
Uncle Jug, The memories we have visiting you as kids will always be cherished. Memories of when I visited in 1988 for the Olympics and listening to you talk of the torch run. I often talk to my own children about you taking us ice fishing and all the fishermen getting mad at us ice skating on the lake scaring the fish and you laughing. You will be missed. Thyra, Sandy and families, we are thinking of you. Love Tammy, John, Declan and Fionn xx
Uncle Jug you have been so brave but you have earned your peaceful rest! You are a much loved Uncle who will be so sadly missed by us all in Australia! I loved times with you growing up with Johnny and Colin, camping trips, fishing, and then you extended your love and friendship with Geoff and our children John, Tammy, Shaun and Andrew! They have such happy memories of SikSika with you and ice fishing! We are all so grateful for the love you shared with us all! Love to Thyra, Sandy and families! Sleep peacefully Jug until we meet again love always Gwen and Geoff
I was so sad to find that Jug had past. I have so many memories growing up, of all our parents getting together. the many parties, bbq's. and the years of the Jug-A-Lust stampede breakfast. Jug will always be in my heart.