February 5, 1945 – September 25, 2019
Gene Foat passed away in the Foothills hospital on September 25, 2019 due to complications from a farming accident. He was born in Calgary on February 5, 1945 to Sidney and Eleanora Foat. He grew up on a mixed farm in the Cremona area and loved the farming lifestyle growing up. He was active with cattle but all things mechanical really captivated him. He was not always the strongest student but had a lot of fun causing mischief while he was in school. It was suggested that maybe Grade 11 wasn’t for him and he should try an alternate path. He went to Technical School in Calgary to earn his Automotive Mechanics license and Tech in Edmonton to earn his Heavy-Duty Mechanics license. He graduated at the top of his class in both schools. After graduating he worked as a mechanic for John Deere, for A&B pipelines, and at R Angus in Calgary. His last mechanic job was constructing a dam in Newfoundland where he left the ends of 2 fingers under an end dump scraper. That was enough for him and he changed course to return to farming.
Gene went farming with his brothers Irvine and Roy. They had a mixed farm with cattle, hay, and grain. They even branched out into pigs. But no matter what, he wouldn’t go into chickens or sheep. While farming he met the love of his life Joan Kramer. They courted for a while and he eventually got tired of moving her from apartment to apartment in Calgary, so he proposed instead. They were married in February of 1974 and were soon blessed with 2 boys. Gene worked hard to build a life for his family and to provide them with opportunities that he never had. It was with great pride that later in his life his son Michael came home to farm with him.
One of Gene’s passions was in bettering the lives of young people. He employed his nephews and many other students from the nearby Cremona School. He made sure they worked hard and taught them new and unique ways to swear but he wished the best for all of them. After he started his partnership with his brother, Irvine, they began to employ Agricultural Trainees. Over the course of his farming life he employed 29 different trainees from different countries who were always treated like a part of the family. Gene was active in the Cremona 4-H club where he acted as beef leader. He was the President of the Ag Society during the fundraising and building process of the Cremona Arena. He didn’t want his sons to have to push snow off the outdoor rink like he had to.
Gene excelled at feeding cattle all his life but later on he learned to cook for people as well. He went from a person who couldn’t understand why there was no chicken in the Shake and Bake package to an expert at grilling. For many years he barbecued roasts for the Cremona Day supper. He would also barbecue steaks for anybody who happened to drive in the yard. Many times, even during snowstorms.
Gene and Joan would travel in later years, cruises in the Caribbean or off the coast of Mexico, and trips to Europe to visit past trainees. They planned to tour around Alberta in the summer of 2019 before he had his accident. Gene was a farmer right up to the end. He eased back and was only feeding 30 cows, but it got him out of the house every day. Unfortunately, he had a run in with a cow while tagging her calf as he couldn’t quite move like he used to.
Gene will be missed by his wife Joan and 2 sons. Mike (Heather) and sons Jacob, Isaac, and Thomas. Phil (Michelle) and daughters Kyra and Kenzie. He is survived by his brother Irvine and his sisters Irma and Dwila as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother Roy and his nephew Bradley.
A Celebration of Gene’s Life will be held on Monday, October 7, 2019 at 11:00 am at Cremona Congregational Church (202 – 2 Street West, Cremona, AB). Memorial tributes in Genes honour can be made to the Cremona Arena building fund.
Arrangements entrusted to Cochrane Country Funeral Home, Alison (Allie) Van Arnam, Funeral Director. Ph: 403-932-1039. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gene Derry Foat, please visit our flower store.
Gene Foat passed away in the Foothills hospital on September 25, 2019 due to complications from a farming accident. He was born in Calgary on February 5, 1945 to Sidney and Eleanora Foat. He grew up on a mixed farm in the Cremona area and loved the farming lifestyle growing up. He was active with cattle but all things mechanical really captivated him. He was not always the strongest student but had a lot of fun causing mischief while he was in school. It was suggested that maybe Grade 11 wasn’t for him and he should try an alternate path. He went to Technical School in Calgary to earn his Automotive Mechanics license and Tech in Edmonton to earn his Heavy-Duty Mechanics license. He graduated at the top of his class in both schools. After graduating he worked as a mechanic for John Deere, for A&B pipelines, and at R Angus in Calgary. His last mechanic job was constructing a dam in Newfoundland where he left the ends of 2 fingers under an end dump scraper. That was enough for him and he changed course to return to farming.
Gene went farming with his brothers Irvine and Roy. They had a mixed farm with cattle, hay, and grain. They even branched out into pigs. But no matter what, he wouldn’t go into chickens or sheep. While farming he met the love of his life Joan Kramer. They courted for a while and he eventually got tired of moving her from apartment to apartment in Calgary, so he proposed instead. They were married in February of 1974 and were soon blessed with 2 boys. Gene worked hard to build a life for his family and to provide them with opportunities that he never had. It was with great pride that later in his life his son Michael came home to farm with him.
One of Gene’s passions was in bettering the lives of young people. He employed his nephews and many other students from the nearby Cremona School. He made sure they worked hard and taught them new and unique ways to swear but he wished the best for all of them. After he started his partnership with his brother, Irvine, they began to employ Agricultural Trainees. Over the course of his farming life he employed 29 different trainees from different countries who were always treated like a part of the family. Gene was active in the Cremona 4-H club where he acted as beef leader. He was the President of the Ag Society during the fundraising and building process of the Cremona Arena. He didn’t want his sons to have to push snow off the outdoor rink like he had to.
Gene excelled at feeding cattle all his life but later on he learned to cook for people as well. He went from a person who couldn’t understand why there was no chicken in the Shake and Bake package to an expert at grilling. For many years he barbecued roasts for the Cremona Day supper. He would also barbecue steaks for anybody who happened to drive in the yard. Many times, even during snowstorms.
Gene and Joan would travel in later years, cruises in the Caribbean or off the coast of Mexico, and trips to Europe to visit past trainees. They planned to tour around Alberta in the summer of 2019 before he had his accident. Gene was a farmer right up to the end. He eased back and was only feeding 30 cows, but it got him out of the house every day. Unfortunately, he had a run in with a cow while tagging her calf as he couldn’t quite move like he used to.
Gene will be missed by his wife Joan and 2 sons. Mike (Heather) and sons Jacob, Isaac, and Thomas. Phil (Michelle) and daughters Kyra and Kenzie. He is survived by his brother Irvine and his sisters Irma and Dwila as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother Roy and his nephew Bradley.
A Celebration of Gene’s Life will be held on Monday, October 7, 2019 at 11:00 am at Cremona Congregational Church (202 – 2 Street West, Cremona, AB). Memorial tributes in Genes honour can be made to the Cremona Arena building fund.
Arrangements entrusted to Cochrane Country Funeral Home, Alison (Allie) Van Arnam, Funeral Director. Ph: 403-932-1039. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gene Derry Foat, please visit our flower store.
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