John Hipwell

John passed away peacefully at the Foothills Country Hospice on March 15, 2013. He will be deeply missed by Audrey, his wife of 54 years, his two daughters, Trudy and Elaine, his grandson Aaron, and by family and friends in Canada and the UK. John was predeceased by his sister Gill and brother Peter.

John had a life-long interest in aviation. He made models of aircraft as a child, attended air cadets as a teen, and became a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force as a young man. He later had a career in banking in both the UK and Canada. John retired from sales and customer service at PM Hobbycraft, where his knowledge and love of radio-controlled aircraft was passed on to many who crossed his path.

The family would like to express their deepest thanks to the many health care service providers who gave John such excellent care. To his family physician Dr. Mayrhofer, to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Rockyview and Peter Lougheed Hospitals, to the home care and palliative care nurses, and to many of Calgary's EMTs, we are truly grateful for all your efforts to give John the best possible quality of life in his last years. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the staff at Foothills Country Hospice. You created peace and comfort for John during his last days through your superb care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foothills Country Hospice Society, 403-995-4673, www.countryhospice.org.

A Celebration of Life was held at South Calgary Funeral Centre, 12700 Macleod Trail South on Friday, April 5, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.

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HIGH FLIGHT

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,

I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew -

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr

A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

A beautiful life that came to an end,

he died as he lived, everyone's friend.

In our hearts, a memory will always be kept,

of one we loved, and will never forget.