Blaine Daniel Bender

To Blaine Daniel Bender, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Blaine, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Blaine really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Blaine was born on December 3, 1958 at Calgary General Hospital in Calgary, Alberta. His parents were Calvin Bender and Dolores (Feniak) Bender. Blaine was raised in Calgary, Alberta. Even as a child, Blaine had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Blaine was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Blaine managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Blaine was raised with one brother, one sister and a step brother. Terry , Cheryl and Sean.

All of Blaine's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Blaine experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He played baseball and hockey. In his spare time he liked to yoyo and ride his peddle bike. Blaine's memorable achievements included fastball pitcher and water skiing.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Blaine was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Blaine simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Blaine, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Blaine's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Blaine graduated from Okotoks Jr/Sr High School in 1976. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was social studies. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs. Reid and Mr. Goodin. He graduated and could not wait to get out of school.

Blaine never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Blaine to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Blaine delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Blaine was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Blaine utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Tom Shaw, Terri Ellison, Scott McArthur, Lance Reid. Later in life, he became friends with Dennis Halstead, Roger Snider, Cal Krueger, and many many more. Blaine loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Blaine very easy to approach. On August 21, 1982 Blaine exchanged wedding vows with Lori Dawn Ashmore at St. Andrews United Church on Heritage Drive of Calgary, Alberta. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Blaine related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Blaine was blessed with Two Children, Chad Daniel Bender and Trent Calvin Bender. Blaine had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Blaine's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Blaine had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Blaine was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Blaine liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Blaine was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Blaine's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Blaine as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was Truck Driver for Canada Safeway Ltd. He was employed for 35 years.

Blaine enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Blaine liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were water skiing, fishing and playing cards. Blaine was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Blaine felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Blaine loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Blaine relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Blaine never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Blaine played baseball and hockey. Recreational sports included Water Skiing, Snow Skiing, Baseball. Blaine was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were Calgary Flames Hockey Games.

Naturally outgoing and generous, Blaine was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Blaine was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included many Safe Driving Awards with work.

Living life in the fast lane suited Blaine just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Grand Coulee Dam, Blind Bay in the Shuswaps, Disneyland, Cancun and Jamaica.

Blaine was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Blaine's favorites was He had a miniature chowawa growing up. His family was rounded out by his two cats, Callie and Jersey.

Blaine believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2015, Blaine took it in stride as one more way to have fun. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Blaine remained busy with people and projects. Even in retirement, Blaine continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Blaine passed away on November 28, 2015 at South Health Campus, Calgary, Alberta. Blaine fought a brave battle against ALS also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He is survived by his wife Lori, his children Chad and Trent, his sister Cheryl and mother Dolores. Services were held at Foothills Centennial Centre in Okotoks.

Blaine brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Blaine Daniel Bender lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

Obituary:

It is with deep sadness that the family announces that Blaine lost his battle with ALS at the South Health Campus on November 28, 2015. He passed away peacefully with his family at his side: his wife, Lori; sons, Chad and Trent; and sister, Cheryl. He is survived by his mother Dolores MacPherson. He was predeceased by his father Calvin Bender; his brother Terry Bender, and his stepfather John MacPherson.

Blaine was born on December 3, 1958 and grew up in Calgary, where he spent his teenage years attending school in Okotoks, and then worked for Canada Safeway for 35 years. Blaine was always the joker, living life for the moment. He played hockey and baseball in his younger years but his passion was for being on the lake and water skiing. He loved to be around his friends and family, especially in the summer around his pool. He fought ALS with dignity and humor to his final moments; his spirit and acceptance of the hand he was dealt was inspirational to all who came to say farewell.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, December 4, 2015 at Foothills Centennial Centre, (4 204 Community Way, Okotoks, AB T1S 2N3) at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made in Blaine’s memory directly to the ALS Society of Alberta. Donations can be made online at www.alsab.ca or by mail 250, 4723 - 1 Street SW Calgary, AB T2G 4Y8.

Messages of remembrance may be left for the family at www.southcalgaryfuneralcentre.ca