Michael Jon Holub

Michael Jon Holub, an amazing man and loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle and Son passed away unexpectedly on August 27, 2024, at the Foothills Medical Center at the age of 91. (April 3, 1933-August 27, 2024).

In 1962, after moving to Calgary, he met and married the love of his life, Doreen Rudd, a secretary at IBM and together they raised 3 children, David (Calgary), Wendy (Peter) (Calgary) and Patti (Hermann) (Cochrane). He was the very proud Grandfather of Breanne (Dalton), Britton, Brandon and Keaton, Matheson and Parker and step Grandfather to Lauren. To all he loved to recount stories of his younger days, the value of hard work and the lessons of years gone by.

He was predeceased by his parents, Michal and Mária Holub and his sister, Mary, all of Medicine Hat. In addition to his immediate family, Mike is survived by his brother John (Betsy) (Edmonton) and many extended family members.

Mike was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta to Michal and Mária Holub who came to Canada from Czechoslovakia to start a new life. When Mike finished High School, he moved to Calgary and found work in the oil patch and started his lifelong career with Sun Oil in 1951. He started in the field travelling across the prairies, up north to Fort McMurry and the high Arctic, and wherever the company needed him. With his strong work ethic and charisma, Mike moved up in Sun Oil (Suncor) and after 35 years, retired as a senior executive in the Calgary Corporate office. Not quite ready to completely leave the workforce, he then joined the architectural firm of Culham, Pedersen & Valentine part time in client development. He cherished the opportunity to continue to engage in the corporate world, keep himself busy and remain close to his professional connections, all while he eased himself into full retirement.

Apart from his career, Mike had many passions including betting on the horses when racing was held at the Calgary Stampede grounds, golf, travel, working out with his friends at the Crowfoot YMCA and keeping the house in perfect condition! But his focus was always his family and he continually showed his pride with every success they achieved. Mike and Doreen had a very traditional marriage where Mike worked diligently so Doreen could stay at home and raise the family. Mike’s drive to succeed through hard work, both at Sun and at home, gave his family a comfortable and secure foundation, which became the model for his children and the bedrock upon which they could rely on to guide them through life’s many challenges and triumphs.

Mike and Doreen loved to travel and in their younger years took joy in loading up the station wagon and travel trailer and taking the family on weeks long journeys both across Canada and the USA, with California being a favourite. As the family grew up, Mike sold the trailer and bought a condo in Canmore where Mike and Doreen spent every weekend in the mountains golfing and dining at the Canmore Golf and Country Club. It was their get-a-way from the city and served as a future nest for the start of retirement. During his semi-retirement, Mike became quite a profound golfer even scoring 2 holes-in-1 of which he was very proud! When Mike retired, he and Doreen transformed into snowbirds as they spent February through April in California golfing and enjoying the milder weather. In their later years, they enjoyed cruises and traveled the East Coast, Hawaii, Alaska and Europe.

Throughout his life, Mike had numerous serious health challenges which he continued to overcome. His incredible strength, determination and positive - never give up attitude - was admired by many who knew him. However, his most difficult challenge had been caring for Doreen as she progresses through the devastating stages of Alzheimer’s. As Mike and Doreen aged, we were blessed to have found the most amazing caregivers to work with them in their home. Thank you to our angels Len, Winona, Gemma, Judith, Julie and Faye for their faithful and loving dedication to Mike and Doreen. Up to his last day, at 91, he was still anxious to get home to take care of “Doreenie”.

We thank the exceptional medical staff at the Foothills Medical Center for their dedication to Mike as they assisted him through numerous health challenges over the past 2 years.

Join us as we honour Mike’s life and journey. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at a visitation held at Foster’s Garden Chapel 3220 - 4 St N.W., Calgary on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke's Catholic Church, 1566 Northmount Dr. N.W. Calgary on Wednesday September 11, 2024 at 10:45 a.m. with reception to follow. Interment will follow the reception at Queen’s Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Mike’s name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or the Alzheimer’s Society of Calgary.