For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. {Job 19:25-26}
It is with heavy hearts and much sadness, yet with hope in the Resurrection, that we announce the falling asleep in the Lord of Alan Walter Kelm on Friday September 30, 2022.
Alan was born on May 3, 1964 in Regina, Saskatchewan to Harold and Winnie (nee Milner) Kelm.
Alan was predeceased by his parents Harold (2012) and Winnie (August 6, 2022), and sister in-law Linda (2016). Alan is survived by his wife Angie, children Anne, Katie, and Daniel, sister Karyle (Irwin), brothers in-law Mike (Florence), Danny (Anne), and Alex (Marybeth), and nieces and nephews: Keegan, Gabriel (Caroline), Bobby (Lacey), Kim (Mike), Geoff (Sarah), Paul (Erin), Victoria, Matt, Sophia, and Lucas.
In many ways Alan’s birth was a miracle as his mother had been told by a doctor that he would not be born alive. However, when she was praying at church she received assurance that he would survive, which he did. He grew up in Saskatoon and his sister reflects that he “was a wonderful brother and had a very creative imagination, inventing new words and songs.” His love for words grew as he got older and excelled in languages, such as when he won a scholarship in his German class for a month-long exchange in Germany. Through his life he continued to pursue linguistics as a hobby, learning Greek, Hebrew, Latin, German, Romanian, Polish, French, and Russian (which he learned by listening to Scripture read in Russian over shortwave radio).
In 1986 he moved to Ottawa to get his PhD in Mathematics. Here he met Angie his beloved wife at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Mission and they were married there on August 29, 1992. He taught university classes for awhile and was much loved by his students who marvelled at his passion and enthusiasm for mathematics. Gradually he transitioned to become the full-time electronic service manager for the Canadian Mathematical Society where he worked for almost three decades. In their words, he was “helpful, thoughtful, highly knowledgeable, careful, kind, respectful, incredibly hardworking, thoroughly professional, and many other wonderful things.”
Alan and Angie raised three beautiful children Anne (22), Katie (19) and Daniel (13). He loved each of them in a special way, appreciating and encouraging them in their unique gifts and calling. He cared for them unconditionally and enjoyed spending time with them, although sometimes he would roll his eyes and say they were acting kind of “goofy.” The most significant thing he wanted to share with them was his faith, evident in both his words and actions; he would lead in family worship where he taught them Scripture, hymns, and how to pray, while his trust in God also came through day to day, as his faith shaped his attitudes, actions, and responses to different circumstances, especially over the last year with his various health challenges. Going to church on Sunday was especially important, both in the morning and evening. Once he was home from the hospital this summer, Sunday service was the first place he wanted to go when he felt able to and it was the last outing the family had all together.
From childhood he loved to travel, especially enjoying his family’s road trips across North America. He and Angie had many camping experiences together and road trip adventures shared with the family over the years, sightseeing and finding all the scenic routes to get lost on. His tradition of buying a tub of ice cream for them to share together in the car made up the finishing touch for any vacation.
Alan loved his family deeply; he knew what things were special to each person and would take the time and effort to do them. He was a thoughtful listener and was always ready to talk, pray with, and offer wisdom to those who needed it. He loved being outside and going for a “perambulation with the quadruped” (walk with the dog) and other family members, reading together, singing hymns in the morning, and watching a good movie together.
On October 5, 2021 after a period of becoming increasingly exhausted, he went into hospital where he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (bone cancer) and heart failure. Over the last months he showed incredible courage, faith, and a humble acceptance of the struggles and challenges these changes entailed, continuing to invest in the relationships, projects, and interests that mattered most to him. On August 29, 2022 he and Angie celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, thankful to have reached that milestone together.
On Friday afternoon September 30 he was diagnosed with pneumonia, his heart finally succumbing when the Lord called him home at 7:10 that evening. He passed with family members at his side at the age of 58 years.
Those who knew him were thankful for the time God gave them with him, although he will be deeply missed. However incomplete his life may seem to those left behind, he had told them that he was ready for whenever the Lord would call him home. May his memory be eternal!
A viewing will be held at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Avenue, Ottawa, ON on Wednesday October 5, 2022 from 6:30-8:30 pm. The funeral will take place on Thursday at 11:00 am with visitation starting at 10:00 at St. Porphyrios Orthodox Mission (St. John Anglican Church building), 110 Ferguson Falls Road, Carleton Place, ON with the interment at St. John’s Anglican Cemetery and a light reception there to follow.
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