Obituary of Calvin Dirk Leslie
Calvin Dirk Leslie passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre in Red Deer AB on May 6, 2025, at the age of 65 years. Calvin was born in Grand Prairie, AB on November 25th, 1959, as he would tell his granddaughters it was the best day of the year. He was raised in Sexsmith, AB until the age of nine when the family moved to a homestead in Northern Alberta (Bonanza) where he finished his elementary school years.
During these early years he worked some long hours helping the family develop the land from raw bush land to a prosperous farm. He later attended Dawson Creek High School (enduring a two-hour one-way daily bus ride).
At 16, Calvin joined his brother, Allan, working his school summer breaks in Fort Mc Murray. A short time later, he left the farm to work in Fort McMurray on a full-time basis. In 1977, both brothers moved to Red Deer, AB, where he started work as an apprentice bricklayer. During these early years in Red Deer, he joined the Blue Max recreational hockey team where he played for 20+ years, developing many lifelong friendships.
Shortly thereafter he met Jody, his wife of 42 years. Calvin and Jody were married July 2, 1983, then went on to have three children Rhonda, Kimberly and Colin Leslie. They raised their family in Red Deer, AB until 1994 when he accepted an office position in Calgary with Premier Refractories. This would be the beginning of a very successful career. Calvin and his original business partner Tom Southey ended up buying the assets of Premier Refractories an in 1997 and Alliance Refractories Ltd was born (in the early years it was known as two men with a wheelbarrow). Calvin was blessed to have a successful career which allowed him to retire at the young age of 52. Through his retirement he spent his winters in Hawaii with his friends and family. Calvin was allowed the opportunity to spend invaluable time with his granddaughters.
Calvin spent his summers golfing, fishing, hosting camping weekends and enjoying his beautiful property with Jody. One would say the fall was his favorite time of year where he would return to the homestead every fall to walk the same cutlines he did as teenager, moose or elk hunting with his “brothers”. During his final hours, he joked “at least the moose in Northern Alberta will be happy they don’t have to contend with me anymore”
Calvin is survived by his wife Jody; son Colin Leslie; daughter Rhonda (Donnie) Davison; granddaughters Camdyn and Presley Davison; siblings Doreen (Dick) Garron, David Leslie, Elaine Leslie and Allan (Cindy) Leslie; brothers-in-law Bill Vanrootselaar and Kelly Stannard; sister in-law Vickie Schultz as well as many treasured nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
Calvin was predeceased by his daughter Kimberly Leslie; parents Harry and Rose Leslie; Jody's parents Georgina and John Kanda; Donnie Stannard and Elaine Dorchester; siblings Tammy Leslie, and Rosemarie Vanrootselaar and his brothers-in-law Barry Shultz and Don Stephen.
We invite you to join us in celebrating Calvin’s life at CrossRoads Church, (SW corner of 32 St and highway 2), 38105 – Range Road 275, Red Deer County, AB on Friday, June 6, 2025, at 12:00 pm. Please enter by the main south doors. For those unable to attend, the service will also be livestreamed at www.crossroadschurch.ca/livefunerals. In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage memorials donation in Calvin’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Condolences to Calvin’s family may be emailed to meaningful@telus.net . Please indicate “CALVIN LESLIE” in the subject line.
Arrangements in care of
Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service
A locally owned cremation and funeral provider
serving Red Deer and all of Central Alberta
587-876-4944