McElwee, Albert

Published on 21/06/2011

On Tuesday, June 14, 2011, Albert surrounded by the love of his family at St. Paul's Hospital, peacefully passed away at the age of 69 years.Albert McElwee was born August 30, 1941 in Glasgow, Scotland, the eldest of six sons of shipyard worker John McElwee and Isabella Rochead. His brothers are Alexander (Alex, d. 1988), John (Jacky), George, Andrew (Andy), and James (Jim, d. 1998).Albert grew up on Kirkwood Avenue in the district of Clydebank. He received his secondary education at Miller Street High School, and apprenticed as a caulker and burner at the John Brown & Company Shipyard where he worked for six years.Correctly predicting the coming demise of the River Clyde shipbuilding industry, Albert decided to emigrate from Scotland. On March 29, 1963, he boarded a plane for Canada, landing in Winnipeg. There, within a week, he was offered placement in the Northern Stores division of the Hudson's Bay Company.He was soon on a train to Prince Albert, followed by a bus passage north to La Ronge, finally arriving at the Stanley Mission outpost aboard a Cessna 180 ski plane, which landed on the ice of the Churchill River. He served as an HBC clerk for his first year in Canada. It was at this time and place that he met fellow Scotsman George Fleming, forging with him a lifelong friendship.In the spring of 1964, he moved south to Saskatoon, getting work at Saskatoon Boiler. That fall, he met a 21-year old X-ray technician from Prairie River, Saskatchewan. One year later, on September 4, 1965, Albert McElwee and Gladys Foga were wed. The couple moved into their first home, 2610 14th Street East, in time for Christmas.By this time, Albert was working on construction of the Idylwyld Bridge. When that was completed, he went on to Guardian Steel and Fabco Machine, where during coffee and meal breaks, he began to acquire the skill of welding. In 1968, he started his long career in structural steel fabrication, taking a position at Great West Steel Ltd. Here he rose through the ranks to Superintendant until leaving the company to start his own in 1976.Albert and Gladys owned and operated Linnvale Steel until 1989. During these years, they became the proud parents of Brent (b.1972) and Andrew (b. 1978).In 1993, Albert began studies toward certification by the Canadian Welding Bureau and NACE as a welding and coatings inspector, and started Weldcoat Inspection Services. This led him to work on the expansion of the potash mines PCS Rocanville, Allan, Lanigan and Cory. He retired in July of 2010.He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church where he served as an altar boy leader. Along with Gladys, Albert touched the lives of many young couples through the marriage preparation program, "Evenings for the Engaged". Albert and Gladys cherish the friendships made through the World Wide Marriage Encounter family. He was a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood, the Masons, Kiwanis and a leader in the Beaver Scouts.Alby is remembered as a devoted husband, father, and faithful friend. His gentle personality, generous spirit and humour endeared him to all. He enjoyed good food and drink in the company of friends and family. He loved fishing and golfing.Left to mourn Albert are his loving wife, Gladys; son Brent, his wife Lauralee and children Alec McElwee, Steve (Lyndsay) and their children Oakley and Lane Evett, Bret Ross, Paige Ross and Jaime Ross; son Andy, his wife Melissa and daughters Payton and Pacey; adopted family members, Sarajuddin Shahabz and Fatama Askarzada and their daughter Farah; as well as many relatives in the McElwee and Foga clans and countless friends near and far.Charitable donations in Albert's honour may be made to St. Paul's Hospital Palliative Care (1702 20th Street West, Saskatoon, SK, S7M 0Z9) or directed to the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation (128 Kilbarry Road Toronto ON M5P 1L4) http://www.cmfonline.org/.Prayers for Albert were held on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. Both services were from Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church (10th Street East and Munroe Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). Interment followed in Woodlawn Catholic Cemetery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.To send online condolences to the family, visit www.parkfuneral.ca. Arrangements entrusted to Greg Lalach, PARK FUNERAL CHAPEL, 306.244.2103.

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