Obituary of Lorne Kenzie Hennel

October 3, 1945 – Stettler, Alberta

April 22, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Lorne Kenzie Hennel, on Monday, April 22, 2024, in Calgary, AB, at the age of 78 years.

Lorne is survived by his devoted wife of eleven years, Anne Marie Hennel, with whom he had created a beautiful life, daughter Leah (Scott), daughter-in-law Wendy, stepdaughters, Sara and Beatrice (Tolson); grandchildren, Hunter, Zoey, Maisie, and Emma; siblings, Rodney, Gail, Bev, and Kevin; nephews, Daryl, Colin, Keith, Jeff, and Tommy; nieces, Rachelle, Rhonda, Brandie, Traci, and Caroline; and lots of loving great-nephews and great-nieces.

Lorne was predeceased by his spouse of 35 years, Rose (nee Fleming) Hennel, son Kirk, brother Daryl, and parents, Ludwig and Dulcie (nee Peterson) Hennel.

Born in Stettler, AB, on October 3, 1945, and growing up on the family farm, Lorne got his educational start in Wall Lake School, a one-room schoolhouse, before attending Waverly Junior High, where he was an honours student. He possessed a broad range of interests. Not only did he learn to tap dance, and play basketball, he enjoyed riding his ponies, Sparkle, and Tawny, around the area, chumming around with cousins. A country boy at heart, he was also a member of the Stettler Dairy Club and the Cubs.

After graduating from William E. Hay High School in 1964, he moved to Calgary, AB, where he enrolled in petroleum technology at SAIT and met a young lady named Rose. They married on September 14, 1968, and Lorne thrived in the energy industry in Calgary, AB, working for Pacific Petroleum, Hudson Bay Oil and Gas, and Precambrian Shield Resources Ltd., as a production superintendent.

Always proud of the kids, he and Rose raised Kirk, first with his hockey and football, then with his accountancy career; Leah, first with her figure skating, then with her photography success. Lorne quietly but faithfully took great pleasure in all their triumphs. The accomplishments of Hunter and Zoey also thrilled him.

Few things meant more to him than his family and his prized cabin, which, after hand-clearing brush from the lake-side lot in 1970, Lorne and Rose built from scratch at Buffalo Lake, AB. It remained his pride and joy for the rest of his life.

For Lorne, nothing was better than the combination of his two favourite things, his loved ones and lake life. A few drinks around the fire on a warm summer night, with lots of laughing and more than a little teasing, it was perfection and it happened hundreds of times.

His Estonian heritage meant a lot. In May 2000, Lorne, Rose, and Leah travelled to the homeland for a holiday. For nearly twenty years, he was actively involved in the Alberta Estonian Heritage Society, including helping to organize last summer's Jaanipäev in Stettler.

Retiring at 53, Lorne got to devote more time to curling and spent plenty of time at Buffalo Lake, AB; entire summers if he could. But it wasn't always easy. Twice he was forced to deal with tragedies; Rose's passing on January 20, 2004; Kirk's passing on April 27, 2017.

But Lorne always managed to find sunshine in his life.

On October 12, 2012, after falling in love with Anne Marie, they married, bringing into the family two more wonderful daughters, Sara, and Beatrice. Lorne and Anne Marie enjoyed some amazing vacations, flying to Disney World and Las Vegas, USA, Cuba, and Mexico. But the cabin always remained his go-to place in the whole wide world, and he was looking forward to introducing his youngest grandkids, Maisie, and Emma, to summers at White Sands.

“Hüvasti, kuni me uuesti kohtume.”

Lorne's family would like to thank the Foothills Medical Centre, CICU Unit, for its help during this difficult time, in particular his nurse, Jacky.

A Celebration of Lorne’s Life will be held at the Fraternal Order of Eagles (9303 5th Street, S.E, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids (909 11 Ave SW #110, Calgary, AB T2R 1L8) Website: https://bb4ck.org/donate-now, Telephone: (403) 264-7979.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Lorne Hennel’s family here.

In living memory of Lorne Kenzie Hennel, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Airdrie, 300 Towerlane Drive, Airdrie, AB T4B 3L8, Telephone: 403-948-1100.