Kathleen Isabel (Whiteside) Irwin was released from her earthly body into the arms of her Savior and Lord Jesus, December 17, 2019, while in palliative care at the Foothills Country Hospice just outside of Okotoks. She was born in Red Deer, Alberta, April 20, 1927. Kathleen was the only child of R. Baden and Margaret Whiteside of Penhold, Alberta. Until she was 11 years old, Kathleen lived on the farm west of the town with her parents. She and her mother moved into Red Deer when her father joined the Canadian Army as W.W. II began.
Kathleen met her husband of 67 years, Lawrence (Lorne) Irwin of Arrowwood, at the Prophetic Bible Institute in Calgary. The couple farmed in the Arrowwood and Balzac districts while Lorne taught at Berean Bible College in Calgary at that time during the winters. In 1958, they were called into ministry at the Red Deer Bible Institute where Lorne was ordained a Minister. Although farming was something Kathleen and Lorne had experience in having grown up on the farm, ministry for their Lord was their primary focus. Even though they owned farms at different times throughout the years in Arrowwood, Balzac, Sylvan Lake, Indus, Cheadle, Blackie, and Endiang, Alberta, serving as a pastoral team gave them their greatest joy and pleasure while Kathleen found work outside the home to help support
the family as the children grew older.
In the years that followed, Lorne and Kathleen served congregations in both the Gospel Missionary Association and the Baptist Union. In addition to supporting her husband’s church work and her family, Kathleen was an accomplished business woman who held leadership and managerial roles with the Canadian Cancer Society, senior care institutions in Calgary, and the Metropolitan Calgary Foundation. As well, Kathleen’s connections to the Foothills region are many. Lorne and Kathleen first moved to High River to pastor the High River Baptist Church in 1968. Years later, in semi-retirement while farming in the Blackie area, they helped start the Blackie Community Bible Church in the early ‘90s. They eventually moved back to High River in the early 2000s before moving into Calgary for the remainder of their lives.
Kathleen is survived by her children: Lynda and Chuck Hess (formerly of Nanton and Dewinton), Ron and Esther (nee Sapinsky) Irwin, Janet and Bob Jackson (Blackie), Phil and Jacquie Irwin (educators in Foothills School Division), Rebecca and Grant McClure (Victoria); Kathleen’s grandchildren: Kelly and Todd Reidlinger (Okotoks), Dan and Amy Hess, Krystal Hess, Shannon Irwin, Lawrence and Karey Irwin, Heidi and Stan Siewert (Aldersyde), Staci and Scott McPherson (Longview), Jonathan and Dori Emsheimer (High River), Mike and Rachelle Jackson (Blackie), Jodi and Shayne Perrin, Lyndsi Irwin (Okotoks), Levi Irwin, Jessica Irwin (High River), Luke and Jamie Irwin, and Aiden McClure; Kathleen’s great-grandchildren: Brielle and Mikaela Reidlinger, Aleah and Isla Hess, Lela, Ben and Emmie Irwin, Katelyn (Siewert) and Ben Burrell, Kaleb and Jake Siewert, Roy and Claire McPherson, Abigail, Judah and Miriam Emsheimer, Ethan, Emmett, and Chrissa Jackson, Ben and Jayda Perrin, Haven and Tatum Bothwell, and Sybil Irwin; and Kathleen’s great-great-grandchildren: Adah and Selah Burrell. Kathleen is also survived by many extended family -- cousins, nieces, and nephews. Kathleen was predeceased by her loving husband of 67 years, Lorne, her parents, and grandson Stephen Hess, and granddaughter Bobbi Joelle (Jackson) Emsheimer.
Indeed, what a glorious day it was on December 17th when Kathleen passed from this life to the next. Her funeral was held at Mountain View Funeral Home on Saturday, January 11th, 2020. The family wishes to thank the Foothills Country Hospice for the care and comfort they provided Kathleen during the final days of her life. In lieu of gifts
or flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Foothills Country Hospice.
