It is with sadness that we announce that John Kubik, beloved husband of Jean Kubik, father of Stephanie (Dan Toews), Lisa, Johnna (Doug McCallum) and John, grandfather of Alexa and Jakob Toews passed away with family by his side on February 3, 2025, at the Chinook Regional Hospital.

John was born in the Galt Hospital to Martin and Marie Kubik on October 24, 1937. He was a first generation Canadian, his parents having immigrated to Canada from Czechoslovakia in 1927. He started his life on the Kubik family farm in Iron Springs, Alberta. In 1945, his father and his uncle Jerry purchased a large swath of the Cameron Ranch southeast of Turin, Alberta. After his father’s untimely passing in 1949 John left high school, and at the age of 15, began his life of farming. As a young man he enjoyed playing baseball, hockey, curling and fishing. He married Jean McLeod on his birthday in 1964 and they raised their family on the extended family farming operation, Little Bow Farms, along with his brother, Martin and family and his mother, Marie.

John loved working the land, tinkering with and modifying farm equipment and tending his Limousin cattle. He prided himself on his arrow straight crop rows, weed free fields and strong yields of wheat, barley and canola. He had a strong work ethic, believed in the importance of good land stewardship and was always interested in ways to improve farming.

In 1996, John and Jean retired to an acreage south of Lethbridge where John raised cattle and llamas, kept a hay crop and tended a large garden. He even made time for some golf, which he continued to play until his last year. After downsizing to Lethbridge in 2012, he took up rock polishing and jewelry making, joined a senior’s bowling league and continued to grow a large garden, donating his excess produce to the local food banks and soup kitchen. He loved to read, enjoyed cooking and canning, as well as various arts, crafts and creative pursuits.

John valued and loved his family. Whether he was coaching hockey, supporting our career pursuits, lending a helping hand with projects or providing companionship to his siblings and aging relatives, John taught us to work hard, strive for perfection and take care of one another. John had many friends including his buddies at the McDonald’s coffee klatch, his faithful dog Scooter and their dog walking group and his neighbours in the community of Six Mile Ridge. He was quiet, but gregarious and always looked forward to meeting old and new friends and sharing stories.

John is also survived by his sister, Vlasta Upton, his brother-in-law, John Marko, many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Martin and Marie Kubik, Jean’s parents, Gordon and Marjorie McLeod, sister Peggy Marko, brother Martin Kubik, sister-in-law Lillian Kubik and brothers-in-law Alex McLeod and Paul Upton.

John’s family will celebrate his life privately but encourage you to remember him by donating to the Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Food Bank Society or Lethbridge Soup Kitchen. A special thank you to Dr. Spence, Dr. Low and the nurses and respiratory therapists in the ICU at Chinook Regional Hospital who compassionately cared for John in his last week.

Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapel.

The Pebble in my Shoe

By Henry John Dietrich

I walked the path

Each day and night,

Explored its route

Both left and right.

I felt the earth

My soles did touch,

Its pebbles sharp

They troubled much.

The forest dark,

Its grasses tall,

All so large

And me so small.

Yet in the wind

That fuels the air,

A part of me

Blows everywhere.

From low and high,

Over land and sea,

My spirit soars

As I feel free.

To those who love me,

To all who care,

Have joy for me,

Do not despair,

Until the day

When we unite,

Walk your own path,

May it be bright.

Embrace the love

Of all who be.

I’ll think of you,

As you – me.