John Aleman

Mr. John Aleman of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Mrs. Bea Aleman, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at the age of 72 years.

John Aleman was born as the tenth child of Teunis and Cornelia Aleman in Ouddorp, The Netherlands on November 28, 1950.  Following the devastating Flood of ’53, the family immigrated to the Picture Butte area.  John attended Barrhill School, followed by Picture Butte High School.  He then went on to SAIT for a Power Engineering Technician diploma.  After a short stint at Swift’s Meat Packing Plant, he spent 39 years in the oil and gas sector, mostly at the Turin Gas Plant.

John married Bea in 1973, and in August they would have been married for 50 years.  They were blessed with seven children.  Although he worked full-time, he found time to start Busy Bea’s Market Garden.  This allowed the family to work together and learn many transferrable skills while trying to match his work ethic.

John’s retirement from the energy sector lasted only a few months.  He took up part-time work with Canada Post as a mail carrier in Coalhurst and Diamond City, which he valued for the social contact it offered.  He and Bea also enjoyed travelling on shorter and longer trips in their motorhome. 

John had cancer for which he was being treated.  But, at the Lord’s time and in His way, it was a combination of pneumonia and heart problems which took John’s life sooner than we expected.  The family would like to acknowledge the medical and emergency professionals who helped John so much in the past months at the Jack Ady Cancer Centre, especially Dr. Talib and nurse Diane, as well as the Coalhurst Fire Department and Lethbridge EMS who responded so often.  Special thanks also to those who dealt with dad during his last brief hospital stay, from his admission in ER, to his code on 4C, to his passing in ICU. 

John loved and was loved by his 7 children, Trevor & Cindy, Brent & Louise, Eric & Willene, Jorica & Joe, Michael & Cindy, Colleen, and Bruce & Leanna, and his 23 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.  He was predeceased by six siblings and is survived by three siblings.

Condolences will be held from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2023 only for friends, family, and past and present colleagues in the meeting room of the Lethbridge Netherlands Reformed Congregation, located at 48-90022, Rge Rd 211, Lethbridge County.

The Funeral Service is scheduled the Lord willing in the same church on Saturday, March 11 at 10:30 with Rev. A.H. Verhoef officiating. 

The family requests those attending Condolences and the Funeral Service to avoid wearing scents.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Calvin Christian School, Box 26, Coalhurst, AB, T0L 0V0.