Grant Gilbertson

Grant Gilbertson passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at the age of 72 years. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 51 years, Janis Gilbertson; and his children, Onalea (David), Leif (Julia), Arianna (John), and Lucas (Carol-Anne); and his grandchild, Salix Austin Bailey. Grant also leaves behind his sister, Beverley Gilbertson; and his brother, Tex Gilbertson (Mary-Jayne); as well as many nieces and nephews; cousins; long-time friends; colleagues; and past appreciative students too numerous to count. He was predeceased by his parents, Blanche Leadlay Gilbertson & Woody (Wilfred) Gilbertson; his sister, Sylvia (& Don) Stevenson; and his brother, Keith (& Jeanette) Gilbertson.

Grant was born on a cold winter day just after Christmas to Blanche and Woody in Calgary, Alberta - the baby of a family of 5. He loved to tell the story that his initials were GAG - his mother always said about his birth being later in her life that the joke was on her! If you look at the bottom right of any of his paintings, you will see that GAG became his proud artist signature. Grant really did love a good joke, frequently laughing til tears ran down his face!

He grew up in Hillhurst and Brentwood neighbourhoods in Calgary, attending Queen Elizabeth & Brentwood Elementary Schools, Senator Patrick Burns Junior High and William Aberhart High School.

As a boy, brother Tex assigned his nickname as Punky - a name that has stuck through all the years! Once he gave his mother a heart attack by jumping off of the roof of their small Hillhurst home with a fake parachute, (at Tex’s instigation), the same day he had gotten home following a hernia operation!

As a teenager Grant was focused on athletics, enjoying Volleyball in junior and senior high school, as well as being on the University of Calgary team. He was also a successful sprinter and long-jumper in Track and Field, winning numbers of medals for his efforts.

He says he first fell in love with Janis Pocock in a beautiful sunlit stairwell, where time stood still in grade 9 at age 15. Janis says she fell in love with him in Grade 8 but he was a little slow on the uptake. Their love story truly began half-way through grade 12 when they began writing letters while Janis lived in Saskatoon the last year of High School. She supported him during the tragic death of his own father who passed away from brain cancer right before Grant was to take his grade 12 departmental exams.

Grant and Janis married in 1973. She was the love of his life. The example of their love and devotion to one another as well as their strong friendship was a beacon to all who knew them. They truly were an incredible team.

Grant received his physical education degree from the University of Calgary. Graduating in 1974, he persevered through thyroid cancer surgery and radiation treatment, to write the final exams for his degree. He received his teaching certificate the following year.

Grant taught for 40 years, all but his first year with the Calgary Board of Education, and continued to substitute teach for several years following retirement. He was a Special Education teacher and was sought after for his knowledge and expertise in that field. Grant worked tirelessly to include people who felt like they did not fit in.

Grant also coached volleyball and track & field – K.D. Lang was on the opposing girls’ volleyball team when he coached during his first year in Altario, AB. He says when K.D. wasn’t playing due to injury, his team won, but when she was back playing, his team lost!

Grant was a beloved teacher. Throughout his career, students would phone him at home or show up at the house to thank him for the deep impact he had on their lives. He created anti-bully campaigns and supported many students to find work placement programs. Grant made it possible for many diverse learners and students with disabilities to see Kananaskis, Moraine Lake, or Drumheller and the Tyrell Museum for the first time, giving them precious memories for the rest of their lives.

Grant and Jan loved to watch CFL football and were devoted Stampeders fans. However, Grant's favourite moment in sports was when a student of his scored a goal in floor hockey after Grant had worked with him for 4 months. With Grant's encouragement and assistance, the student fulfilled both his and Grant’s dream by scoring a goal. When it happened, it was as if both had won the Stanley Cup!

Grant’s philosophy was that "Caring Makes A Difference." His caring has made a difference in the lives of everyone he came in contact with.

Grant's faith was very important to him, saying that Jesus found him in 1980. He made lifelong friendships in his faith community, becoming a Stephen Ministry Leader along with Janis in the 1990’s, and providing mentorship and leadership through many Bible studies and Connect groups. One of his favourite experiences was a ministry trip to Zimbabwe in 2015, loving the people and seeing Victoria Falls. One of his favorite Bible verses was Philippians 4:13 “…for I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

Although he always drew and doodled and at a young age even had aspirations to be a cartoonist, Grant began painting in earnest in his 40’s. He really loved his art studio and found great joy in painting in watercolour and acrylic. A number of friends have treasured gifts of his meticulous, beautiful calligraphy on their walls. Most recently he was working on a series of sepia paintings, a series of jazz musicians, as well as painting a series of icons. Grant also enjoyed working with wood, creating many beautiful tables, shelves, clocks and wooden toys over the years.

Grant's gifts of himself were plentiful. Acts of service for others was a huge love language for him, as well as quality time - especially with his family. He did absolutely everything and anything for his family and friends. Moving pianos or to a new home, no problem - call Grant. Need a hand making a deck or digging a car out of a snow drift? No problem, call Grant! All of his children and their partners spent a great deal of time with him on woodworking projects, all finding it incredibly special.

Grant loved nature. He enjoyed camping and fishing very much all throughout his life and some of his family’s best memories are from camping trips in their tent-trailer. He had a wonderful boat that the family cherished time together in that he named Bobbin. Many unforgettable family and friend memories were created as they took Bobbin to Waskesiu Lake in Prince Albert National Park, Pine and Sylvan Lakes in Alberta, as well as rafting down the Bow River in Calgary.

Grant endured a stroke in 2019 that almost claimed his life, but he fought extremely, extremely hard to recover. After over 4 months in the hospital, he came back home, and his family had 5 more beautiful hard- won years with their dear Papa. After his stroke, even though he had some challenges, he rode his recumbent e-trike every day in good weather and clocked over 7000 km in 4 years ... he LOVED riding that bike! It made him “feel normal.”

When Grant passed away, his grandchild Salix encouraged the family to think of words that described Papa. His love Janis also posted about the ‘Grant Gilbertson word-project’ on social media and several friends of Grant’s weighed in. It is impossible to capture all that Grant was over his 72 years but these are some words that described him: Patient, generous, kind, loving, kind, non-stop giver, kind, playful, servant, twinkly, wise, scallywaggy, gentle, stellar, tall, really tall! Fighter, generous, protective, loyal, courageous, fun. Kind…

One of the most consistent words that came up when anyone described Grant was kind.

He exuded this quality from every fiber of his being. We know Grant was not quite a saint, but he was certainly the closest person to a saint that most of us know of. Sure he fell off his bike a lot and didn't tell Janis…and he often had an ultra mischievous twinkle in his eye… he got really (like REALLY) peeved at Ralph Klein in the 90s and he could give a good existential rant over the rising price of gas. His way of existing in this world just brought so much comfort, so much kindness, compassion and love to so many.

He was a man of honour, service, silliness and fun. He was an excellent listener, listening more than speaking. He went out of his way to help EVERYONE. He created safety for his family in a changing world as best he could by always and unfailingly being there for them. We always knew we could depend on him.

Grant: A man of artistry - a caring, optimistic, loving and treasured soul.

The name Grant means Great, Big. His middle name Austin also means Great, Magnificent, Majestic – He was all of that and more. Grant will be deeply and immeasurably missed.

You can view his paintings @mrgeegee (more will continue to be added) and in lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Grant Gilbertson Memorial Fund, www.grantgilbertson.com.

“Just keep painting … it makes the world a better place …” ~ Grant G.