In Memory
Harold Alan Simon
With great sadness, the Simon family wants to announce the passing of Harold Alan Simon on Wednesday, December 24th, 2025 at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, surrounded by his loved ones. Alan, as he was affectionately known, was a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Alan Simon was born in Stettler, Alberta on June 1st, 1949. Partly, he was raised on a farm, then also worked at his father’s service station in town. Saving up as much as possible, Alan went up north to pursue his dream to become a pilot. Starting in Big Trout Lake where he met his first wife, Rosemary Simon, the jobs and planes were of a large variety. Some of the many planes he flew up north were the Beach 18 on floats and the Twin Otter. Afterwards, Alan joined the airlines; there flying the Herc, the 727, and finding his favourite plane, the 737. Alan flew the 737 for almost the rest of his career flying for companies, PWA, Canadian Airlines and finally Air Canada. Alan finished his career as a Captain on the Air Bus 320.
Alan was never scared to take on new opportunities. Alan told his mom decades ago how lucky he was because he accomplished both of his career dreams, the second of which was owning and running a farm. Alan’s family moved to the farm just north of Didsbury almost forty years ago where he raised his family and his loving wife, June, still lives. Not only was June considered Al’s wife, he called her his life-partner: working and enjoying their family and friends together. The principles and virtues Alan learned as a child such as honesty, integrity, patience, kindness, hard work, and responsibility, he believed could be best taught through working together. It was difficult for any of his children to complain if Alan was right there along side them, taking on every job. (Much to Al’s chagrin, his children complained regardless and continue to complain until this day!) A miracle that comes from the farm is the fact that Alan didn’t go bankrupt despite the fact that his children crashed all of his farm equipment and every vehicle that existed. The ongoing role model he was, Alan didn’t complain about their poor driving and attention, he only shook his head in disbelief. Alan and June also operated a high-quality meat sales business harvested from their own cattle. Alan loved a great steak and wanted others to as well. Once retired, Alan and June enjoyed having their grandchildren out to the farm as well as going to their various activities such as hockey games, football games, drama productions and more. His journey on this earth was marked by love, passion, holding fast to his principles, and an un-wavering faith in God.
Alan was predeceased by his parents, Mabel and Harold Simon; and brother in-law, Terry Rushton. His passing has left a void in the hearts of his family and friends still here. He will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed by his wife, June; by his children and their spouses, Mark and Nicole, Scott, Rick and Elaine, Kory, Kathryn and Lance, James and Daelyn, and Jason. They will also be dearly missed by their grandchildren, Kieren, Trinity, Chris, Ian, Joshua, Jacob, Emma, Hunter, Jesse and Brody. Alan will be deeply missed by his siblings and spouses, Marilyn and Don, Joan, Dale and Debbie, Donna and Bob, and Carol and Bill, with all of their families. Alan will also be truly missed by his best friends, Louis and Shirley Shultz.
A Funeral Service will be held at Zion Evangelical Missionary Church in Didsbury, Alberta, AB-582, AB on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026 at 1:00 PM.
Share a message or memory
Kelly MacDonald- Calgary Health Foundation
If any immediate family members would like an update on the donations made in his honour, or if there’s anything we can do to support you, please feel welcome to reach out to me directly at
Kelly.Macdonald@calgaryhealthfoundation.ca or (403)560-0423
With sincere sympathy,
Kelly,
Calgary Health Foundation
Sherry Lehman (Bancroft)
Connie Jewell
Georg Morgan
Brian Holdaway
Gerry and Maureen Demers
So very sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. We have so many fond memories of the late evenings spent at your home in Bear Hills near Wetaskiwin so many years ago…. Singsongs aplenty, several cocktails, and so very many laughs. Gerry admired Alan a lot and got such a kick out of helping him around the property.
I know you will miss him a lot. Our hearts are broken for you… please know we are thinking of all of you as you navigate this very sad time.
Diane Casurella
Mark Dinan
From my days as a young First Officer I was fortunate to share the cockpit with Captain Simon on many occasions.
He was the consummate Airline Captain and more than that a great Son, Husband, Father and Grandfather.
I know that Al influenced my career as a pilot and he has left void in the lives of all that were fortunate to have know him.
GodSpeed Captain Simon,
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I hope there's a place, way up in the sky,
Where pilots can go, when they have to die-
A place where a guy can go and buy a cold beer
For a friend and comrade, whose memory is dear;
A place where no doctor or lawyer can tread,
Nor management type would ere be caught dead;
Just a quaint little place, kinda dark and full of smoke,
Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke;
The kind of place where a lady could go
And feel safe and protected, by the men she would know.
There must be a place where old pilots go,
When their paining is finished, and their airspeed gets low,
Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young,
And the songs about flying and dying are sung,
Where you'd see all the fellows who'd flown west before.
And they'd call out your name, as you came through the door;
Who would buy you a drink if your thirst should be bad,
And relate to the others, "He was quite a good lad!"
And then through the mist, you'd spot an old guy
You had not seen for years, though he taught you how to fly.
He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear,
And say, "Welcome, my son, I'm pleased that you're here."
For this is the place where true flyers come,
When the journey is over, and the war has been won
They've come here to at last to be safe and alone
From the government clerk and the management clone,
Politicians and lawyers, the Feds and the noise
Where the hours are happy, and these good ol'boys
Can relax with a cool one, and a well-deserved rest;
This is Heaven, my son -- you've passed your last test!"
Author: Capt. Michael J. Larkin - Retired TWA