Joseph "Joe" Kiely English

Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Jan. 14 to Jan. 15, 2010.

ENGLISH , Joseph Kiely Of Nanton, Alberta Father of seven, Architect, Musician, Artist, Pilot and Movie Star Joe was born in N.W. Calgary in 1923, when it could still be called a small town. He lived most of his life in Calgary and passed away at Nanton, AB, where he had lived since 1975. He is survived by his seven children, Patricia (John), Richard (Ellen), Michael (Terry), Diane (Greg), Janet (Danny), David and Allan (Roger). He will be deeply missed, but remembered forever, by his grandchildren, Rachel, Kiely, Erin, Scott, Eliot, Sonny, Shannon, Alison, Mathew, Mark and great-grandsons Camilo, Hanen and Oliver, great-granddaughters Allie and Opal. He was predeceased by his wife, Claire, in 2004, his sister Mary and his brother Jack. He is remembered fondly by his sisters Anna, Catherine, Ellen, and his brother Bill. Joe attended St. Mary's High School where he studied mathematics under his father's tutelage. Joe's abilities with mathematics helped him to secure a position as a Lancaster pilot in World War II - Squadron 625. His Lancaster was one of the first aircraft to drop "manna" to the starving people of Holland when the war ended. He was later honored by the Dutch people for his contribution to the war effort. Post-war, Joe studied Architecture at the University of Manitoba, graduating in the esteemed class of 1950. While at the university, Joe and Claire had to battle the Red River Flood, babies and classes. Eventually, Joe opened a private practice of Architecture - initially in Edmonton and later in Calgary. His business thrived and his buildings began to appear all over Alberta. His specialty was the hyperbolic paraboloid roof - which had the look of a large potato chip. He traveled often and ultimately purchased an airplane so he could keep an eye on his projects. In later years, Joe took work in the Northwest Territories, which started a love-affair with the art and people of the North. He loved flying into the settlements and mixing with the local people. In the late seventies, Joe and Claire returned to Alberta and started a picture-framing business and art gallery in Nanton that kept them busy for many years. Joe joined the Nanton Lancaster Society where he was able to continue his passion for aviation. Over his twenty-four-year association with the society, he thoroughly enjoyed all its activities, its events and especially all his "bomber buddies". In recent years, a film group out of Manitoba produced a film about Joe's war-time experience, which included using the grandsons and nephews of the crew to make a movie called Bomber Boys. The young and old men all traveled together and had a chance to revisit many of the wartime sites. Joe slipped away this week, but we know that he will be flying high above the clouds and enjoying the ride. "As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death." A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta. To email condolences to the family please visit 

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