DANIELS
Ian Robert
September 12, 1947 - April 7, 2024
Ian Daniels shared his last wink and smile with us on April 7, 2024. Born on September 12, 1947, in Lacombe, Ian grew up in Drumheller and although he moved to different places through his life, Drumheller was always home. A relentless tease and prankster with a great sense of humour, he gave his late parents, Alvie and Iris Daniels (Bates) a run for their money.
He is loved by his two children, Michelle (Brendon) and Ken (Kisha); six grandchildren, Madison (Adrian), Mackenna (Kaeden), Justice (Beau), Jamaica (Ross), Callum (Brian), and Emmanuel (Kora); six great-grandchildren, Aurora, Rose, Zachary, Violet, Kayne, Nimîyîkôwin, and a new little one arriving this month; three siblings, Karen (Peter), Barry (Annette) and Shannon (Michael); eight nieces and nephews, Ernest (Dora), Todd, Claire (Bob), Rick (Kim), Nicki (Derek), Victor (Crystal), Shannon, and Caitlin (Ryan); as well as many great-nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends.
Ian took the sport of having (and poking) fun quite seriously and spent much of his youth ‘up to no good’ (his words). Getting into mischief with his brother Barry was a regular occurrence and Ian loved to tease, joke around, and play pranks on his family and almost everyone he knew. Ian was comfortable with who he was, practical and enjoyed life. He was also a peace maker and protector and was known to stand up for the underdog. He was warm and kind, friendly and generous and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
While Ian spent much of his life in the hospitality industry, he was never afraid to experience new things. He had an entrepreneurial spirit and owned a couple of restaurants, a pool hall, an eavestroughing company and a delivery service. He also cooked and ran kitchens and even found himself up on Elsmere Island working with a survey crew in the early ’70s. Wherever his career took him, one of the things he loved to do most was to play (and often win at!) pool. You could always find him playing friendly games or competing in tournaments at the local pool hall in the city or town he lived in. He won many tournaments through the years and was the Southern Alberta Snooker Champion back in the day. He was a talented cue master who played to win, but he was always happy to share his knowledge with other players.
Whether sharing a joke, playing a prank, or displaying his prowess on the pool table, Ian lit up the room with his quick wit and contagious laughter. As we bid farewell to our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, we treasure our memories of his laughter, his kindness and the countless moments of joy he shared with all of us. Rest easy, Ian. You are dearly loved and deeply missed.
Join us for a game of pool in celebration of Ian’s life on Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at The Hidden Spot in Calgary (#125 - 2323 32 Ave NE). In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Canadian Cancer Society.
