Grant Fletcher
1941 - 2025
Grant Kenneth Fletcher, beloved husband of the late Marilyn Fletcher, passed away peacefully in Taber on Friday, July 25, 2025 at the age of 84 years.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Thursday, July 31, 2025 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
The Funeral Service will be held at Knox United Church, 4929 - 50 Avenue, Taber on Friday, August 1, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. Burial to follow at the Taber Memorial Garden.
Those who are unable to attend and wish to view the service online may do so by clicking on the livestream link that will be available on this page at 12:45 P.M. on Friday, August 1, 2025. Barring any technical difficulties, the livestream will begin at 1:00 P.M.
Grant will be lovingly remembered by his three children Janine (Tom) Paterson of Taber and their family Candis Derksen (Darin Linklater), Stacy (Darren) Peleskey (their children Nixon and Aubree) and Daina Paterson (David Guzman); Judy (Andy) Astalos of Sylvan Lake and their family Ryan Astalos (his children Haylen and Farah), Samantha (Chad) Priegnitz (their children Lucas and Ayla) and Megan Astalos (Gavin Mullan) (her children Kacey and Mikaela); David Fletcher (Heather Hamilton) of Red Deer and their family Devin Fletcher (Serenity Wood) (his children Sofia, Eiza and Adalynn), Shawn (Brittany) Fletcher (their children Zander, Jazlin, and Zayla), Dallen (Amal) Baugh (their family Brooklyn and Tala) and Kayla Baugh (Josh Knutson). He is also survived by his sister Arlene Lowe; sisters-in-law Cecile (Roger) Jespersen, Judy Riis and Roberta Robson; dear family members Daniel Derksen, Kathy Rempel, Tabitha Astalos, Blanca Fletcher and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.
Alongside Marilyn, his wife of sixty years, Grant was predeceased by his parents Ken and Wanda Fletcher; his brother Allen Fletcher; nephew Aaron Jespersen; in-laws Chris and Jessy Riis; brothers-in-law Jack Riis, Roger Riis, George Lowe and former daughter-in-law, Wanda Jean Graber.
A true cowboy at heart, Grant wore many hats throughout his life. He was a pilot, rancher, farmer, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. His life was defined by adventure, hard work and deep love for his family.
Born on February 5, 1941 and raised on the family farm southeast of Taber, Grant’s passion for flight took hold early, earning his pilot's license at just sixteen years of age.
While attending Olds College, he met the love of his life Marilyn and the two were married in Devon on October 15, 1960. Together, they started their family and began farming and ranching southeast of Taber. He received his commercial pilots license and switched gears from farming to flying, where he spent many years in the skies across Canada. From flying spray planes and charter flights to flying helicopters fighting fires, wildlife surveillance and transporting patients in Newfoundland, to flying for an oil company in Inuvik, NWT.
After moving back from Newfoundland, Grant and Marilyn returned to their roots and spent many years farming. In 1990, they launched Fletcher Harvesting, leading custom combining crews from Oklahoma to Alberta. Grant took great pride in his work, knowing each harvest was not only a good crop, it was also a contribution to the wellbeing of others.
In his ‘retirement’ years, he returned to the skies as a founding pilot for HALO Air Ambulance, proudly serving until the age of eighty two, making him the oldest licensed commercial helicopter pilot in Canada.
Grant was a determined, skilled and generous man who touched countless lives and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
To honour Grant’s incredible legacy, if friends so desire, memorial tributes in his name may be made directly to HALO Air Ambulance, 12 - 1 Airport Drive SW, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 5G4 www.haloairambulance.com.
Grant’s family are grateful to the health care providers who cared for him with a special thank you to the Palliative Care Team, Taber Home Care and the staff at the Taber Health Centre.