John Glyde Stelfox

On Jan 30th, in his 93rd year, John Stelfox passed away in his room at Heritage Square in Vernon. John Glyde Stelfox was born to Janet and Henry Stelfox on March 9th, 1929 into a large family (6 sisters, 3 brothers) at Rocky Mountain House. Despite his early unease with schooling, John would go onto to earn a Diploma in Agriculture (Olds School of Agriculture (1948), undergraduate degree (University of Alberta, 1952), Master’s (Utah State, Logan, 1962) and a Ph.D (University of Montana, Missoula, 1975). His academic interests focused on big game species and their habitat dynamics.

It was during his time at the University of Alberta that he met Betty Burchinshaw, who was working at the University of Alberta Hospital as a Registered Nurse. They married in 1956, settled into the Meadowlark community of west Edmonton, and started a family that would eventually grow to 7, including 3 daughters (Elinor, Jennifer, Joyce) and two sons (Brad, Don). The family would eventually (1974) move west of Edmonton to a large acreage near Roi Lakes northwest of Stony Plain, where opportunities for vegetable gardens, horses, skiing, skating, canoeing, and fishing were endless.

John is survived by his wife Betty, daughters Elinor Ohm (Peter Ohm), Jen Stelfox (Geoff Reid), Joyce Huchulak (Mark Huchulak), and sons Brad Stelfox (Sarah Graves) and Don Stelfox (Jeom Suk Lee). He was immensely proud of his 12 grandchildren (Matt, Jessica, Jacqueline, Will, Kate, Nathan, Colin, Greg, Jacob, Sarah, Samantha, Courtney) and 6 great grandchildren (Marlise, Jack, Easton, Isabelle, Elli, Brody). He is also survived by his younger sister Helen Zander. The compassion, care and hospitality given to John Stelfox at Canterbury Court and Heritage Square in Vernon is so deeply appreciated by all of the Stelfox clan.

A Celebration of John’s Life will be held on April 8th 2022 at 1PM  at Pleasant Valley Funeral Home 4303 Pleasant Valley Rd Vernon BC  205-542-4333.