THOROGOOD
July 3 six years ago, Neil realized a dream of his to own a vacation property in Palm Springs and little did we know at the time that 6 years later, July 3, 2015, that the same day would be his passing. Neil David Thorogood passed away peacefully in Edmonton at the Cross Cancer Clinic surrounded by family and friends after a two year battle with cancer.
Neil was predeceased by his grandparents, father in-law, and his sister Rose Susan. He is survived by his wife Leona (nee Park), son Jared, and daughter Chantelle (Dillin Schwenk) and the light of his last two years, twin grandsons, Damien and Gage. Neil is also survived by his parents David and Ethel, brother Ronald (Joanne Hughes), sister Judy (Len Darroch) along with nieces, nephews and their children, numerous cousins, aunts and uncles and all of Leona's family. Neil loved everyone and treated all of us the same, we would be subject to absurd comments, teasing, and his general love of life. There was never a dull moment when Neil was in the house.
Neil was born in Lamont, Alberta, January 28, 1956 and spent the first few years enjoying farm life with his family. At an early age the family left the farm to start a new life in Edmonton, where most of them still remain to this day. After finishing high school, he knew he wanted to be an accountant and started in commerce at the U of A, but fun and an adventuresome spirit got in the way; he and his sister Judy left for Europe experiencing a trip that made a lifetime of memories. After coming home broke, but happy, Neil started back to work and enrolled in the Registered Industrial Accountant (now known as CMA) program. By 1983 he had earned his designation and was in the field of public accounting which he loved.
Neil and Leona were married in Edmonton on November 01, 1980, then abruptly moved from Edmonton to Slave Lake to follow Neil's dream of being in public practice and eventually being a business owner. Though he loved Slave Lake, the dream of having his own practice led him to Stettler in the fall of 1983, where he bought a practice and started Thorogood & Company Public Accountants Ltd. Stettler is where he and his family stayed, working, living and loving, making another lifetime of memories and friends.
Neil was a social creature. Anything to do with sports, people or just plain fun he was game for. So in Stettler he became active in the community joining the Kinsmen Club of Stettler, from which he was given a life membership in 2014. He also loved playing men's recreational hockey, curling and of course golfing. One of the best parts of Neil's life in Stettler was the lake. In 1992 he bought a lakefront cottage and that led to many years of water skiing, swimming, fires and 24 hour parties. To the day he passed, the lake was his happy place, so much so, that it was one of the best gifts when Chantelle and Dillin decided to get married there. It is still a work in progress, and those of you who have had the fortune to visit Neil there, know just how much work he has put into it in the last 2 years. We will finish your dream Neil.
Neil's Final Party was held July 13, 2015, 1 pm at the Stettler Community Hall, followed by interment at the Lakeview Cemetery. But as in life, so in death, Neil's love of travel will see some of him in those places he loved the most, carried by those who love him.
Memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Kin Canada Foundation, Stettler Health Services Foundation or St. George's Anglican Church.
Arrangements and care entrusted to
BRENNEN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES,
Box 193, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0. 403-742-3315