Irvine, or Irv as he was known to family and friends, was born September 3rd, 1925, in Semans Saskatchewan, to Edith (nee Wiggins) and Dr. James Paul Irvine (JPI) Clancy.
Irv’s father had died four months before his birth, in May of 1925, and so he was raised by his mother, with much help from Janet McKnight, the family housekeeper, older brothers Drummond, Paul and Donald, his uncle Dr. Gordon Clancy and family, and many of the townsfolk of his beloved hometown.
Irv never tired of telling stories of his childhood, such as when he worked at Wheatley’s Barbering, Bowling and Billiards Emporium, setting pins in the one-lane bowling alley. Or how he developed his marksmanship skills alongside friends such as John McBride, hunting gophers and getting a penny for 2 tails. Irv was proud of his mother, Edith, who became a druggist in 1929, running the Clancy Drug Store in Semans until her retirement in 1969.
Just days before his 18th birthday, Irv joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, following his three brothers into service, to serve ‘King and Country’ during WWII. After the war, Irv spent two years in the Canadian Merchant Marines and later became a member of the Calgary Highlanders, retiring as a Major in 1969. Irv was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion and a lifelong member of the Conservative Party of Canada.
After retiring In 1988 from Massey Ferguson, Irv joined his son Michael in the taxi business, owning and driving cabs into his eighties.
Irv was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Joanne (nee Cariou), known affectionately as Ginger, his daughter Maureen and nephew Adrien. Irv is survived by his children Michael, Colleen (Tamas), Catherine and David and grandchildren Flynn, Erin (Devon), Julian and Gaelen (Shyanne).
Irv will be remembered by his nephew Don, by Sue, Katie, Anna and family, by Susan, Ryan, Daniel and their families, and by many other nephews and nieces and their families.
On August 12th, 2023, at 1:30 in the afternoon, family and friends will gather in the Semans Cemetery to honour the lives of Irv and Ginger.
