John “Jack” Corbett Anderson, born in Edmonton, Alta., on October 28, 1927, passed away peacefully at 97, with family by his side, on April 19, 2025, at Foothills Hospital in Calgary following complications from a fall and hip surgery.
Anderson was known for his uncanny ability to identify business opportunities, creating companies and building value across many industries including concrete, construction equipment rentals and sales, oil and gas exploration, propane services, computers, aviation, auto parts supply and cattle ranching.
He was also known and appreciated for his largess with charitable giving. Anderson’s love of cattle ranching ultimately resulted in the donation by him and his daughter, Wynne, of their 19,000-acre Angus-cross cow-calf operation to the faculty of veterinary medicine to create W.A. Ranches at the University of Calgary to support research, teaching and youth education, along with their previous endowment of the Anderson Chisholm chair in animal care and welfare. His love of ranching and cars led to the creation and support of online programming at Olds College, allowing young men and women to continue working on their family farms while earning an undergraduate degree. Support for Olds College also included student scholarships and the donation of his collection of 104 classic cars, many of which he had restored himself, which were auctioned to support the college’s legacy programs. Anderson donated land from the family’s original ranch to create Anderson Park at Gull Lake, Alta., and provide free lake access for families.
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Anderson will be missed by many including his children and their spouses, John and Beth Anderson, Wynne and Bob Chisholm, Judy Anderson and Jeff Anderson; his grandchildren, Leah Anderson (Jeff) Epperle, Erica Anderson and Jamie Chisholm (Kelsey); his sister, Jean Toole and her children — Larry (Betti-Rae), Debbie (Burk), Nancy (Dan) and Glen (Diane); his niece Eileen (Brian) Savitsky and nephew George Charles Luck; and his good friends Lorne and Barb Armstrong.
Anderson was predeceased by his parents Charles and Jennie (nee Corbett) Anderson, his sister, Audrey Luck, her husband, George and their son Michael Luck, his brother-in-law, Bill Toole, his first wife, Lila, who was the mother of his children, and his last wife, Wendy.
Anderson directed that no public funeral be held. His ashes will be spread, privately by family, on the land that he loved. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Anderson’s honor to the Calgary Humane Society or the Cochrane and Area Humane Society.
