Carl Eugene Wilson

Carl Eugene Wilson

September 24, 1934 – April 9, 2022

Carl Eugene Wilson, beloved husband of Mary Ellen Wilson, went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 9, 2022. He passed peacefully at home, west of Rimbey, Alberta, surrounded by his loving family that cared so much for him.

Carl was born at Drumheller, Alberta on September 24, 1934 to Arnold and Alice Wilson.  He spent his earliest years near Eckville, Alberta but returned to Drumheller with his parents to the family farm near Verdant Valley.  Carl went to elementary school near the farm then to high school in Drumheller, where he lived in the dormitory.  His interests those years were especially focused on horses and cattle. He was an active member of 4-H. 

Carl attended Olds College and graduated with a Certificate in Agriculture in 1956.  It was at Olds College where he met his beautiful bride.  He and Mary Ellen were married in 1958 at the Ponoka United Church and settled back at the family farm near Drumheller where they had four children.  Carl and Mary Ellen soon bought land east and adjacent to the family farm where the business of farming continued as Alta Bar Ranch.  Carl’s interest in agriculture during those early years included blood testing cattle herds within the MD of Starland for brucellosis (a highly contagious disease).  He also began to AI cattle and soon used this process to develop a successful business within the local farming community called ABC Breeders.  His interest in the breeding selection of his own cattle became the impetus to bring the Simmental breed to Alberta.  Carl and Mary Ellen made several trips to Europe to select Simmental cattle for import and to develop an outstanding herd of Simmental/Hereford cross cows. Carl would spend hours planning his herd, his ranch infrastructure, and anything that pertained to all of it.   His love for good cattle was only matched by his love of incredible horses and through the years he had many.  He started his herd of Quarter Horses with a registered mare called Queenie in 1955.  He continued his Alta Bar brand on many registered Quarter Horse foals for over 50 years.  Carl was the first Canadian to receive the American Quarter Horse Association Legacy Award in 2005 for his 50year membership and went to Amarillo, Texas to receive the award in person with Mary Ellen. He and Mary Ellen spent years traveling to many horseshow, gymkhana and rodeo events first as a couple then with their children. He loved a good cutting horse for work on the ranch and for competition.  He judged many competitions relating to horses and cattle too.

Carl and Mary Ellen moved their family and Alta Bar Ranch a few times throughout Carls life.  After leaving Verdant Valley in 1972, they set up at a beautiful home just west of Nanton.  Twelve years later they moved again to Bergen, Alberta (South of Sundre), and then to their final spot west of Rimbey, Alberta.  Through all these moves, they have gained and maintain a long list of friends who are former and current neighbours.  Carl’s involvement in Ag Societies in all of these communities has been a benefit to the area.  He always brought ideas, enthusiasm and resourcefulness to the projects he proposed or acquired through organizations he joined.  He was instrumental in creating the Drumheller Stampede Exhibition grounds and he added to the improvement of the Nanton Rodeo Grounds.

Carl enjoyed writing cowboy poetry and he wrote a great memoir of his life called “A Short Ride on a Fast Horse” that is now a treasure to his family and friends.  His children recall a wall plaque that has hung in a prominent spot in every house they have lived in which says “You never fail until you stop trying” this truly represented Carl’s “can do” attitude.  Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant;…”

Carl leaves to mourn, his wife of almost 64 years, Mary Ellen Wilson; his daughter Dee (Don) Poisson gr. children Logan(Amanda), Clark(Kristy), Elynne; daughter Carla (Ron) Ostrom gr. children - Joel, Jamie(Ellis), Jordan; his son Harlee (Brenda) Wilson, gr. children - Denton(Jess), Wyatt, Haylee (Liam); his son Randy (Tracy) Wilson, gr. children - Codi, Shanay, Rees.  He has 5 great grandchildren.  Also mourning are his brothers Dale(Bev), Jim (Joan), Lorne (Mary), Brother in law Dennis Jones (Carol), Sister in law Judy Jones, many nieces, nephews and friends.  Carl was predeceased by his parents Arnold and Alice Wilson, his father and mother in-law Rees and Laura Jones,  his sisters-in-law Toni Wilson and Lorna Law, his brother-in-law Merle Jones, and one niece Gloria Anderson. 

Carl’s celebration of life will be held at 1:30pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at the Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Leslieville, AB with lunch at the hall to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Camp Little Red (Bowden, AB), STARS, or a charity of your choice in Carl’s honour would be greatly appreciated.

A Zoom link has been set up for those who cannot personally attend but would like to watch on-line here: Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84639247443?pwd=Q1NwRTBMa0RIbUdldVphSmE5dGpxZz09

Meeting ID: 846 3924 7443     Passcode: 031939 

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