Alan Ciesla
Alan Stanslow Ciesla
August 27, 1963 – May 30, 2025
Alan Stanslow Ciesla was born August 27, 1963 in Mayerthorpe, Alberta. Passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025 at Whitecourt AB.
Alan, his parents and brother lived in an old two-bedroom farmhouse on 52nd Avenue in Whitecourt until 1971 when they moved into a new-built home on 51st Avenue. Lots of fun happened in the huge lot of that old house, that had a row of huge spruce trees lining the front. The “new” house had a basement where Alan, John, cousins and friends spent countless hours over the years playing hockey, pool and many board games of which Alan kept stats. Who had the most kids in the game of life, who had the most money in Monopoly, etc.
Alan attended all 12 years at St. Joseph’s School in Whitecourt. Originally a K1 to 6 school, it expanded and added Junior high school 7 to 9 grades one year at a time. When the time came the school added an expansion again for senior high classes 10 to 12 – again 1 year at a time. Extra-curricular activities Alan was involved in were Student Union (Treasurer) in both junior and senior high, music classes (learning acoustic guitar) and a weekly floor hockey night (in senior year). Alan’s class was the first graduated from St. Joseph’s School in 1981.
Alan obtained a diploma in Business Administration – Finance from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. After graduating he worked at local businesses in Whitecourt: an oilfield services company, a cement construction business and a couple of different CGA Accountants.
After some employment services from Blue Heron Support Services Association Alan joined for recreational and social activities. Group activities included bowling and camping. And having BBQ hamburger sales to fundraise for the activities.
Alan was asked to be part of a group with the goal of Whitecourt having its own respite care society. The group got to work to organize a society and write the operational manuals. The Whitecourt Ad Hoc Committee was soon formed to represent the Whitecourt area on the Board of the Blue Heron Support Services Association. Alan was one of two representatives that would travel to Barrhead for the monthly Board meetings. It continued for two years while Empowering Citizens for Health and Opportunity Society (ECHO Society) was formed, operational, and negotiated final agreements to take over operations in Whitecourt, Blueridge and Mayerthorpe area. Alan was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the new Society and served nine years in that role.
In 2003, Alan had a major health incident. He contracted viral pneumonia and was sent to the University Hospital in Edmonton. Both lungs had collapsed. He was intubated and on a respirator in the ICU for 13 days. After a month in Edmonton, he was sent back to Whitecourt Hospital. He spent several months there and received a lot of physiotherapy. Unable to get back to his old job, Alan continued some part-time bookkeeping and income tax services from home.
Alan enjoyed watching sports: hockey, football, Formula 1, curling and golf. Lately getting more into mixed martial arts – specifically UFC.
In 1993 Alan won a trip to the 81st Grey Cup in Calgary. Alan had entered his non-winning Sports Select tickets in a drawing. It was only the second time in CFL history that the Grey Cup was played in Calgary.
In 1996 Alan entered a contest from ESSO Canada gas station in hopes of winning a Team Canada hockey sweater. Instead, he won one of the grand prizes – a 10-day trip for two to the 1996 IIHF World Hockey Championships in Vienna, Austria. Alan went with his dad John and it was the first time flying on an airplane for both of them. Having an excellent time watching hockey, meeting players and coaches.
In 2014 Alan took his first trip to Kona Hawaii with his Mother, Brother, Aunt Phyllis and cousin Cheryl, meeting long time family friends Don and Irene Gates and Kevin and Sherri Litwyn there. Alan would make the trip to paradise a couple more times, enjoying adventures like a helicopter tour, a supper cruise and posing with parrots.
Alan was a quiet, intelligent, caring person. He was predeceased by his Mother Margaret and survived by John, his Father and John, his Brother.
Alan will be deeply missed by many family and friends.
The family would like to thank both the EMT’s and RCMP for their valiant effort and kindness.
Cremation has taken place
A Celebration of Life for Alan will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Senior’s Circle in Whitecourt.
Condolences may be sent to www.affinityfuneralservice.ca.
Arrangements in care of Terri Shimenosky at:
Affinity Funeral Service
#1, 4105 41 Avenue, Whitecourt Alberta T7S 0A3 780-778-3330