Archibald Adam Emblau

Archie Emblau left us on the evening of Friday, September 6, 2024 at the age of 80 years. He leaves his loving wife Gayle of 42 years; children Brent Emblau (Jane), Jodi Beswetherick (Ted), Wayne Saar (Susan) and Shari Emblau (Joe). He will also be missed by his grandchildren Merrick, Chris, Chad, Kayde, Paul, Kurt, Nicolas and Myra. Archie was predeceased by his parents Archie and Georgina Emblau. He will be lovingly remembered for his generous heart and charismatic personality. 

Archie was born in Mountain Park, Alberta into a large family. The coal mines took the family on many adventures from Mountain Park to Uranium City, Saskatchewan and to Nordegg, Alberta where Archie attended school. He hunted, fished and picked mushrooms with his brothers and Father. Eventually the family moved to Canmore, Alberta where Archie got his first job in the Canmore coal mines. Archie worked his way up into positions of pit boss, superintendent, mine rescue and blaster with his smarts and hard work. His mining career took him to jobs in many places across western Canada. Archie eventually went out on his own and started his own drilling and blasting business with his Gayle, working on jobs in western Canada and Norman Wells, NWT. At 80 years old Archie was still looking to get the next job lined up and get to work. He will always be remembered as the “Master Blaster”. 

When working and traveling around, Archie would never pass someone stuck in the ditch or in need of help. Never get into a discussion about what truck was best as it was obviously a Ford. Archie always had the right answer. In his spare time, Archie hunted, fished, picked mushrooms and watched his beloved Blue Jays and Oilers play. Any time anyone visited Archie and Gayle there was always something to do. Cutting and stacking wood was one of the grand kid’s favorite activities when they went to visit.

The family would like to thank everyone involved with Archie’s care; STARS and the Nurses and Doctors in ICU units B and C in the Foothills Medical Center.

A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers donation can be made to STARS (www.stars.ca) or Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (www.heartand stroke.ca).