Drennan, Allen (Age 63)
Published on 24/7/2020
Allan “Big Al” John Drennan
It is with broken hearts the family of Allan John Drennan announce his sudden passing on July 13, 2020, at the age of 63. Big Al was a loving husband to Susan Drennan. A proud father, he leaves behind his children, Sara Martin and her husband Brent, Amanda Shortreed and her husband Ben, Luke Drennan and his wife, Jessica. He will be remembered as a loving papa by his 6 grandchildren: Emmy, Louise, Kolby, Mia, Laird, and Kade. Al is survived by his brothers and sisters, Jean (the late Bryon) Black of Colborne, Gordon (Cathy) Drennan of West Wawanosh, Marlene (the late Doug) MacDonald of Blyth, Eric (Dianne) Drennan of Nile, Leroy (Annette) Drennan of Lucknow, Ann (Larry) Johnston of Nile, Donna (Stuart) Alton of Belfast, Brian Drennan of Lucknow, and Debbie (Mike) Courtney of Amberley, his sisters in law, Deb Homuth (Stu) Homuth, Catherine (Dave Cameron) Wooden, his brother in law, John (Tracey Peacock) Wooden, his father in-law, Joe (Linda) Wooden and his mother in law, Diane Knoop. He is predeceased by his parents, Bernice and Henry Drennan, and brothers in law Doug MacDonald and Bryon Black. Allan was born in 1956 and raised on the ninth concession of Ashfield. He bought his farm on the twelfth concession where he and Sue raised their family. He was a 44 year member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 2222. Al will be remembered by all those he worked with as a good man and a damned hard worker. He was a cowboy that got the job done when others couldn’t, (often by bending or outright breaking the rules). He was the guy that got you overtime. He was a guy that everyone had a story about.
Al instilled lifelong values in his children, including the importance of hard work, the value of a dollar, and not taking any shit from anybody. He believed that a man only needed two kinds of shoes, work boots and cowboy boots. He often told people their problems could be solved with a kick in the ass. He had a few other colourful expressions but they can’t be printed in a newspaper. In 1983 Allan married Susan at the Nile Church. During the ceremony, he looked at the minister and tapped his watch. It was time to hustle things along and get to the party. He loved two-stepping with Sue, the love of this life, at the weddings of his children and nieces and nephews. Al was an avid rodeo fan when his son Luke was cowboying in the circuits in Canada and the U.S. Big Al liked to shoot the breeze and 50% of it was always true. You just never knew which 50%. A farmer to the end, his last words to his wife were, “Susan, buy another ton of feed”. When his calves go to the sale in the fall, we know he will be there, watching to make sure he gets top dollar. Allan was fiercely proud of Stoney Acres and what he and Sue had built together over the last 37 years. When the dust of COVID settles, a celebration of Al’s life will take place. We will gather to tell stories about him and toast to Big Al with Crown Royal. If you would like to donate in his memory, his family would suggest the AMGH Foundation or Jessica’s House. Arrangements entrusted to McCallum & Palla Funeral Home, Goderich.
