LEER, Rockford John (Rocky)

Rockford John Leer, 55, of Medicine Hat, Alberta passed away on Thursday September 26, 2019 surrounded by his loved ones. Rocky fought courageously and inspirationally against his ALS diagnosis for the past 3 years. Rocky was born on May 5, 1964 to Judith and Freeman Jennen, the first of 2 boys with Steven Shane following in 1967. With the passing of their Father, Judith remarried Kenneth Leer and a sister Tammy was born in 1974.

In the fall of 2016, Rocky was devastatingly diagnosed with ALS. He tackled this disease head on, with his positivity, humour and his determination to never give up. He focused his time and energy on his family and friends, not wasting his time feeling sorry for himself. He was a huge supporter of the Bettys Run and was a strong advocate of ALS, often reaching out to support others with ALS.

Rocky’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he interacted with; he may be gone, but never forgotten. Rocky is survived by his 2 sons, Brandon Pitkanen (Carrie), Chase Leer (Diana) and 1 daughter, Amanda Irving (Alex), 3 grandchildren CJ, Annie & Ronan, his mother, Judith Leer, brother Shane Leer (Tina) and sister, Tammy Leer (Mike). 3 nephews, Zach Leer (Karna), Cole Kapak and Quin Kapak and 1 niece, Kacee Kapak, along with many loving extended family members. He was preceded in death by his Fathers, Freeman Jennen and Kenneth Leer, his Grandparents, John and June Senkyr and Claire and Frank Leer.

Funeral will be held at Red Deer Funeral Home & Crematorium on Friday, October 4, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the ALS Society of Alberta.

In honor of Rocky’s love of all thing’s hockey, all guests are invited to dress in their favourite hockey jersey.

For a full obituary, please go to the Red Deer Funeral Home & Crematorium website. Condolences can be left for the family at www.reddeerfuneralhome.com