A crowd of over 1,000 people pack the inside of the Nanton Lancaster Museum on Thursday for the funeral of pilot Denny Loree, killed in a mid-air crash in Saskatchewan. 
A large crowd of over a thousand people pack the inside of the Nanton Lancaster Museum on Thursday May 17, 2012 in Nanton near Calgary for the funeral of pilot Denny Loree who passed away suddenly near St. Brieux, SK, when his plane collided with another mid-air. 
Nanton-area pilot Denny Loree is shown with his small plane. Loree was killed Saturday in a mid-air collision between two small planes near St. Brieux, Sask., along with Eric Donovan of Mossleigh and Eric’s son Wade. But those who loved and were closest to him knew he was also a proud father and husband, loyal friend, skilled athlete, ardent community supporter, animal-lover and even one-time tap dancer — a man who wore many hats.
“He was one of the good guys,” said his cousin John Loree.
On Thursday afternoon, more than 1,000 mourners packed the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton to bid farewell to the 59-year-old.
Loree was the pilot of a Piper PA-28 that collided in mid-air with a Lake Buccaneer in Saskatchewan last Saturday, and one of five people to perish in the crash.
Also killed were Mossleigh residents Eric Donovan and his 11-year-old son Wade, who were riding with Loree en route to St. Brieux to fetch farming equipment, and Regina couple Eric and Joy Jackson, who were in the second plane.
Loree had set aside his own seeding work to give the father and son a lift. A memorial will be held for Eric and Wade Donovan at Lynnwood Ranch in Aldersyde today.
Looking out to the crowd, made up largely of fellow farmers, cowboys and pilots, John Loree recalled his childhood days with his cousin, the two growing up on neighbouring farms.
“As kids, we were back and forth all the time. It was a good way to grow up,” he said.
As a lad, Loree participated in numerous extracurricular activities, including 4-H, lacrosse, and college rodeo, John said, calling his cousin “a natural athlete.”
Loree’s focus turned to family and farming in 1978, when he married his best friend Joan and took over farming duties from his recently retired parents. Five years later, the couple welcomed their son Mackenzie.
Ever the doting husband and father, Loree embraced the role of family man.
“Talking about his son, his eyes would light up,” said friend Ian Donovan, Eric Donovan’s cousin and the region’s newly elected Wildrose MLA.
Loree’s love of flying began in 2003, when he took his first flight lesson, said his instructor Elizabeth Bahlsen.
As soon as he obtained his licence later that year, Loree was always flying, often accompanied by Joan and, occasionally, Thelma Lou, the family’s Jack Russell terrier.
“I’ll never see a small plane again and not think of Denny,” said longtime friend and fellow farmer Ken Weber, his voice wavering.
And though he was a farm boy through and through, Loree was less country and more hard rock, favouring the tunes of Def Leppard.
It was only fitting that the service concluded with his favourite band’s song Let’s Get Rocked blaring through the museum, followed by a four-plane formation flying overhead.
Even museum staff were moved by the show of support from community members, who came in such large numbers that the hangar doors had to be opened to accommodate the crowd.
“It was quite an honour (to hold the event),” said Wayne Bailey, a volunteer with the museum.
The turnout was a testament to who Loree was — a well-loved man who will be missed by many, said longtime friend Mike Crowe.
“It goes to show how many people he touched.”
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