Arvin Hopcraft
October 18, 1952 – April 5, 2026
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Arvin Hopcraft – on April 5th, 2026. Arvin was born Oct. 18, 1952 to Frieda Toews and Gerald Hopcraft. He was the third of three children. Keith, born April 5, 1947, was Arvin’s older brother. Dianne, Arvin’s sister was born May 11, 1949, with a defective heart and passed away Sept. 28, 1953 at the age four. Arvin was less than a year old when his sister Dianne passed. Arvin had a fascinating 73 years, beginning with being born in a car between Leduc & Wetaskiwin. He had a variety of occupations, starting off with oil / gas inspection, and once he ran a little cafe, where he was forced into becoming an excellent chef. Arvin was a deep thinker and enjoyed attending the Unity of Edmonton church with wife Sharon. He had studied martial arts; and his spiritual leanings moved him toward teaching meditation and counselling. But being a musician was Arvin’s greatest passion. He played in several bands that toured Western Canada, and for a while he set up a recording studio. He taught guitar, and the week he passed, Arvin had completed four performances at senior homes around the Edmonton area. His clients enjoyed singing along and his supportive wife Sharon rarely missed a performance. Arvin had three loves in his life. With his first wife Verlayne, he had son Shane Doyle; with Lynn Fischer, he had Shaun Hopcraft. His greatest love was his last love, wife Sharon Hopcraft. Arvin is pre-deceased by his parents, Frieda and Gerald Hopcraft, his brother Keith and sister Dianne; and Shaun’s mother Lynn. He is survived by wife Sharon, sons Shane Doyle and Shaun (Kim) Hopcraft, with grandson Calvin Hopcraft, Sharon’s daughter and son-in-law Jen and Cody Smethurst with grandchildren Isla and Levi; and Terri, Isabell and Davarah Sinclair. The family would like to thank the staff at the Grey Nun’s hospital in Edmonton AB for the care and support of Arvin after he suffered an aortic abdominal aneurysm just days before his passing. And thank you all for the support, care, and compassion you are giving Arvin’s family and friends. He was a big man with a big heart, and his loss has devastated all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.