Obituary of Devin Allan Bjola Matileg

Devin Allan Bjola Matileg: son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend, colleague, Warrant Officer, and pilot. Devin was loved by his family, friends and colleagues for his considerate, genuine, and lighthearted nature, his disciplined and focused determination, and intelligent planning for his future. Devin lived life to the fullest doing what he loved because, “What can I say, planes are really cool.” ~ Devin Matileg.

At ten years old Devin knew he wanted to be a pilot and at the age of 12 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Devin excelled in every aspect of the program, earning Saskatchewan Top Glider Pilot and a Power Pilot Scholarship (Private Pilot license) among many other awards for leadership and community service. The Air Cadets was where he met his best friend, a relationship of encouragement, dependability, and brotherhood.

Immediately after graduating from Greenall High School, Devin obtained his Commercial Pilot license at Mount Royal University in Calgary. There he met a partner for life and recognized how important family and being home every night meant to him. This led Devin to add Flight Instructor and Ag Pilot to his credentials. Even though he was not raised on a farm, Devin was drawn to an agricultural way of life for its wide open spaces and clear skies, and he had just completed building his dream home on farmland purchased from his grandparents.

Devin was well-known among the cadets, his student pilots, and colleagues as a trusted leader and teacher. Many expressed the immense value they received from Devin’s mentorship and training, saying it came from his giving and patient nature, and infectious enthusiasm. Devin took joy in creating a lighthearted environment through his humour, Cheshire Cat smile, aviator glasses with Hawaiian shirt and thick wavy hair, a thin mustache he teased he’d never shave, energy that never tired, and an aim to serve and please.

Devin loved to curl with his family, his high school and with Air Cadets and envisioned trying out competitively one day. Devin remained committed to serving, never missed a Remembrance Day service, and was making plans to join the Reservists. Many people have expressed that Devin was mature beyond his years, an old soul - he had created financial stability through a childhood career aspiration come true, a farmstead he designed to complement his career, and soon a dream truck that was going to be ordered at the end of crop spraying season. Devin’s life was ready to take off. At only 23, he was capable of running a home, farm, and business … capable of anything.

Devin taught us to live life to its fullest, make thoughtful choices but live in the moment, give your best, dress to impress, dance, love grandma’s sandwiches, and get things done because, “After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” ~ JK Rowling.

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller