Don was born in the back of a sleigh that was stuck in a snowbank in northern Manitoba. A premature baby weighing just two pounds, he was kept in a boot box beside a wood stove and fed with an eyedropper until he could be nursed.
Don was predeceased by his parents Bill and Marie, his stepfather Sid Chadwick, his first wife Darlene and his brother Dennis. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Kim (Fred Beggs), daughter Wendy (Rick Degroot), son Elliot (Jen) and his pride and joys, grandchildren Cody, Curtis, Matthew, Andrew, Cole, Carter, Taylor and Brooklyn and Kyle. Don is also survived by his brother George, sister Sharon, stepsister Val (Dave Morton) and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Growing up on the farm in Birch River, Manitoba, Don developed a lifelong love for horses, cows and gardening. In his teen years, he rode as a jockey for a rodeo touring company. He then went to work for Canadian National Railway as a telegraph operator and relief station agent, a job he did for over 10 years. During this time he met and married Darlene Carragher and they had two daughters: Kim and Wendy. Then, in 1966, they visited Powell River, fell in love with the place and moved here in December of that year.
Don immediately got a job with MacMillan Bloedel as an apprentice millwright. He worked in the mill for 26 years as a millwright and a mechanical supervisor and truly loved his job.
After leaving the mill, Don worked around the province as a contract supervisor, including a couple of overseas stints as a mechanical consultant.
In 1968, Don met Joyce and they married in 1969. A year later they had a baby boy and Elliot joined the family. One of his greatest joys was farming in Wildwood. He was very civic-minded and served in many capacities in Wildwood Ratepayers Association, Moose Lodge, the Farmers’ Institute, Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship, The Gideons and at his local church.
Don also had a great love for curling and in his late 30s met his saviour Jesus Christ and became a christian. From then forward, his greatest desire was to serve the Lord well and to this end he went on a couple of missions to Saint Lucia to build a church and Honduras to build a residential school.
Don loved singing and praising the Lord in worship and prayer groups. He was an inspiration to his family and those who knew him and will be deeply missed. His sense of humour managed to make every situation better, and he always had a joke ready.
The family wishes to thank all those who, in any capacity, served and ministered to Don, especially doctors, nurses and CT, lab and oncology staff. We especially want to thank our family doctor, Dr. McDonald, for his constant compassion and care, and Dr. Mazzarolo, who looked after Don in Dr. McDonald’s absence. Also, thanks to those who all prayed so faithfully.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, October 7, at Evangel Pentecostal Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Evangel Pentecostal Church mortgage fund, The Gideons or Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.
Till we meet again, see you in the funny papers, Grandpa.