DOUGLAS DUNCAN

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DOUGLAS DUNCAN Doug Duncan, father and grandfather died at Eagle Ridge Hospital (Port Moody) on November 17, 2005. Doug is lovingly remembered after 57 years of marriage by his wife Ruth, by his son Paul and daughter-in-law Joan Duncan, and by his daughter Lois and son-in-law Carl Schwarz. He loved to see his grandchildren growing up - Mark, Shawna and Stephen Duncan and Matthew, Marianne and David Schwarz. He was predeceased by his mother Vera, his father Walter, his brother Harvey and most recently by his sister Eva in 2005. Doug was born on the family homestead in Austin, MB on August 5, 1919. He started life in a log cabin, attended a one room school house and did enough chores on the family farm to know he didn't want to be a farmer! He attended Brandon Teachers' College and taught in a one room school house from 1940 to 1942 in Southern Manitoba. He then joined the RCAF, was trained in radar and was stationed in Ireland throughout the remainder of the Second World War. Upon returning to Brandon, MB, he married Ruth in 1948. Doug completed a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Manitoba in 1949 and a Masters of Science in Agriculture in 1954. Doug always wanted to help the world and reasoned that there would always be a need for food production. He was proud to work as a soil scientist for the Department of Agriculture in Brandon, MB doing research on grain production from 1949 to 1957 and then moving his family to Ottawa from 1958 to 1961 as Assistant Chief of Illustration Stations. Doug was also a Westerner at heart and was happy to return to Winnipeg in 1962 to be closer to his family. He taught at Tech. Voc. High School and then became Deputy Assistant Superintendent for the Winnipeg School Division from 1962 to 1970. He moved to the Manitoba government and eventually became Commissioner of the Civil Service of Manitoba from 1973 to 1977. Later, he chaired the Manitoba Water Commission. Doug's passions were religion and politics. He always felt that there was a greater purpose to life than self and spent his time and money pursuing a greater good. He volunteered in the co-operative sector, becoming Chair of the Board of Red River Co-op and Co-operators Credit Union (now Cambrian Credit Union). He was a federal candidate in Portage-Neepawa during the federal election of 1962. He was active in numerous United and Presbyterian churches including Superintendent of Sunday School when his children were young and later joining the Boards of Directors of several churches. After he retired, he volunteered as Assistant - Church and Community Affairs for St. David's Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg. He was active in Christian organizations and helped found the Circle K Ranch in Austin, MB. In later life, he joined small bible group studies and became very interested in prophecy. By the end, he seemed reconciled to the shortness of life and closeness to God that extends beyond life. The family would like to thank the medical staff of C2B at Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody for their kindness and sensitivity during his last days. Doug had suffered many illnesses during the past 15 years with a subsequent decline in his quality of life. There will be a private burial service followed by a public memorial service at Coquitlam Presbyterian Church, 948 Como Lake Avenue on Tuesday, November 22 at 3:00 p.m. Guests are also invited to attend a reception in the church hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to the Coquitlam Presbyterian Church or the charity of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 19, 2005