DONALD ARDELL MACDONALD

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DONALD ARDELL MACDONALD Donald Ardell Macdonald, a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully at home on December 11, 2008 at the age of 82, after a lifetime of service to his family, country and profession. Don's memory is cherished by his wife of 57 years, Patricia, and their children, Donald and Barbara. Beloved eldest child, Susan, passed away in 1995. He is also mourned by Donald's wife, Catherine, and their children, Julia and Alexander. A lifelong resident of River Heights, Don grew up on Brock Street and attended Queenston School, Robert H. Smith and Kelvin High School. His friendliness, athleticism and quiet authority made him a natural leader. He was elected class president throughout his school years including Senior Stick of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba. In his youth, he was a gifted athlete - swimming for the YMCA Tankers team, lifeguarding at Sargent Park pool and playing tennis on the courts of River Heights Community Centre where he met Pat. His prowess on the ice earned him the nickname Buck after Toronto Maple Leafs star Bucko McDonald. His great love besides his family was the Navy and its traditions. A lifetime of naval service began in his teen years when he played trumpet in the band of the John Travers Cornwall Sea Cadet Corps. In 1943, he joined the University Naval Training Division and then in 1945 the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve as an ordinary seaman. After receiving his officer's commission, he trained as a communications specialist and served in ships on both coasts. At HMCS Chippewa, he attained the rank of Lieutenant-Commander (C), serving as Communications Officer and then Executive Officer. Emblematic of the esteem and respect with which the entire ship's company held Don, he was honoured with a lifetime membership in not only the Wardroom but the Chief and Petty Officer's Mess and the Men's Mess. In recent years he has been a proud member of the Naval Officers' Association of Canada. After graduating from the University of Manitoba, Don began a 56-year career in pharmacy at the Fort Garry drugstore of Norm Williams. In 1960, he opened his own store, Macdonald's St. James Pharmacy, on Portage Avenue at Roseberry Street. The store closed in 1970 and Don went on to begin a successful 20-year career at the T. Eaton Co. where he retired as manager of the pharmacy in the downtown store. He then began a happy second career in Charleswood working with Gail Halko, first at the Medicine Shoppe and then at Grand Medicine Health Services. Don, a former president of the Manitoba Retail Pharmacists' Association, was working as a licensed pharmacist until the age of 81. Over the years, he was a member of the board of the Manitoba chapter of the Kidney Foundation of Canada and a member of the board of St. Andrew's River Heights United Church where the Macdonalds were one of the families that founded the church in 1916. The family wishes to express our deep appreciation to all the friends who have reached out to us since Don's death. We also wish to express our thanks for the unwavering kindness and generosity of Gail Halko and the whole team at Grand Medicine, as well as to Don's second family - Bruce, Vicky and Lindsay. We are also grateful to Dr. Kevin Coates for his devoted care. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 22, 2008 at St. Andrew's River Heights United Church on Oak Street at Kingsway. For friends who wish to do so, donations may be made in Don's name to the Susan Macdonald Memorial Fund of the St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, 409 Taché Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6. THOMSON IN THE PARK 925-1120 Send expressions of sympathy to www.mem.com

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 20, 2008