WILLIAM (CORRY) MACDONALD

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

WILLIAM (CORRY) MACDONALD
October 8, 1949 - August 29, 2018

How to summarize a whole life lived, all the lives touched and the deep loss felt?
Corry passed away suddenly last summer at Dogtooth Lake, ON. He was predeceased by parents Julia and Bill. Left to mourn his untimely passing are his wife Ingrid; son and daughter Christopher and Jaymie; sisters, Joanne and Wendy; nieces and nephews, Julianne, Lauren, Paul and Philip; step-grandchildren, Savannah, Saleena and Samantha; many dear friends; and former co-workers in the RCMP.
Corry was a loving and devoted son, brother, father, husband, and friend. He was known to be quiet and serious, practical and meticulous, traits which served him well in his long career with the RCMP. Yet he was also a gentle soul and as a father, a constant worrier, never parting company, even for an hour, or ending a phone call, without saying, "I love you." Those who knew him well knew that making Corry laugh was sometimes a challenge but always a reward: He laughed with his whole body, throwing his head back, eyes shining, and if you had really done well, removing his glasses to wipe his eyes. He was always, at his core, a police officer, often warning loved ones of potential dangers around the corner. He was loved and teased for it — it was just who he was.
As a father, Corry was always there to help his kids work through problems or anything else they needed. He could also be counted on by others to lend a hand and was especially known for and called upon for his tech savvy, which he honed during the 15 years he worked in the Commercial Crime Section of the RCMP at "D" Division in Winnipeg. Corry joined the RCMP in 1970 at the age of 21 and was an exemplary member, stationed in Swan River, Ethelbert, The Pas, Carberry, Thompson and finally Winnipeg, where he joined Commercial Crime. He was a well-respected supervisor in Commercial Crime when he retired in 2003, with the rank of Staff Sergeant, after 33.5 years of service.
Thereafter, he continued to spend countless hours on his arsenal of computers and devices, usually with the news playing in the background: Corry was a consummate news junkie and always knew what was going on in the world.
Corry and Ingrid met in 2003 and together they spent the next 15 years between their homes in Nanaimo and Arizona, their trailer at Dogtooth Lake, visiting their respective children in Manitoba and travelling. They also spent time with friends and neighbours, gathering for dinner, hikes and card games. In recent years, Corry spent more time with his sisters, Joanne and Wendy; and their mother Julia in Montreal; prior to her passing.
Corry enjoyed early retirement, and often said that he was so busy he didn't know how he had ever found the time to work. He was often occupied with home projects or repairs, helping someone with computer issues, and as an avid and skilled poker player, frequently playing in tournaments.
Corry spent the last two weeks of his life in the place he loved most: Dogtooth Lake, near Rushing River, where he most often took his kids during their summer holidays together. It seemed he was happiest and most relaxed there, sitting around the fire, fishing, playing cards, feeding the resident chipmunks and squirrels, laying on the beach at night watching for falling stars and pulling his kids behind the boat on water-skis or a tube.
While there is deep sorrow for those who did not have a chance to give him one last hug, to tell him how very much he was loved, there is peace in knowing that he left this world without pain, in the place he loved most. Corry, there are just no words for how much you are missed, by so many. We are all so grateful to have had you in our lives for as long as we did.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 29, 2019