Donald MacDONALD

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MacDONALD: Donald John MacDonald. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Donald (Don) John MacDonald of Ninette.  Don passed away peacefully on Friday, June 5, 2020 at the Boissevain Health Centre at the age of 76. Don leaves to mourn his beloved wife of 58 years Linda; his children Bonnie (Brad) Heide and Rob (Corinne); his grandchildren Tristan, Ben (Hilary), Jaylene (Eric), Kaeden (Shyniece), MacAylee (Chris), Jorja, Alisdair and Alex; great-grandchildren Wyatt, Kaen, William, Barrett, Danica and Adelyn; his Auntie Jo Hardy; several sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews and their families. He was predeceased by his eldest daughter Donna (2016), parents John (1985) and Mary (nee Murray - 1965), brothers Angus (2015), Mac (2012), Kevin (2010), Brian (2006) and a baby sister who died in infancy, Annie (1929). Born on April 20, 1944 on SW 9-5-17W in the  Bellafield/Dunrea area, Don was the youngest of the 6 MacDonald children. Don grew up on the family farm and attended school in both Dunrea and Killarney. The 5 MacDonald boys were a handsome crew and well known in the area. On November 10, 1962, Don married the love of his life, Linda Waldon. You couldn’t find a better pair to spend their lives together. The love they shared was one that most could only wish and dream for. Through thick and thin, they remained by each other's sides and showed their family what true love is. At the time they got married, they resided in Brandon  but later moved to the beautiful village of Ninette to be with Don's dad, John, after Mary passed away in 1965. Don and Linda remained in Ninette where they raised their 3 children and still reside there till this day.  Don had a very successful 59 year career working in the cattle industry. His first job in 1961 at the age of 16, was at the Brandon Livestock Yards working as a yardman. In 1962, Don went on to work as a trainee buyer for Canada Packers and this is where his lifelong career of buying and selling livestock began. In the spring of 1969, he was approached to become manager of Pelican Lake Feeders, a large feedlot at the junction of Hwy. 18 and 23. Pelican Lake Feeders was regarded as one of the best co-operative feedlots in Manitoba. Don was manager at the feedlot until its closure in 1982. Don decided that this was the time to start up his own livestock order buying company and "D.J.(Don)MacDonald Livestock Ltd." was formed. It didn't take long for Don's presence on the markets to be known.  He was regarded as an honest and fair buyer who worked hard to get the best dollar for his customers. In order to do this, he had to be a formidable force on the market, if he saw a group of cattle he wanted for his customers, there wasn't much that could get in his way.  This was just one of the reasons why he was one of the leading and top exporters of Manitoba feeder cattle to Ontario. He may have been a force to be reckoned with on the market but there were many a night he would spend hours talking to worried farmers on the phone giving them hope and helping them in any way he could. That was the one thing he always did, not only in business, but in his personal life as well,  if someone needed help, he was always there to do whatever he could to help. He may have seemed big and burly but he had a genuine heart of gold and was loved and respected by so many because if it. Over the years, Don and Linda opened the doors of their home to many. If someone was in need of help, a warm meal or a roof over their head, they were welcomed. He became a "surrogate" dad to many and enjoyed each and every minute of it. They met some wonderful people over the years and kept in contact with many. Don loved the thrill of adventure. He was always up for the challenge and raced snowmobiles in his younger years. His family loved heading out on to the ice to watch him race and with his love of going fast, he acquired many trophies over the years. He also loved golf, curling and hockey but a knee injury forced him into early retirement thus he became an "armchair athlete" to some of his favorite sports. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing with his family. Spending many days out on the ice or on the shores hoping to catch the big one. In the fall, Don, his son and grandsons would be up at the crack of dawn to get positioned in a field waiting for the geese to come in, hoping to get their limit. When his two daughters were young, they would all pile into the vehicle along with his two coonhounds and head off raccoon hunting. Driving the countryside looking for the perfect buck was another favorite pass time. These drives eventually became known as "great drives" and the grandchildren loved the adventures they would go on with their Poppa and Momma in search of wildlife. Don liked to contribute his time into bettering his community. He was a volunteer fire fighter as well as a member of the Ninette and Area Lion's Club and liked to help out in the community whenever it was needed. Always a farm boy at heart, he would offer to help farmers with their harvest and loved nothing better than to sit for hours driving a combine to get the crop off. If he wasn't sitting in a combine, he would be sitting along the edge of the road during seeding and harvest wishing it was him sitting in the cab. He was a true family man in every sense of the word...his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren meant the world to him. He loved it when any members of his family would stop in and always showed a genuine interest in every detail of everyone's lives and always wanted to know what was going on. Each and every Sunday, the entire family would get together and with 22 people of all ages throughout the house, he still managed to fall asleep so soundly in his favorite chair in the corner. Don had a life full of adventure and very well lived. Many times his family would comment "they could seriously make a movie out of your life", he would chuckle and reminisce some more.  The one thing he had was the best sense of humor and the absolute best belly laugh when trying to share a funny story with anyone. He would be doubled over, his eyes crinkled shut, barely able to talk, laughing so hard....it was the best laugh ever and it will be missed dearly. His life ended sooner than anyone wanted it to but it was well lived and he passed peacefully knowing he was very much loved by each and everyone in his life...he was a wonderful, loving and caring husband and father, the best poppa and great-poppa any child could ever wish for and he has left a legacy in the cattle industry. He will be missed more than words can ever say. “If there ever comes a day where we can’t be together,keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.”A Family Graveside Service was held at the Ninette Cemetery, Ninette MB on Friday June 12, 2020 with Dennis Schram officiating. Flowers gratefully declined. Memorial donations can be made in Donald's memory to the Ninette Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, Box 112, Ninette, Manitoba R0K 1R0 or Dunrea Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, Box 91, Dunrea, Manitoba, R0K 0S0. Jamieson's Funeral Services of Glenboro were in care of arrangements. 204-827-2480.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jun 13, 2020