In his 97th year, Don passed away on March 10, 2024. He will be deeply missed by his children Andrew (Kathleen Dawson), Rory (Rebecca) and Reid (Susan Steele), cherished grandchildren Cameron (Sarah), Amanda (Kevin), Anna, Leah, Alec and Blair and great grandchildren Margaret and Lachlan. With the bagpipes now silent, Don will join his loving wife of 60 years Donna (née Hopper) who predeceased him in 2013. Don was a farm boy (born in Elgin County, Ontario) and, in many ways, that never changed, even as he and his family grew and thrived in Chatham and Mississauga, followed by retirement in Fergus and Elora. He earned a degree at Ontario Agricultural College (1951), had a long and successful career at Maple Leaf Mills, contributed in innumerable ways to his communities, was well-travelled and a long term piper with the Fergus Pipe Band. His strong hand shake, sense of community, generosity, and undaunted practicality always belied his farm boy roots. Some will not miss the bagpipes, but all will miss the kilted, stoic piper. Fortified by twice-daily forays to Tim Horton’s, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church on Sundays, and just the odd single malt. Don lived well past all other family of his generation and most friends, always with good humour, pride in his wife and family, and an opinion about every corn field he passed, even as dementia snuck up on him. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff who cared for Don at Highland Manor in Fergus, Sunrise Unionville, Markham Stouffville Hospital, and most recently at Mon Sheong LTC in Stouffville. A graveside service will be held at Belsyde Cemetery in Fergus at 1pm on June 15, followed by a celebration of life at 1:30pm at the Breadalbane Inn, 487 St Andrew St W in Fergus. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the OAC ‘51 Leadership Awards Fund (bit.ly/3vfpBO8), the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the Alzheimer Society.
