DONALD MALCOM SPENCE

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DONALD MALCOM SPENCE January 10, 1923 - December 8, 2017 Dad was born in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. His father died in an industrial accident when he was six years old. His mother Mary brought dad to Canada to live by her brother in Ontario. Dad had some very interesting stories to tell of his years in the bush camps by Magnetewan, Ontario. His mother was a practical nurse and worked on a reserve for three years, where dad learned a great deal about nature and survival. When he was 18 years old, he enlisted in the Army. While on basic training, he developed pneumonia and left the army on a medical discharge. Dad went into the gun assembly plant in Toronto where he met mom. After three weeks of courtship, they married on July 21, 1945. They had 70 years of marriage before mom died June 1, 2016. Dad and mom had many years of camping. First in a nine by nine tent and finally in a tent trailer. Dad loved boating and belonged to the Redboine Boating Club. They made many trips to Lake of the Woods and took their loved dogs, Laddy and Rusty with them on all trips. Dad worked 14 years as a city bus driver. He drove street cars and trolley cars. He was a great carpenter and built his own house, plus worked for a local contractor and did lots of work in his neighbourhood. He owned a Texaco garage for many years at the corner of Corydon and Osborne in Winnipeg. He retired from PFRA where he was a maintenance engineer. Many people called him their friend. He was predeceased by his wife Luverne and one grandson Hugh Sangster. Surviving are his children, Bonnie (Harvey) Sangster of Kenton, Manitoba, Donna Spence of Calgary and Ronald (Linda) Spence of Kelowna; grandchildren, Robert Marcyniuk, Erin (Henry) Bretonne, Keith (Jeanette) Foss, Lori Foss, Cameron (Chelsea) Spence and Sara (Landon) Hanington; great-grandchildren, Jonah Marcyniuk, Sonya and Ivan Foss, Kayla Foss, Clementine Hanington and Wyatt Spence; along with many nieces, nephews and his very special sister-in-law Mrs. Eunice Whitney of Kelowna, BC. As per dad's wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no service.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 16, 2017