DAN DE BAETS

Condolences & Memories (3 entries)

• Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Dan's family. He was a wonderful man. May he rest in peace. - Posted by: Jan Shipley Currier (Former staff member in Fort Gary School Division and Parent at Bairdmore) on: Mar 24, 2014

• In Memory of Dan DeBaets, a former colleague and friend. Dear Carol and family, we were so very sorry to hear about the passing of Dan this week; our thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this difficult time. Dan was my closest colleague during my Bairdmore School years. I came into the school as a physical education teacher and it was because of Dan's knowledge, experience, and willingness to share that I grew as a classroom teacher. Any and all of his resources were mine to use. He taught me how to teach our elementary students through many planning sessions. Dividing the curriculum made life easier as I started out teaching in the elementary grades. Together we shared about 60 students in Grade 5. Dan taught our two classes Social Studies and I taught the Science. We had great fun planning the many field trips to the "snake dens" in Narcisse, Manitoba each spring. Dan took great delight in photographing our students on these excursions and after one such trip, he generously presented me with a photo album of our students. Dan was a soft spoken man. He shared his love for music with others and mentioned to me how he loved to play the accordion for others. And Dan loved to travel. Meeting the both of you in Costco, I remember talking about all the trips you had taken together in retirement and the trips you still dreamed of going on. Australia and Arizona were common destinations for us. It was with profound sadness that we learned of Dan's passing on the golf course in Arizona. Ruth and I were out playing golf on March 17 in Casa Grande, Arizona that fateful day. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. I will always remember Dan as a compassionate, patient, generous teacher, a true friend to all who knew him. It was truly an honour to have taught side by side with him. Sincerely, Larry and Ruth Ens - Posted by: Larry and Ruth Ens (Friend and former colleague) on: Mar 23, 2014

• Thanks for the many stories you told us... Thanks for your hospitality... Thanks for showing me another piece of the world... Thank you for everything!! R.I.P. - Posted by: Kateline Gees () on: Mar 19, 2014