September 22, 1947 to May 4, 2017
Born in Vancouver, one of 6 siblings, Don lived in the Lower Mainland his whole life. He loved his family and friends and developed many long lasting friendships. Don will be missed more than words can say.
Don started working when he was 17 years old delivering medical supplies on a bicycle and remained in the medical field for his entire career, eventually starting his own service and installation business in the 80s.
He enjoyed camping, canoeing, music, crossword puzzles, good food and wine, and never missed a Canucks hockey game. He married his wife Katie on August 20, 1983.
He loved socializing with his family and friends and particularly enjoyed camping at the Adventure Weekend and annual visits from the Kaminski’s.
He went on numerous trips with his wife Katie including Greece, Bali, Italy, Mexico, Hawaii, Big Sur, Napa Valley and RVing across Canada and the US.
His great sense of humour and exceptionally strong will accompanied him to the end. He was a keen observer and always willing to share his perspective (aka Mel Content, one of the aliases that Don used to reply to newspaper editorials when expressing his opinions).
Don passed away at the age of 69 on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at St. Michael’s Hospice in Burnaby with his loving wife Katie by his side. He is survived by his wife Katie, siblings Sylvia (Bob), Wayne (Heather), Sharon, Rod and Phyllis, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, in laws and extended family.
Don was deeply touched by the love and support that he received from families and friends during his journey with cancer.
A Memorial Service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery Celebration Hall at 5455 Fraser St, Vancouver Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 1:00 pm.
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Tara
So sorry for your loss Kathy. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Donna Grounds
That is a great picture of Don. It looks like it was taken on your Hawaiian Vacation? Don was definitely one of a kind, and he will be missed by all that knew him, and certainly never be forgotten! Hat’s off to you Pal, you were a trooper till the end! It was a beautiful love Don and Kathy shared, one that made them unbreakable team! All my love and admiration to both Kathy and Don, Your friend, Donna
Danny Pitcairn
Don S always make sense of humour. I was little boy. I never forget him. He met Peter ( our brother). I wait for brother after his work. Don alway made funny. Also I did worked with him on jobs it’s for special needs stuff. One day also worked his house several things. I am sure to miss him. He was good guy. I hope Kathy does well. My sympathies. I remember him always. Danny Pitcairn
Joe Deagle
I always admired and envied Don’s inquisitive mind for all things mechanical and his determined energy to work through and solve problems. That same determined energy and I’m sure his boundless love for Kathy and her’s for him, enabled him to carry on beyond all expectations in his fight against cancer. We had lots of good times over the years and I will surely miss Don.
Rosanne Hamilton
Don was one of a kind! He was keenly observant of all around him and I totally enjoyed his unique sense of humour. We shared many good times over the years and I will miss his spirit and soul. I was so happy for him when he found his “Katie”. It was obvious that Kathy was truly his special angel that lifted him up and carried him throughout his life and made it all worth living. The love they had for each other is seldom seen but it kept them strong much longer than most people could endure. I’m sure that if there is indeed a hereafter, he will play practical jokes on anyone who might notice. My prayers and thoughts are with Kathy and his family.
Mike Wheatley
Katie ……My deepest sympathy to you and all the family.
Don and I had some halarious canoe trips in the years gone by.
My thoughts are with you at this sad time.
Colin Sharwood
So sad – Don we miss you. Your wry sense of humor always always kept us on our toes, and I did enjoy going toe to toe with you, even though I usually came off second best. You were brave to the end, and even on our last visit you showed appreciation and support for those of us left behind.
Countless happy memories, starting with the house on 3rd. And camping on Quadra, and watching a perfect moonset from the water with Joe.
So many memories with you and Kathy – rest well, my friend.
Colin
Shelly Madden
I am grateful for the time I spent getting to know Donald. He was an amazing brother-in -law. Donald was generous, kind, and patient with my family and loved deeply by my dear sister Kathy. Don welcomed me into his home, his heart, and his life. We shared some of the greatest moments together on several adventurous journeys and Don made me feel like BC is my second home. Don was an amazing uncle to my children.
I will miss Don so much, but will always carry fond memories of joking around with Donald and sharing great laughs and delicious meals together. I am forever thankful to Donald for always being himself and for the love he shared.
RIP Donald you fought the good fight!
Love always,
Shelly
Bob Holbrow
My remembrances of Don are mostly from back in the day at the house on Third. It was his unique, wry sense of humour that set Don apart from the crowd. Genial, clever, insightful, tough, and determined – that was Don. I was so happy to see him again these last few years. His body was flagging but his bright eyes and banter remained. Don was what i call a good man. Adios
Patrick K Madden
Yes Don will be sadly missed may he rest in peace now that he in in a place with no pain and will be missed bye for now
Scot Affleck
Donny was my friend for more than 55 years. He was the best man at my wedding in 1970. I will miss him greatly.
Carol & Jan Van Iterson
Kathy our thoughts are with you and the family. We have spent many many times laughing with you and Don over the years. He was always entertaining us weather it be playing guitar, singing and sharing his humourous side. He will be missed by all. ❤️
Love Jan & Carol
Trish Pradine (Kaminski)
To our Uncle Don,
My family and I will miss you terribly. I have had so many laughs, and great times with you I cannot even begin to explain. Most of the time I didn’t even quite understand the jokes, and I think that was what made you laugh! The karaoke on the deck with one guitar, and a couple songs from Saturday night live were my favorite! Most of my best times were shared with you and Katy, at your house, with our family, maybe a beer or two, and just enjoying the best company one could ever want. You will always be in our hearts, Uncle Don, and your memory will be cherished always. I can speak for Randy, Ian, myself, and my siblings when I say we were privileged to have you as our Uncle. We send our love to Katy, and will ensure she continues to get her fill of the Kaminski clan.
Rest peacefully….we love you,
Trish, Randy, and Ian
Karen Madden
Don’s determination and strong will to live right to the end was amazing, it is a real tribute to the wonderful life he shared with my sister Kathy. He was like a brother to me and we shared many good times and challenging times over the years. He will be missed.
sister in law, Karen Madden
Conor Adams
Don was such a great Uncle to my brother and I. He never failed to entertain us with his amazing sense of humour and sharp wit. We had some incredible times out in B.C together and I will always remember when him and Kathy visited for our cottage trip that summer that seems so long ago. Don took me out in his boat, just me and him and we crashed through the wakes of other boats on the lake and raced through the water at astonishing speeds. I just remember laughing and laughing and we hit one wave so hard that the seat Don was on cracked under the pressure and snapped in half. He had to kneel in place the remainder of the journey back to the dock, but man did we laugh and laugh that day. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank both Don and Kathy for all the love, kindness, and hospitality they always offered us over the years. Thank you to Don for being a consistent source of inspiration over this last year and a constant reminder to never stop fighting, you fought all the way to the end, and we loved you all the while. Our memories together are truly always in the back of my mind and the front of my heart. I love you.
Sylvia and Bob Kaminski
It is with great sorrow that I send these condolences to Katie. Don was my youngest brother. I loved him very much and I’ll miss him as will Bob-he was like a brother to him. We had many great visits with Don and Katie and we and our family were always welcome in their home. I admired Don for his strong will, often getting him through his tough times, I’m sure. He was fun to be with , had a good sense of humour, sometimes “off the wall” -but that was Don! That’s what made him so special!! We send our love to you, Katie and thank you for taking such good care of my brother. He’s at peace now and his memory will always be in our hearts. Sylvia and Bob
Frank Adams
Don married my wife’s sister Shelly. I first met him when I was 19 and Shelly was 17. HIs devotion and love for Kathy was an inspiration to me. I learned from him and Kathy how to treat my wife just like Don treated Kathy.
Don had a generous heart and loved my wife Shelly very much. He took care of his mother in law in his home where she passed away surrounded by loved ones.
Don was a great camper and he and I shared many a beer over the campfire, solving the worlds problems, sharing memories and telling jokes. I remember distinctly that Don told me a story about how he lived in a shanty with a pig in the house. The house went on fire and he tried to rescue the pig who promptly bit him.
Over the years I got to know Done better and better. We both believed that we were the luckiest men alive as we both married beautiful, intelligent and caring women.
Later in life Shelly and I had two sons. Every birthday or Christmas there were always packages form Vancouver form Don, Kathy, and Karen. In addition he took me and my kids on camping trips and basically spoiled myself, wife and kids, always with Kathy and alos Karen.
His sense of humour was just too funny. He would make me laugh and laugh and laugh. Often he would literally make my kids roll on the ground with laughter. He was well loved by the Adams Madden clan and he will be truly missed, and never forgotten.
Love always,
Frank
John Armstrong
I knew Don for over 50 years. Both of us followed careers in the medical equipment business. He was a great guy and I will miss him.