June 10, 1924 – May 31, 2012
“Reluctantly returned imperfect”, is the epitaph Don selected. Known as “Grandpa Don” by many and “The Reverend” by his Dept of Fisheries team. Don lived a full life and was young at heart and sharp of mind when he passed away on May 31. He was cherished by many and will be sorely missed by his loving family; wife, Frances; sons, Stephen (Susan), Dean (Sherry), Craig (Catriona) and his beloved grandchildren, Lauren, Savannah, Duncan and Euan; his nephews and many cousins.
Born in Vancouver, Don grew up in Dunbar with his sister, Joan (d 2011), attended Lord Byng High, received his BSc in Agriculture (1948) from UBC, and made many connections at St Philip’s Anglican Church. Don met Frances at their friend’s wedding where he was the Best Man and she was the Maid of Honor. In 1950 they married and had 62 wonderful years together.
Don had a successful career, receiving many accolades. In 1952 he was appointed as a Dairy Inspector and later became a partner in a dairy enterprise. From 1966 to 1985, Don’s career moved to the Dept. of Fisheries, retiring in 1985 as Field Director Pacific Region.
Don and Frances moved to Sidney, BC in 1994 and built a home at Roberts Bay, calling it “Kildala” and fulfilling a dream to live where Frances had spent so many summers with family and friends.
Don loved to entertain, he was gregarious, a gentleman flirt, a true friend, an adventurous and accomplished cook, a man of great integrity, a prolific builder, a piano player, and a lover of poetry. Don faithfully maintained contact with a large network of friends via ‘The Christmas letter’, cards and birthday notes, many lunches with ‘the old boys’, coffee at McDonalds, dinners at his favorite eateries, and his wonderful friends that visited “Kildala”.
A Service to Celebrate Don’s Life will be held in MCCALL BROS. FLORAL CHAPEL, Johnson & Vancouver Streets at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
As Don would sometimes quote
“I must go down to the seas again
to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way
where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn
from a laughing fellow rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream
when the long trick’s over.”
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Wilf and Muriel Gushue
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Ann &Derek Stoker England. Sorry to learn that Don has passed away. I first met Don at a fisheries conference in Bergen Norway in the 1970`s
and we have remained in touch for over 30 years. We stayed with Don and Fran and the boys when we visited BC in 1976. We have the fondest memories of that visit.
Don was a real gentleman,an excelent host and and a true friend. We shall miss his Chritmas messages.Our condolences to all the extended family.
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Len Mulholland My sincere condolences to the entire family with the passing of Don.
I have always considered Don a good friend and I know that he assisted many of his friends with investing their money.
He will be sorely missed by many..
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Bernie Lingeman I was very sorry to hear of Don’s passing. I have known him since I started with fisheries and Oceans in l974. In fact, I stayed in BC for several months training for my job as Chief of Quality Control in Ottawa. The major part of my training was with Don in Vancouver.
I certainly enjoyed knowing Don and am forever thankful to him for his assistance during my raining days and I enjoyed dealing with him on a multitude of matters that came up during my employment at Fisheries.
Although after my retirement I didn’t have that many contacts with Don, I shall miss him deeply as many others, both in the Department and the industry, will as well.
Once again, my deepest condolences on you loss.
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Rick Higgins Don was a kind man, full of integrity. He was instrumental in me securing a position within DFO when I was desiring to come back from Calgary and a job in the oil patch. Because of his determination to respond personally to correspondence sent to him, we made contact. He was one of the best when the department was a close knit community and he was one who gathered men and women to the fold. So sad to lose him.
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Rudy Chiang It is with my deepest sympathy that I recall the days at 326 Howe and 1090 W. Pender when Don lead the team at fish inspection services throught the many challlenges and opportunities. Though retired for quite a number of years, we still share many happy occations with Don at gatherings. We shall miss him…
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Klaus Schallie Petra and I were shocked and saddened to hear of Don’s passing. He was a wonderful boss and mentor to those of us who were young rookie fish inspectors back in the 1970’s and 80’s. He led by example and he made us feel that working for the public service was a privilege. Those of us who worked with him thought of ourselves as part of the greater “fish inspection family” which extended to Ottawa, other parts of Canada and overseas and those ties are still strong even though many of us have retired. Our thoughts and condolences are with Fran and his family.
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Sing Liem We are quite saddened to hear the news of the passing of Don. We will miss his cheerful Christmas letters and our friendly competition to be the first to send the Christmas letter. I was very fortunate to have worked for Don when I started my career with the Fish Inspection Branch. He was a great mentor, a true gentleman, who always remembered to acknowledge good work and always lead by example. Our deepest condolences to Fran and family.
Sing & May Lie
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Emily Gail Gatehouse Hello again … Have previously left messages by email and Times –
Colonist but am moved by my grandson Michael’s words (above) so
want to say have you all in Prayer and sending love, Gail
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Rod & Evelyn Hourston Evelyn and I wish to send our deepest condolences to Fran and family on the passing of Don. As Chief of the Inspection Branch of the Department of Fisheries in the Pacific Region he and staff did a great job in ensuring our processed fisheries products met the highest of standards set by the Government. Evelyn and I also enjoyed Dons cooking skills for which he was famous for. Again our deepest sympathy to the family.
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Michael Gatehouse_Pugh Hello I am Steve Wilsons step son Michael. Steve Wilson (Don’s son) is married to my mom connecting the Gatehouse’s with the Wilson’s family. My condelenses to the Wilson’s. Hopefully the Gatehouse’s can be there for Steve and his relatives through the sadness. I’m happy Steve is married to my mom. Steve inherited a great humor I discovered after visiting Don a couple times. Don joked me to use my good looks with the ladies. I blushed in embarrassment feeling awkwardly pressured. Good memory.
RIP Don
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Phil Van Horne A wonderful man, who will be dearly missed.
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Sally Hojvat It is a very sad moment but we have many, many good memories of Don and you have captured his full life wonderfully, including the perfect poem. His other favorite,”The Ballad of Sam McGee” would have been a little too long to post but will continue to live as a Wilson tradition through his grandchildren who learnt it by heart from him. Our thoughts are especially with Fran but also with all the Wilson family at this time.
Sally
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Carlos Hojvat Very nice and close to my heart.
Congratulations to all of you for bringing back lovely memories of Don.Carlos
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Janice Johnson (Jeakins) I am sorry to hear of Don’s passing. I will always remember dinners at the Wilson’s. Don and Fran working together to prepare a gourmet dinner. He was always a gregarious host and made you very welcome. Thanks for the memories.
We were greatly saddened by Don’s passing and we extend our sincere sympathy to Frances and her family. Don will be sorely missed. It was both a priviledge and a pleasure to work for many years under Don’s leadership in the in the Vancouver Inspection Branch of Dept.of Fisheries and Oceans. He was well respected in the DFO and in the fisheries industry.