Born January 19, 1941 in Calgary Alberta. Died peacefully February 26, 2010 surrounded by his family and friends. Predeceased by his father Eric Leeson (Blackie), his mother Ruby Winsor and brother Ricky Winsor. He is survived by his wife Lorraine, children Kelly, Lisa (Robin) and Howie, grandchildren Shannon, Kaley, Taylor, Ava and great grandson Vincent. Also survived by his sister Verlaine (David), niece Rilaine (Tony), nephew Jason and their children Jania, Asia, Myles, Isaiah, Mya and his last surviving uncle Don McDonald and family of Vernon BC, his brother in law Carey, nephews Ric, James and niece Tara of Victoria. A special thank you to golfing partner and friend Barbara and to Dr. Jones and staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital. Donations will be greatly appreciated in Howie’s name to the Canadian Diabetic Association at donation@diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING.
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Verlaine
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taylor I see the doctor standing over you , im just hoping your going to make it , Got a body full of needle holes , you call the nurse cause it hurts , to reminisce , how did it come to this ? i wish they didn’t take you away from me , Somebody help me ! tell me where to go from here , try to remember but it hurts ..
And rest in peace to my favorite Grandpa Dukes .
xoxoxo .
love you , more than anything in the world .
See you in the sky one daay …
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taylor Well gramps, I miss you alot, more than i can explain actually.
Its so weird living in your place, It doesn’t feel right without you here.
I’m always thinking about you, and our memories never fade .
I ask myself everyday why you had to leave now, in this point in time, the time i need you the most, the time im making all my mistakes, and screwing up non stop, i just wish you were here to help me and take me outside heavens door and listen to your heartbeat once more before you leave me.
I dont understand why you have to be gone, I miss you so,
Seems like it’s been forever, that you’ve been gone.
Where’d you go? I miss you so,
Seems like it’s been forever, that you’ve been gone,
Please come back home…I want you to know it’s a little fucked up,
That I’m stuck here waitin’, no longer debatin’
Tired of sittin’ and hatin’ and makin’ these excuses,
For why you’re not around, and feeling so useless,
It seems one thing has been true all along,
You don’t really know what you’ve got til it’s gone,
I LOVE YOU.
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Taylor Hey gramps, Did you like your celebration of life?
I know you said you didn’t want anything like that,
but hey, all the people that truly loved & cared about you
came together with your family and celebrated your life.
I loved it, And i want you to know i was considering to go
up and speak for us.. you and I ..But i chicken’d out!!
I knew i was going to cry, I kept disappearing to go in the ” lady’s room ” to have a cry session.. but i’m sure you saw that looking down keeping a close eye like always.
Grampa i really do love you, and now that your gone, i really don’t know what to do.. i didnt realise at the time how much you meant to me.. and now that your gone? what am i to do..i dont have another chance to spend more time with you, or just go and spend some time with you.. i guess i finally realise i wont be seeing you come through my front door anymore.. and sitting by grams holding her hand.. and telling me your old school stories that i loved so much..I wanna say im doing okay, I want to say im holding in there, but im just not .. Im not okay gramps, this really hits me hard, i lost my bestfriend to death & now my grampy ? no no, this cant be happening ..I wish you could come back, and i would have done things so much differently .
I suppose its true when people say, you only have one chance..
But Grampa would want us to know he’s in a good place now.. out of pain and suffering. And that he watching us all with a smile on his face . As we have made him so proud, that he has raised such a beautiful family. Thinking back now I really feel lucky and privileged to have known Grampy Howie for in my life, you have played a special part as my deaf protector, hehe
The memories I will treasure and keep close to my heart.
and when you look to the sky, look for the brightest star
and that will be Grampa looking down on us from afar.
Grampa if you are listening say a prayer for us every day,
Be sure to protect us and guide us on our way, we know when god called you, you had to go ..
But we want you to know Grampa we all miss you and love you so.
xoxoxo'<3
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Marlene & Neale Smith Our heartfelt condolence to Lisa, Lorraine, Howie Jr, Kelly and Taylor.
Howard will be sadly missed by all the family.
I was glad that I got to visit Howard with Ava the Monday before he passed.
Ava will always keep her Grandpa in her prayers, when she visits Grandma Marlene.
Our thoughts are with you in this very sad time.
Big Hugs—Love Marlene and Neale
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Marlene & Neale Smith Our condolences to Lisa, Lorraine, Howie, Kelly and Taylor and all the family. Howard will be sadly missed by all.
I was glad that I got to visit Howard with Ava the Monday before his passing… Ava will always keep her Grandpa in her prayers when she visits her Grandma Marlene.
Thinking of you all in this sad time.
Love and Big Hugs Marlene and Neale
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Taylor Hey gramps, just thinking about you and missing you .
It kinda sucks how i don’t see you anymore, or talk to you.
and i miss having you come over ..i miss feeling you beside me.
i miss going to the mall with you, hahah i remember this one time when we were golfing and you made me drive the kart, and it was down this really steep hill, and oh my goodness i nearly killed us probley.. no jokes.. it was brutal if i do say so myself.
But im glad you saved us from that one gramps, see your always there to bail me out. and im going to miss that .
I miss the funny stories you would tell me about your younger years, i miss spending time with you .
i miss you ..but i hope your doing well up there ..
sometimes i feel that your around me, its a weird feeling.. but all i need to know is that your still around looking over me .
i love you gramps, and even though your not really around anymore, we’re still a team, and you knew that before you left.
I miss the little things only me and you would get, and laugh about, and everyone else had no clue hahah , i miss that little smirk you always made when you ate ice cream. your face replays in my head non stop, this is so surreal, it feels as if it just happened yesterday. Anyway ,i just wanted to say i love you & i miss you more than ever.
I never really got to tell you that im sorry for everything iv’e done, im sorry for my sins myself. I hope you know that i forgive you for the past. That i would never hold anything against you, because that who forgive receive forgiveness as well .
I hope you know i love you more than anything, and i miss you with my entire heart & i hope you can hear me still ..
i love you, <3
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JD Sabraw When I first met uncle Howie in Calgary many moons ago / it was at a family gathering/ I had never met anyone there and felt like an outsider/ he really made me feel like part of the family/ he reached out ot me. My brother Terry and I thought he was so cool. he invited us to join him for a beer in his camper and let us smoke some green we had. We had a great time. I remember him as a fun loving guy/ always joking/ full of life. the uncle you could go to and talk about anything/ he affectionately called me Jimmy. My brother Darren and I always looked forward to partying with him we barley stopped laughing when we were with him/ thanks Uncle Howie.I am greatfull that i have video of him at a family gathering at my beloved Aunt Irene’s when my Mother was there about 10 yrs ago it was classic Howie He has left a legacy of three really great kids and grandchildren and a very special woman the only women he ever really loved my aunt Lorraine. See ya on the other side big guy Love your nephew JD
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Tara Bisgrove Uncle Howie
I will always cherish the special memories you gave me from the time I was a little girl until you left us a short time ago. I promise to never play in the traffic again and I promise to always love and Cherish the Uncle I knew so well…….Auntie Lorraine, Kelly, Lisa and Howie Jr my heart hurts for you I love you all so much. Cherish the good memories you have for they will fill your hearts with warmth and comfort. Stay close Hugs.
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Roberta Robbins Thinking of you all at this time of sadness know that your’e not alone. Love and Respect, Roberta, Marco, Christie and Danielle
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Earl & Wendy Brown Rest in peace friend.. I will always cherish the memories of our hunting trips and knowing you.
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Bob and Judy Perry This caught us by surprise… Howie we’ll miss you
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Gloria Sabraw-Oborowsky Our deepest sympathy to the Howie Leeson family. Treasure the memories,,,,,
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Beth Cartwright I send all my love and sympathy to you and your family Keller, during this time. I know how hard this is for you…I am here for you
always.I will continue to hone my skills @ Texas Hold Em, in anticipaction
of another chance at “Heads Up” with your Dad someday,in that big “Tournament” in the sky! Thanks for the great games Howard.Love
Beth Cartwright
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Taylor Grandpa, i think about you everyday that passes
wishing you were still here with us, it kills me
to say goodbye for the last time.
I loved spending time with you, i loved growing up with
you by my side. What can i say? I loved you with my whole heart.
Most grand children only see their grand-parents once in a while.
Well, i saw you mostly everyday, which i loved, because we had so much fun together .
I can’t even start to explain how much i miss you..death is really surreal.
But i am happy that you are out of pain, and finally resting in peace.
You had the courage to live, anyone can die..remember that.
Well gramps, i miss you more than i can even speak of.
I love you with every inch of me, you”’ forever be in my heart.Love is stronger than death even though it can’t stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries.. it can’t separate people from love. It can’t take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death.
i love you.
My dear brother, the years have gone by so quickly but you are always in my
heart. So many times I’ve wanted to pick up the phone to call you and ask for your advice.
I know you are at peace now and surrounded by the heavenly angels.
Love Veraine (aka Lainie)