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.
15 Responses
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)
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 …
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.
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
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