It is with sadness that we announce the quiet passing of Douglas John Day after a long and fruitful life. Doug was born in Kamloops, B.C. in 1930 to Wesley and Doris Day. As a young man Doug joined the RCAF and served Canada between 1951 and 1956 as a corporal in the Korean and Cold Wars by maintaining aircraft at CFB St Hubert, Quebec, North Bay, Ontario and Cold Lake, Alberta.
Doug spent his life being a good husband, father and grandfather and throughout his life he taught us all the value of hard work, respectability and honesty. His love of sailing, model railways and travel were pursuits that gave him enormous satisfaction and were welcome respites from a life well lived. Doug spent most of his adult life in Kamloops and finished as a weigh master at the South Kamloops station. After retiring he and second wife Louise (m. 1976) moved to Sorrento where they made their home on Gillespie Road open to all visitors. It was a busy family place full of activity and love and Doug worked hard to maintain the gardens for all the grandkids to enjoy. He called Gillespie his favorite home – where he could walk up to the pub to play snooker or down to the beach for a sail on Shuswap Lake.
In retirement Doug and Louise travelled and cruised, visiting Europe, North America, South America, and parts of the Pacific and Asia. After Louise’s passing Doug struck-up a special friendship with Inge Klahm, and they shared three years together filled with dancing, laughter and love before Inge passed on.
Doug completed his life close to his stepchildren and grandchildren in Calgary, Alberta where “Grumps” was a frequent visitor to his grandchildren’s dance recitals, and hockey, lacrosse and ringette games. It was a good day when he could dance in the morning, watch a child play in the afternoon and win a game of cribbage in the evening. The family is thankful to the staff and management at Amica at Aspen Woods who gave him a comfortable and supportive environment to live out his life.
Doug is pre-deceased by his parents and second wife Louise and siblings Laurie, Terry, and Ronnie. He is survived by his siblings Gwen, Diana (Ron), Michael and Glenn (Judy); his children Wilfred, Valerie and Debra; by his stepchildren Gerald, David, Richard (Jeanette), Susan, Linda (Ed), Diane, Peter (Veronica), Shirley, Jennifer and Rita; and by over 50 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In keeping with Doug’s wishes cremation has taken place and will be followed by a Celebration of Doug’s Life later this summer at Shuswap Lake. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in Doug’s name to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.edenbrookcemetery.ca. Arrangements entrusted to EDEN BROOK FUNERAL HOME AND RECEPTION CENTRE, 24223 Twp Rd 242, Calgary, AB, T3Z 3K2. 403-240-4032