DONALD ROSS MACFARLANE

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DONALD ROSS MACFARLANE January 24, 1934 - November 21, 2014 Much loved husband, father, grandfather (Buppa / Pa Don). He is survived by his wife Lynne (Russenholt), children Shannon (Rob Giesbrecht and Rebecca (Nicholas Stewart), Kate, Ian (Wren Haffner), Elizabeth and Lexi), Avon (Islay and Faryn), Tara, Scott (Donna and Kelsey, Kealy, Kaila and Kohen). Also survived by in-laws Champ and Fayre Russenholt (Jeff, Ben, Andrew and their families), Ben Russenholt, and by cousin Joanne Haining and her family. Don and Lynne were partners in life and business. Together they started MacFarlane Communications Services Ltd. in 1966 and worked as public relations partners for many years. One of Dad's proud moments was being inducted into the Rainbow Stage Hall of Fame in 2000. He spent many summers as their PR consultant and thoroughly enjoyed that work. In retirement Don and Lynne wintered in Arizona and summered at Victoria Beach, both beloved spots where they welcomed various family members through the years. While he achieved professional success, he found his true calling in life as Buppa / Pa Don. He loved his grandchildren unconditionally and was devoted to them. He gave each of them a special nickname and they all have very fond and varied memories of treasured times together (which most often involved food - a trip to Macdonald's or BDI, Dairy Queen or to the bakery at Victoria Beach). He had a voracious appetite for trivia and Second World War history, which he loved to share with all of us, whether we were willing to listen or not. He was also the source of stories about the Talbot and MacFarlane families, thanks to the many hours he spent researching our family history. Dad's favourite things were to sit and read a spy thriller in the sunroom at the cottage with a cold cup of black instant coffee beside him while the rest of the family buzzed around, or to putter in the yard for hours on end in his red coveralls. There will be no service. In Dad's memory, please feel free to make a donation to a charity of your choice or to the Parkinson Society Manitoba, 7 - 414 Westmount Dr., Winnipeg, MB R2J 1P2, Ph: 204-786-2637, Toll Free 1-866-999-5558 or email: donating@parkinson.ca www.parkinsonmanitoba.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 26, 2014