DAVID EUGENE HOLDEN

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DAVID EUGENE HOLDEN We are so very sad to say that Dave passed away December 12, 2016 of complications from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis at the age of 76. He handled a very debilitating disease with grace and courage to the end. Dave is survived by his wife Judy (nee Duncan), children Paul (Karen) and Scott (Kate) and grandchildren Ashley, Megan and Sadie. His family was the centre of his universe. He also leaves behind his siblings Bruce (Gail), Bev, Alan (Barb) and Richard (Diane) and their children. He was predeceased by his parents Eugene and Charlotte. Dave was described by many as a good man. He loved easily and hugged always. He taught us the meaning of being non judgemental and seeing the good in everyone. However, when he had an opinion it was voiced with authority and conviction. He forever gave credit to the two men who set him on his path of life - his high school football coach and his first manager in the food service industry. He was a proud member of the Daniel McIntyre High School football team and a provincial all-star centre. His entire career was spent in the food service industry and he was so very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend Cornell University's Food Service and Hospitality Program. His lifelong dream of owning his own restaurant became a reality when he bought the original Pizza Place Restaurant chain We have a very special circle of friends who have been together for over 50 years. We have been through the good and the bad times and always known the support and love for one another. It meant so much to have them with us on this journey. Dave was a contributor to his community and his profession serving on the board of the Manitoba Restaurant Association, the St.Vital Conservative Association, McDonald Youth Services, the Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg, The St. Vital/St. Boniface Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Gimli, He was a long time member of the Reh-Fit Centre and was proud of his role as the representative of the Kinsmen Club in the building of the original centre. We were afforded the wonderful opportunity of travel and vacation upon selling the restaurant chain. Dave's favourite place on earth was Maui and he always felt the summer sun shone brightest on the deck of the cottage at Sandy Hook. We are forever grateful to those who walked this road with us. Drs. Salem and Homik made sure he fought this disease as long as possible. The palliative care team of Drs. St. Godard and Wong and the professionals on ward 6E of St. Boniface Hospital took us through the final stages. A memorial celebration of Dave's life will be held at St Mary's Road United Church, 613 St. Mary's Road at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, December 19 with reception to follow. In honour of Dave's life we would gratefully receive a contribution to the Dave Holden Bursary for Culinary Arts at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology by calling Jana Thorsteinson at 204-989-8329, online at https://my.mitt.ca/donorrelations or by mail to MITT, 14 Fultz Blvd., Winnipeg, R3Y 0L6. E.J. COUTU & CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 204-253-5086 ejcoutu.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 17, 2016