DONALD ALLAN JOSEPH MATTHEWS

Condolences & Memories (12 entries)

• I've written this Tribute twice and twice, it went off into the ethernet so I gave up until now 3 years later I decided to try it again. Donny and I go all the way back to just after we got out of diapers. I'm about 6 months older and had reddish blonde hair also....sooo we connected somehow. The first time we got into trouble was on his 6th birthday, his mom dropped us off at the old Windsor theatre to watch Abbot and Costello meets Frankenstein (it was after all Halloween) then she picked us up...then soon after, we thought, this was easy, we could handle this, so we each got some money from our Mothers (we must have lied to them) and got on a bus going downtown to watch a double feature (Tarzan and Jungle Jim, my favourites) located somewhere in the North End. The double feature ran 3 complete times...we loved it... and were watching a teenager and his girlfriend kissing and hugging right in the next row....and we were laughing at them and bugging them and the teenager would threaten us and punch us...now we were having Fun...but eventually the show closed for the night and we had to leave and go back home...deep in St.Vital....wherever that was. When we got outside, it was DARK. The teenagers disappeared and we got on the first bus that came and rode for a long long time. Eventually the bus driver figured out we were lost and that we were going the wrong way and were far from home. He gave us some transfers that connected us to the Eaton's store and from there we asked the many bus divers what to do. Eventually we made it down St. Anne's to Sterling Avenue, where the bus ended anyway, and Donny's Mother was there and FURIOUS...and the Police were looking for us! Back then when you got a spanking at home you said " the stars were coming out the chimney" and so it was at each of our houses and we never tried that again. There we many more episodes that took place in our youth, just not exactly that. There was Sambo Circus, in Don's back yard, when we were about 10...with real live gold fish, sparrows, cats, dogs and the like ....and all the money went to " Charity " ...unhuh of course. Then the newspaper that Donny ran from his bedroom and diving for golfballs in the Seine river holes at the Windsor Golf Course while evading "ZORRO" the "course cop" and trying to sell them at the different fairs around St. Vital. That stopped when one of the guys lost a piece of toe stepping on a river rat. These stories... and there are more, many more, bring back fond memories of Don and it's very hard to say Goodbye to him ..all there is left is memories of Don, and the guys like Greg and Reice Pelletier, Ken Rassmussen and myself. My Condolences to Joan and Edith Ann and all the members of your families. Condolences to Janeth, Dana Tanya and families. It was a pleasure knowing Don and being a witness to his enterprising spirit and his DRIVE...he probably has something going on... up at his "new life" and he's directing it. I always liked and respected Don. Until we meet again, your Friend Bill Turner - Posted by: Bill Turner (Friend) on: Jul 06, 2021

• Red, truly a good bud of mine sixty years ago , Glen Lawn Collegiate. Great story from Myrna, tossing beer out the car window as the Mounties pulled us over. - Posted by: Howie Coxe (School buddy) on: Nov 30, 2018

• I was saddened to hear of Red ’s passing. He was Don to many but always Red to me. Always down to earth and unimpressed with status. What you saw is what you got and it made him easy to like. Although we hadn’t seen each other much in recent years I know we would have picked up right where we left off. Rest In Peace my friend until we meet again. - Posted by: PaulDelorme (Friend) on: Nov 25, 2018

• I lived in St. Vital on Sterling three doors down. We had lots of fun in our youth. None greater than the night when Donny and I decided to hitchhike from St. Vital to Minneapolis late one night. We made it across the border after midnight. We didn't know back then that you had to go through customs. We just walked across. Well that didn't go to well with the highway patrol. Our parents were called and told to come pick us up. This episode has been the basis of many hilarious stories in my life. I loved this adventure. It was great knowing you Donny. - Posted by: Greg Pelletier (Friend) on: Nov 20, 2018

• Our deepest condolences on hearing of the passing of Donnie. He was a great friend of ours from the St. Vital Legion days as well as Donnie was Rick's best man in our wedding. The gang (Donnie, Dave, Wendy, Ann, Gil, Dan and us) would gather at the legion every Friday night hang out, play pool, darts and almost always end up afterwards at the St. Vital hotel closing that down too. Loved Donnie....he will be missed ! - Posted by: MAUREEN AND RICK NICHOLSON (A FRIEND ) on: Nov 20, 2018

• Donnie didn't lose the last match with cancer. It was a draw. The cancer died as well. I can only remember Donnie from way back when but the thought that lingers in my mind was he was a nice guy to be with. Armin - Posted by: Armin and Kathryn Sachse (Brother in law) on: Nov 19, 2018

• Always gave me a chance. Big heart..huge wisdom..amazing smile...giant of a man...you are massively missed. My extreme condolences to the family - Posted by: Kathy Collez (Friend) on: Nov 19, 2018

• Janeth and family please accept my deepest condolences in your loss of Don. I am sorry I did not know Don and your family longer but in the short time I did I found him to be an honest, open man. Don was very personable and made me feel at home in the short time I knew him. Don was respected and not to worry he will not be forgotten, Garry. - Posted by: Garry McLaughlin (Acquaintance) on: Nov 18, 2018

• My condolences to his family, didn't know him to talk to him but we frequent the hotel and people were always friendly to us. - Posted by: cathy case (patron at the lasalle hotel) on: Nov 18, 2018

• So sorry to read about Donnie's passing. We grew up together on Sterling Ave. in St. Vital. Some wonderful memories. My condolences to his family and sisters. My thoughts are with you at this sad time. - Posted by: Reice Pelletier (Friend) on: Nov 17, 2018

• So sorry to see that Donny passed & suffered from cancer. We were neighbours on Sterling Ave & spent many a day playing outside together as kids. Our paths crossed many times over the years. My sincere condolences to his wife & family as well as his sisters Joan & Edith. - Posted by: Sandy (Alex) Stratton (Friend & old neighbour) on: Nov 17, 2018

• To the family sorry for ur loss, from Peggy Buffie and the Shushkewich family and Yvonne Thimsen. - Posted by: peggy buffie (friend) on: Nov 17, 2018