Arling "Arly" Richard Dobson

Peacefully at the Portage District General Hospital, Arling “Arly” Dobson passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at the age of 73 years. 

He will be missed and lovingly remembered by his family, his wife JoAnn Dobson; children Erin (Mark) Forsyth of Dauphin, and Ryan (Michelle) Dobson of Winnipeg; grandchildren James and Isla Forsyth and Jack and Claire Dobson.  Also left to cherish his memory is his only sister Debra (Len) White and family of Nova Scotia.  Arly was predeceased by his daughter Andrea Marie Dobson (Feb, 1978), his parents Claude and Mary Dobson and his in-laws Michael and Helen Urbanowski and brother-in-law Ernest Urbanowski.

Arly was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick on July 10^th, 1949 to parents Claude and Mary Dobson.  His childhood was spent with many camping trips with his father and grandfather to their private camp in the woods of New Brunswick which instilled his love for nature, fishing and especially hunting.

Right after high school he joined the RCMP where he completed training in Regina in 1969 as part of Troop 15 (Reg. #26880).  He was stationed first in Ottawa, Ont. where he worked at the Mint and Prime Minister Pierre E. Trudeau’s residence.  He was later transferred to St. Rose Du Lac, Manitoba where he eventually met his sweetheart JoAnn Urbanowski in 1971.  He was transferred to Thompson, MB and after many long distance phone calls and travelling he and JoAnn married in 1972.  They lived in Thompson for 4 years, then on to Carberry where daughter Erin was born in 1976, then to Altona where son Ryan was born in 1980 and then on to Portage where he retired from his RCMP service.  Arly continued in the field of law enforcement and security with Southland Canada (7-11 food stores) as their loss prevention manager for all of Western Canada including Northern Ontario.   He held this position for over 25 years before he retired in April of 2012.

Once retired, he provided many oil changes to friends and family as a backyard mechanic.  Arly was also able to enjoy more of his hobbies which included hunting, enjoying the outdoors with his wife JoAnn and their Winnebago motor home.  This included trips to Mesa, Arizona in winter, and Birds Hill Park during the summer where the deer became pets rather than targets.

Memorial Service will take place at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm.  The service will be live streamed, register and view below.

As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made in Arly’s memory to the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, 4-999 King Edward St., Winnipeg, MB, R3H 0R1 – www.mwf.mb.ca

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com