Don McKenzie
d. January 3, 2010
Donald Ross McKenzie
On Sunday, January 3, 2010, Don McKenzie passed away in the Portage District General Hospital at the age of 56 years.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Kathy; son Daniel (Jenny) of Vancouver BC; son Zack (Erin); mother Mary; siblings Joyce (Grant) McLean of Ottawa ON, Jim (Donna), Gwen (Don) Brugger and Frank; mother-in-law Bernice Dowhaluk; brother-in-law Bill (Robyn) Dowhaluk of Calgary; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Don was predeceased by his father Neil McKenzie
Don grew up at Burnside and attended the Burnside School in the early years and High School at PCI in Portage.
After school he went into farming with his father, and later with his two brothers, continuing the tradition of the family farm and celebrating the Century Farm milestone of the McKenzie Homestead in 1982. He took great pride in keeping his yard perfectly manicured for his family home. In 1988, he chose his second career of trucking with Paul's Hauling and more recently he trucked with G.L. Thurston of MacDonald. Don spent many winters driving the winter roads, which he found quite challenging.
In 1989 he married Kathy and they recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Together they raised two sons, Daniel and Zack. In recent years Don enjoyed camping and traveling with Kathy and getting together with his many "buddies". Family, friends and community were important parts of his life. Don's smile, quick wit and ability to talk to anyone about just about anything ensured he had a wide circle of friends, and was the most well known of the McKenzie boys.
"A life well lived, a life too short."
Funeral Service will be held Friday, January 8, 2010 at 1:00 pm in Trinity United Church led by Rev. Julie Baker. Don will be laid to rest at Burnside Cemetery.
As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Don's memory to Burnside Cemetery, c/o Doug Hyde, Site 402 Comp. 1, RR4, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3A4
A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com 857-4021