Donald Chimney

Peacefully with his family by his side, Don Chimney passed away on Sunday, November 17th, 2019 at the Portage General Hospital after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years Pat, father-in-law Ivan Fulford, children: daughter Tammy (Bob) Thomson, Tanya and James Clarke (Connor and Gracie); daughter Sheri (Keith) Hogarth, Tyler and Nancee Hogarth (Landyn, Callie), Stephanie and Cody Wilkinson (Marley); son Shane (Luanne) Chimney, Katie Chimney, Steven Hart (Braden), Jackie and Wade Duchak (Eric), Jason and Courtney Hart (Sean, Annika); daughter Tara (Darren) Roberts, Samantha and Ryan Thompson (Liam), Kristie and Justin Verwey (Brinley), Blake Roberts and Nicole Peters (Riley). Predeceased by parents Frank and Eva Chimney, mother-in-law Bernice Fulford, brother Gerry and sister-in-law Sharon Chimney, and great-grandson Kale Roberts.

Don was born in Portage La Prairie on September 17, 1936, and attended school in the north end of Portage until he hopped on a train and went up north to work in Churchill, Manitoba, eventually working on the DEW Line in the Arctic. It was here where Don’s love of wildlife and the outdoors began. He then came back down south and while working with Malron Ambulance and a construction company met the love of his life, Pat Fulford. Don and Pat were married on September 27th, 1958, and had 4 children: Tammy, Sheri, Shane and Tara.

Dad was a patient, kind, loving, gentle man, who worked hard, only missing 2 days of work in 31 years of employment at the Campbell Soup company. He loved antiques, and spent many years participating in “cat digs”, flea markets, and  hunting old stores and places for his next great find. He met many good friends over the years dealing antiques and going to the horse races. Dad loved wildlife and animals of every kind, including his very special dogs he spoiled over the years, Buster and Bonnie. Dad was an amazing self-taught artist, and left us all a beautiful legacy of sketches and oil paintings. Our childhood was spent camping in the Duck mountains, swimming at Delta beach, and fishing at Rat’s creek and the Whitemud River. Dad also took up downhill skiing, and was a natural on the slopes of Lake Louise, Sunshine and Panorama ski hills. Dad also enjoyed a good rye and coke.

We were blessed to have dad close, and actively participated in his grandkids lives, including attending numerous hockey, football, softball, rugby games, violin and piano recitals, school concerts, and proudly watching his oldest grandson graduate from the RCMP depot.

Upon moving out of their house, mom and dad took over managing the apartment block at #1 Broadway place, and spent 25 years keeping it a beautiful, clean place to live for many tenants. He was always there to help them out and enjoyed meeting many people through his years there.

In his later years, dad developed Alzheimers disease, and spent his last few years in the loving care of the staff of Douglas Campbell Lodge. The support, friendship and care provided there was phenomenal, and we are forever grateful to each and every staff member who cared for dad there over the years. We would like to also thank two very special Sunset Palliative care volunteers; Zenia Semchyshym and Dawn Davis, who lovingly spent many hours with dad.

A service to celebrate Don’s life will be held on Friday, November 22, 2019 at 1:30 pm at Trinity United Church, led by Rev. Beth Kerr.  A private family burial will take place at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to Sunset Palliative Care Inc, Box 92, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3B2 or Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), 121 12th St. NE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 4A2.

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