Douglas Brooks

Douglas George Brooks

Suddenly but following several years of health issues, on Monday, March 18, 2013 at the Portage General Hospital, Douglas George Brooks, beloved husband of Carole Diane (nee Ogilvie), passed away at the age of 72 years.

Funeral services will be held at the Herman Prior Centre, 40 Royal Road North, in Portage la Prairie on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 1:00 pm with the Reverend John Zondag officiating. A Family interment will take place at a later date.

Dad was born in Little Portage on July 24, 1940 to Alfred Rowland and Emma Pearl (nee Johnson) where he was raised and received his education.  His father passed away in 1949, leaving his Mother to raise her 7 children on her own.  In order to help support his Family, he along with his brothers, left school to work.  Although he enjoyed his work he always talked about how he had enjoyed school, prided himself in his math, spoke of his Father’s perfect attendance in his schooling back home in England and wondered aloud about ‘what could have been’ if he had had the opportunity to finish school.

Leaving school at an early age marked the beginning of his commitment to a life of hard work.  Dad was employed for Mar-dee Enterprises (Petro-Canada) as a Service Manager and Bookkeeper. His career spanned more than 40 years.  His mechanical skills and passion for fixing cars was with him all his life.

Family was his strength, his devotion was his compassion.  It was evident in his every breath; he disciplined, he enjoyed, he welcomed, he accepted, he participated, he protected.  He did it well and we love him for it. He valued his life time friendships and he was a valued friend in return. He had a quality and a commitment about him, regarding his Community, which was evident in all of his extracurricular activities.

Predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Pearl; brothers Allen (Pokey) and Robert in infancy; brothers-in-law Steve Michaluk, Orville (Bud) Doherty;  sister Muriel Doherty; nephews Kenny Michaluk, Leslie Doherty;  parents in law, Leonard and Ada (nee Lister) Ogilvie; sister-in-law Fran Ogilvie; nephew in infancy, Craig Ogilvie.  He had a special bond with his mother-in-law, Ada.

He leaves to mourn his passing his beloved wife of 54 years Carole; sons Kevin of Winnipeg, Robert (Joni) of Winnipeg with children Kalie, Reisa (Keenan) of Victoria, BC., Taylor, and Cole, Kenneth (Nancy) of Portage with children Randi, Derrick (Carlie), Jeremy and Jayson, daughter Brenda Burke (Cory) of Portage with children, Haidyn, Jarett and Reid; brother Roland (Bunny) of Oakville, MB; sisters Jeannie Michaluk of Winnipeg, MB., May (Doug) Garnham of Portage, MB., Doreen (Norman) Hildebrand of Winnipeg, MB.;  sister-in-law Martha Brooks; brother-in-law Bryon Ogilvie of Portage, MB. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, all of whom he spoke of fondly and often.

“A Father is respected because he gives his children leadership...appreciated because he gives his children care...valued because he gives his children the one thing they treasure the most...Himself.”

A special thank you to Dr. Jim Ross, Dr. Dennis Kim, and the ICU Nurses at the Portage General Hospital for their care and compassion.

Should friends so desire, memorial donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba – Portage Office, 103 Wilkinson Crescent, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1A7

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

204-857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com