Obituary for Wayne Eugene Lent McDonald
Wayne McDonald
March 14, 1933 - October 6, 2020
It is with great sadness that the family of Wayne Eugene Lent McDonald announce his passing in Calgary, Alberta at the Brentwood Long Term Care Centre on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at the age of 87 years old. Wayne was born March 14, 1933 at the Royal Alex Hospital in Edmonton and grew up on his frontier homestead farm in Stony Plain, Alberta (near Hanson’s Corner).
Wayne was predeceased by his parents Donald and Velma McDonald, his first wife Verna Francis Ruth McDonald (Decoux) of 36 years in 1993, his grandson Kylan McDonald in 2008, and his second wife Heather Joanne McDonald (McComb) of 14 years in 2011. He is survived by his 5 children Wayne Jensen, Robert (Linda) McDonald, Randal McDonald, Heather (Will) Walton, and Laural McDonald; 11 grandchildren, Dustin, Erica (Ben), Todd, Evan, Daniel, Connor, Jay, Jana, Garrett, Peyton and Bailey; 2 great grandchildren Danielle and Jacob; numerous nieces and nephews; and long time friends of our father and family, Meg and Wallace Drummond.
Wayne moved to Haney, BC at the end of his school year in 1948 to live with his mother and sister Eleanor after his dad passed in March of that year. He briefly attended Haney High School while at the same time he had various jobs. After a 5 mile walk to school he walked back towards home 2 miles, to work at the Brown Brothers Greenhouses firing boilers till 10 pm each night, then a final 3 mile walk back home. He recalled that "it wasn't pleasant, but money was scarce." He also had haying jobs at the nearby farms, and picked up various weekend jobs. He left school at the end of the year to go to work at the Hammond Cedar Mill. He bought his first motorcycle, a Harley Davidson 45, to get to work and for transportation. Missing Alberta, in the early 1950`s he rode his motorcycle with a friend on mostly gravel and mud roads back to Alberta, and started working on the oil rigs. When things slowed in the oil industry, Wayne bought a gravel truck and a water tank for the truck and continued to work in the oil industry. He was 18 at the time and didn't mind being called a “Water Boy.” Wayne then became a Plumber and Gasfitter in 1957 and created a family plumbing and excavation business, employing 54 people at his peak, and later an Infrared Heating business in his semi-retirement. Wayne was a Master of Bow River Masonic Lodge and a Shriner with Al Azhar Shrine Temple in Calgary. Later in life Wayne took up tap dancing and piano, became a voracious reader and a passionate traveler. Above all, Wayne loved his family. At Wayne’s request, his remains were buried with other family members at the Inga Cemetery in Stony Plain, Alberta on October 17, 2020. A Celebration of Wayne's Life will be held at a later date..
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Wayne please visit www.choicememorial.com . Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.
March 14, 1933 - October 6, 2020
It is with great sadness that the family of Wayne Eugene Lent McDonald announce his passing in Calgary, Alberta at the Brentwood Long Term Care Centre on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at the age of 87 years old. Wayne was born March 14, 1933 at the Royal Alex Hospital in Edmonton and grew up on his frontier homestead farm in Stony Plain, Alberta (near Hanson’s Corner).
Wayne was predeceased by his parents Donald and Velma McDonald, his first wife Verna Francis Ruth McDonald (Decoux) of 36 years in 1993, his grandson Kylan McDonald in 2008, and his second wife Heather Joanne McDonald (McComb) of 14 years in 2011. He is survived by his 5 children Wayne Jensen, Robert (Linda) McDonald, Randal McDonald, Heather (Will) Walton, and Laural McDonald; 11 grandchildren, Dustin, Erica (Ben), Todd, Evan, Daniel, Connor, Jay, Jana, Garrett, Peyton and Bailey; 2 great grandchildren Danielle and Jacob; numerous nieces and nephews; and long time friends of our father and family, Meg and Wallace Drummond.
Wayne moved to Haney, BC at the end of his school year in 1948 to live with his mother and sister Eleanor after his dad passed in March of that year. He briefly attended Haney High School while at the same time he had various jobs. After a 5 mile walk to school he walked back towards home 2 miles, to work at the Brown Brothers Greenhouses firing boilers till 10 pm each night, then a final 3 mile walk back home. He recalled that "it wasn't pleasant, but money was scarce." He also had haying jobs at the nearby farms, and picked up various weekend jobs. He left school at the end of the year to go to work at the Hammond Cedar Mill. He bought his first motorcycle, a Harley Davidson 45, to get to work and for transportation. Missing Alberta, in the early 1950`s he rode his motorcycle with a friend on mostly gravel and mud roads back to Alberta, and started working on the oil rigs. When things slowed in the oil industry, Wayne bought a gravel truck and a water tank for the truck and continued to work in the oil industry. He was 18 at the time and didn't mind being called a “Water Boy.” Wayne then became a Plumber and Gasfitter in 1957 and created a family plumbing and excavation business, employing 54 people at his peak, and later an Infrared Heating business in his semi-retirement. Wayne was a Master of Bow River Masonic Lodge and a Shriner with Al Azhar Shrine Temple in Calgary. Later in life Wayne took up tap dancing and piano, became a voracious reader and a passionate traveler. Above all, Wayne loved his family. At Wayne’s request, his remains were buried with other family members at the Inga Cemetery in Stony Plain, Alberta on October 17, 2020. A Celebration of Wayne's Life will be held at a later date..
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Wayne please visit www.choicememorial.com . Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.