Donald James Peddie beloved husband of Susan Peddie passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 on a beautifully warm day at the Foothills Country Hospice in Okotoks, Alberta.
Don will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 36 years - Susan, his brother Wayne and wife Pam Peddie, Sister-in-laws, Lucy and husband Bob Izsak, Ann Simmans and husband Harlan HaanPaa, Doreen and husband Roger Couture, Brother-in-laws Jerome and wife Tracy Collins, Len and wife Sharon Collins, David and wife Brenda Collins, Ernest and wife Lori Collins, Eugene and wife Chris Collins, Ron Collins and partner Joe Robinson. Don also had over 30 nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews.
Don was predeceased by his mother and father – Bob and Tillie Peddie and his Father and Mother In Law – John and Leona Collins, sister in law Jan Peddie and brother in laws Marvin Buller and Paul Simmans.
Don was born in Herbert, Saskatchewan on January 31, 1947 in the height of the baby boomers and was the first son of Bob and Tillie Peddie. He also lived in Briercrest where he started his schooling and then moved to Moose Jaw where he attended Empire Elementary School, Palliser Heights and then went on to Central Collegiate. During his younger years he developed a love for hockey which took him through many stages of playing for the Moose Jaw Canucks and then excelling to the team camp for the Chicago Blackhawks. One of Don’s most treasured memories was playing hockey with Bobby Hull – one of the greatest hockey players ever. In 1966-1967 he played Senior Hockey with the Moose Jaw Pla-Mors Hockey Club.
Don loved teaching the game and coached many young hockey players with a few making it to the NHL. In 1974 he took his team ‘The Moose Jaw Harwoods-Pee Wees’ to an ‘A’ Championship.
His love for hockey never left him and his beloved Calgary Flames was always in his heart even when they were not playing so well. He especially enjoyed the rivalry between the Flames and the Oilers and never missed the texting back and forth with his nephew Kyle Couture – an avid Oilers fan from birth. It was a good night for him when the Flames played the Hawks – because he loved both teams. He spent many a game night with his best friend Rudy Skapin and they usually could solve every issue the Flames team ever had over a glass of scotch or wine.
Don was an entrepreneur from an early age and he had one of the largest paper delivery routes as a child getting all of his mates to deliver the papers while he made sure to do the collections! He took his training in carpentry and was then hired by Trans Canada Pipelines. Don moved on to set up his own company to do project management for his company Wedgewood Homes as well as other commercial and industrial projects including Earls, Joey Tomato, Margaritaville and many others. He loved the business and was truly committed to each project he took on. When Don went into semi-retirement he still loved the social aspect of telling people about the products he carried – BoilerMag from Eclipse Tools North America, Dimplex, and HydroFlow – and he carried on his business until a few days before his death. He was committed and driven in his work and in every aspect of his life, but the most important things were his family and friends and he loved a good night where he could do the cooking and have all his friends over to enjoy the results.
In the last few months of his life there were a lot of doctor visits, tests, chemo and radiation. His resolve never wavered and if you asked him how he was feeling – it was always ‘Don Peddie Good’! He never complained about what he was going through and resolved to ‘beat this thing’ even to his last days.
We would like to thank the Alberta Health Services for their impeccable care of Don while he was journeying through these difficult times – Dr. Syrnyk- his personal doctor and friend, Dr. Maurice – Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and the numerous nurses, doctors and care aids at the Foothills Hospital and especially our Palliative Home Care Nurse Pat S. – the angel that God sent to care for him. In addition we thank the Foothills Country Hospice for their loving and wonderful care of Don and our entire family – the nurses and Dr. O – you have changed our lives for the better and although Don didn’t spend a lot of time under your care, we knew that he was loved and safe – thank you for caring for all of us. Thank you to Pastor Ray from the First Alliance Church – a true prayer warrior sent by Jesus who prayed with Don and our family shortly before Don went to see Jesus - we could not have done this journey without your prayers, love and support.
Funeral Services will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home, (Prairie View Chapel, 1605-100 Street SE, Calgary) on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with luncheon to follow. Mountain View Funeral Home is a participant in the Alberta Restrictions Exemption Program. For the requirements for entry into our facilities, please refer to: alberta.ca/REP. In lieu of flowers and if you wish, donations can be made in memory of Donnie to the Foothills Country Hospice – www.countryhospice.org
Internment Services will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 210 Wess Road, Saskatoon, SK. A gathering will follow the Service with details to be released at a later date.
