Richard "Ric" Laurence Deakin

Richard “Ric” Deakin passed away peacefully in hospice in Duncan, British Columbia, on December 23, 2025, after a long, courageous battle with illness. He was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed.

Ric has a military background and has lived all over the world. Growing up between regions and cultures shaped his adaptability, independence, and the calm, steady way he moves through the world.

From an early age, Ric’s curiosity and mechanical mind were unmistakable. At 2 ½ years old, he was known to take things apart simply to understand how they worked, once prying up floorboards with a screwdriver, not out of mischief but pure fascination. That instinct stayed with him for life and shaped many of the passions that followed.

Ric proudly served in the Canadian Air Force, an experience that left a lasting mark on him. In his early twenties, he was posted to Germany, where he spent formative years that broadened his horizons and deepened his sense of discipline and responsibility. He returned to Canada in his late twenties, carrying with him both the structure of military life and the quiet strength that would define him. Ric served in the Canadian Air Force for twenty-five years. He was a veteran of the Bosnian war and of many peacekeeping missions. He also spent several years as a flight engineer flying for BC’s beloved Martin Mars waterbombers.

After his service, Ric brought those same qualities into every corner of his life. He was funny without trying, loyal to the core, and quietly protective of the people he loved. He did not posture or boast; his strength lay in steadiness. Ric had a way of being present that made others feel safe, whether by showing up without being asked, listening without judgment, or standing firm when things were hard.

He loved machines and motion. Motorcycles were a lifelong passion, beginning with his first Moto Guzzi and extending to his fascination with racing, including his participation in the Isle of Man TT. He said the race was fun but scary, too! Cars, boats, skiing, and anything mechanical or kinetic captured his attention. Ric approached these interests with the same focus and respect he brought to everything else.

Ric also loved music, good food, and the simple satisfaction of cooking for others. He was happiest when his hands were busy and his home was full. His beloved cat, Ozzie, was never far from his side, a quiet companion who seemed to understand him as few others could.

Meeting Donnalee changed Ric’s life. With her, he became an even better version of himself, softer, more grounded, and deeply devoted. Their relationship was marked by humour, loyalty, and an unspoken understanding that endured through illness and hardship. Donnalee stood by him through the most difficult seasons, and he loved her dearly.

Ric was a proud father to Lyndsay and Shannon, later becoming a loving stepfather to Kirsten. He was a grandfather who quietly rejoiced in watching his grandchildren — Cairo, Jalen, and Shea — grow, always attentive and always proud. He also held deep, lifelong bonds with Lowell and Karen O’Keefe and their daughter, Krista McCool, family by every definition that matters.

In recent years, Ric faced serious illness with courage and dignity. Although his health declined, his spirit remained unmistakably his own. He met each day as it came, without complaint, and with a quiet resolve that reflected the man he had always been.

Ric was predeceased by his parents, Beverly and Jack Deakin, and by his daughter, Shannon. He is survived by his wife, Donnalee Squire; his daughter, Lyndsay Deakin Sternberg; his stepdaughter, Kirsten Emerson, and her husband, Eden Jackson; his grandchildren, Cairo, Jalen, and Shea Jackson; and his sister, Brenda Deakin. Ric shared a close, meaningful bond with Reg Emerson, who held a special place in his life.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to a veterans’ organization of your choice.

Ric lived with integrity, loyalty, and quiet courage. He will be deeply missed and always remembered.