Douglas Harold Anderson

Douglas Harold Anderson was born on February 9, 1932 in Regina but spent his childhood and all his adult life in Winnipeg. Growing up, he spent idyllic summers at his grandmother’s (Anderson-Christianson, Nordal) family home in Selkirk. He was predeceased by his wife, Effie Ann (MacLean) Anderson, his sister, Peggy Ione Anderson, his father and step-mother, Harold and Helen Anderson and his mother, Christina (Howat) Williams.

He will be sadly missed by his family and friends. Doug is survived by his daughter, Margaret Ann, son, John (Roxane), daughter, Sandra (Nigel), grandchildren, Matthew (Kyla), Stephen, Taylor, Michelle and great-grandson Dante. He is also survived by his loving best friend, Aleta de Keruzec.

Doug attended University of Manitoba and obtained his B.Sc. Eng in mechanical engineering in 1954. He was a member of the phi delta theta fraternity. He served with the Reserve Squadron with Royal Canadian Air Force at the University of Manitoba (1951-1954).

He belonged to the Association of Professional Engineers of Manitoba and initially worked for Imperial Oil for 5 years after graduation before starting his own company as a general contractor, D.H. Anderson Construction Ltd. From 1961 until retirement, Doug worked at his own company and even in retirement, he continued to draw architectural pictures that required an engineer’s expertise.

As a lifelong member of the Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club, he enjoyed his steam baths and going there for his lunches all those years.

He was a dancer and was expert at the Viennese waltz. He had special dancing shoes that he would polish every week. He would attend the Legion afternoon tea dances and meat draws. In the summers, he loved to be at the cottage in Ponemah doing his projects. There was always something on the list to be done there. An animal lover, his house always had a dog or cat or two or three. Even when he could no longer have pets when living at the apartment, he would always ask his children about their animals and his parting comment would be, “Don’t forget to feed the dog”.

Doug had always overcome his health challenges; the triple bypass, insulin-dependent diabetes, and COPD. He was very independent but it was time to leave the Beaverbrook St. house after living there for over 50 years. He made the move to a senior’s apartment block where he enjoyed the thrice/week community lunches and the comradeship with others his age.

Doug was a frugal man. Nothing was every wasted or placed in the garbage without considering all possible uses. Any piece of board or screw might be needed at some point in the future. He had every size of screw or nail imaginable and if you were looking for some obscure part for a home repair project, chances were that Doug would have it. Everything was organized on shelves and in tins and jars by size. He could tell you where everything was and of course, how to do your project. And he did know how to do just about anything. He also liked to horse trade. It would give him great pleasure to give you something you needed in return for some object to add to his collection of repairables.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2015 at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard.

The family would like to thank the staff at Tuxedo Villa for their care and compassion over the past 3 months. He especially enjoyed their monthly pub afternoons and the 2 resident cats. Also, the family would like to acknowledge the Victoria Hospital staff for their care during his 7 month stay and the preceding 8 months of homecare nursing assistance at his apartment. Dr. Lowden was a constant in his medical care throughout. The past 2 years had been a long haul for Doug, a man who loved his independence but now he is at peace.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.