Donald Andrew Millwater

It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Andrew Millwater on March 9th at the age of 74. He passed away peacefully in Trillium Hospice with his wife Maggie and daughter Penny at his side.

He is survived by his wife Maggie; daughter Penny (Randy) and son Tony (Steph) three grandchildren Adam (Tash), Orianna and Sophie and by his brother Bill (Bobbie) plus numerous nephews and nieces and by family in England. Predeceased by his parents William and Margaret Millwater, Sister Margaret Whitford and brother Terry Millwater.

Don and Maggie arrived in Parksville in 2011 from Calgary and immediately became members of the Newcomers Group and ultimately the Alumni Group where they made many friends. They were also members of the Camping Group and spent many years camping up and down the Island with Cluxewe Resort ranking the favourite with Don spending hours fishing. Sometimes successfully but more often or not no fish were caught. Don was raised in Geraldton Ontario and over his younger years moved to various towns as his father found work. The family ended up in Brandon Manitoba. In 1964 Don joined the Canadian Armed Forces becoming a member of the Princess Patricia Light Infantry. He served for 30 years with postings to Germany and Cyprus where he met his second wife, Maggie. The joke was he went into hospital to have his appendix out and came out with a wife. He also enjoyed serving with the United Nations at various times. In 1994 Don retired from the Army and tried Real Estate in Vancouver. In 2000 Don and Maggie returned to live in Calgary to be closer to their growing family. Then in 2011 they decided to make the move to Vancouver Island after spending a holiday on the island and observing one of the beautiful sunsets on one of the many beaches, deciding that this was a wonderful place to retire.

Don was a fun-loving man, ready with a joke which came from a bottomless pit. He could walk into a room and have people laughing within minutes, be ready with a hug and a big smile. People were often taken by his eyes - they held a hint of mischief and one never knew if he was joking or being serious. He was always ready to help anybody who needed it. He loved to dance, loved to have a “wee dram” sitting watching the sunset with Maggie. But his true love was his family and friends. He loved to be with his grandchildren and nephews and nieces, and they all have stories to tell of the “wise words of Papa or Uncle Don”

Don became ill in September 2020 with kidney problems and in January 2021he was diagnosed with a liver problem. After much testing it was found that he had Cancer of the throat and it was also found he had cancer of the liver. The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors of Floor 1 of Nanaimo Hospital for their care and compassion; to the Palliative Care Unit in Nanaimo for the care and love they gave Don even for the short time he was there; and to the Hospice at Trillium in Parksville for their care, their understanding and for making Don’s last few hours as comfortable as possible.

In Lieu of flowers please make a Donation to Oceanside Hospice Society. A Celebration of Life will be arranged at a later date