Douglas Charles Gardiner

Doug Gardiner age 94, born in Winnipeg on July 19. 1929, passed away peacefully at the Grace Hospice on Monday July 15, 2024.

It was while attending Gordon Bell High School that he met, dated and on October 22, 1947 married his best friend, true love and devoted wife of 72 years Dorothy, in a beautiful ceremony held at the Westminister Church on Maryland Street in Winnipeg.

Doug is survived by his son Roy, daughter-in-law Colleen and grandchildren Tyler (TJ), Quaid, Quaid’s partner Nicole, and special family member Oliver Ferland. Doug was predeceased by his wife Dorothy in 2021 and his grand daughter-in-law Alex in 2022.

Doug’s favourite passion was music. Doug, or Bunk as his fellow musicians called him, played trumpet and sang with his own big band and several of the big bands around town. Doug played trumpet well into his eighties ending his musical journey with the Khartum Temple Orchestra, where he formed many lasting friendships.

Doug’s other hobby was training race horses, he began owning and training thoroughbreds horses, in the early fifties, at the old Polo Park race track and continued owning and training horses into the late seventies at Assiniboia Downs.

Doug will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. He will always be remembered for his kind heart and quick wit.

He considered himself fortunate to have lived such a long and happy life. Truly a life well lived, filled with family and friends, possessing his famous razor sharp mind, good health, and quick wit for all of his nearly 95 years.

A private intimate service, for the immediate family, is planned for a later date.

In lieu of cards and flowers, the family would ask that you make a donation to Alzheimer Society of Manitoba Inc. in memory of Dorothy.