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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
FANCOURT, Donald Edgar (Don) - Age 77, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 1, 2023 at St. Mary's General Hospital after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Loving husband of Carol Fancourt for 55 years and 11 months. Proud father of Nicole VandenBerg (David) and Michelle Innocente (David) and beloved grandfather of Meghan, Jadon and Jared VandenBerg and Lauren and Maggie Innocente. Predeceased by father Albert "Bob" Fancourt in 1987, sister Donna Main (John) in 2019, mother-in-law Dorothy Baxter in 1977, father-in-law Gordon Baxter in 1996, and brother-in-law Rob Jollimore (Dawn) in 1995. Survived by mother Kathleen Delorme, brothers Dale Fancourt (Sylvia) and David Fancourt (Darlene), brothers-in-law Gordon Baxter, Dennis Baxter (Jean), Jamie Baxter (Patricia) and sisters-in-law Dawn Jollimore (Gail) and Sandra Boonstra (Fred). Also a cherished uncle and great uncle to many nieces and nephews. Born in Lafleche, Saskatchewan, Don grew up in Bowness, Calgary, Alberta. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1963. He did his basic training at Cornwallis in Nova Scotia and transferred to Stadacona in Halifax after meeting Carol. Don was honourably released as an Able Seaman Radar Plotter in 1966. He was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Brechin Branch 488 for decades. After leaving the Navy, he worked for the Bank of Montreal in Halifax and Moncton. He began his career in the meat-packing industry as a salesman for Canada Packers in Halifax in 1968 and later transferred to Edmonton and Toronto. Don then worked for Ronald A. Chisholm, a brokerage firm. He was only there a couple years as his passions remained in the meat-packing industry. In 1983, Don joined J.M. Schneider Inc. in Kitchener as a Product Manager and rose to the position of General Manager Fresh Pork which he held until operations were downsized. Working at Schneiders allowed Don to travel the world and see places that many of us never will. In 1997, Don and Carol moved to Winnipeg and Don took on the role of General Manager at the Puratone Corporation in Niverville, Manitoba. Don then spent a year as CEO of Moose Jaw Pork Packers Ltd., before finishing his career back in Kitchener-Waterloo as an Account Manager for PIC (Pig Improvement Company). He retired in 2013, spending his days golfing with buddies twice a week, travelling, and spending time with his family and friends. He will be forever remembered for his love and support of family, his stories, his sense of humour, his laugh, his lifelong love of horse racing, his ability to make friends everywhere he went and his enthusiastic support of his grandkids at their many hockey, soccer, football and baseball games. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses, doctors and support staff at St. Mary's General Hospital for the wonderful care, comfort and dignity they provided Don and his family in his final days. Don's family will host a Celebration of His Life with relatives and friends on Wednesday, March 8th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener, 519-749-8467. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Mary's General Hospital Foundation would be greatly appreciated by Don's family (cards available at the funeral home). (The Waterloo Region Record 06 Mar 2023)
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