Don Hambleton - Obituary

Don Hambleton: April 27, 1949 to March 1, 2010. "We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Don Hambleton after a long, courageous and bravely fought battle with heart disease. He leaves to grieve his beloved wife, Alice (nee Taillefer); his dear children, son, Chris (Elsa Johnston) of Regina; his daughter, Jana (Rob Klenz) of Saskatoon; his sister, Myna Hambleton (Ross McLeod) of Stewiacke, NS; his step-son, Tyson Williams of North Battleford; his step grand-daughter, Kiera Williams; his mother-in-law, Flora Taillefer of Prince Albert; his sister-in-law, Lorraine Clyesdale (Gordon) of Warman; brother-in-law, Gerry St. Pierre (Dorine) of Barrhead, AB; and nephews, Donny (Leah) Hebden of Cape Breton and Scott (Tabitha) Hebden of Georgia, USA. He also leaves to mourn aunts, Esther (Calvin Beddome), Delphine Ruszkowski and Ruth Jenic, all of Prince Albert; and uncle, Gerald (Shirley ) Campbell of Victoria, BC; as well as many cousins. Don was born in Prince Albert and attended school at Riverside and obtained his Bachelor of Education at U of S. In his youth, he was an avid softball, football, and hockey player. Before his teaching career he worked for the Forestry department where he developed a great love of trees, the North and fishing; spending many happy days in the Prince Albert National Park. He taught at various schools in Prince Albert until 1996 and during that time he also successfully ran commercial greenhouses and a market garden near St. Louis. He and Alice moved to Saskatoon in 1999. Don took great pride in his children's accomplishments but also achieved many outstanding accomplishments himself. After his teaching career was over, he spent many hours volunteering at Yarrow Youth Farm, at the U of S and various horticulture events. He became a Master Gardener and spent countless hours planning and designing people's yards as well as his and Alice's acreage. In honour of his volunteering, he was so proud to have received the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal from Linda Haverstock in 2005. Don learned about gardening at his Granny Campbell's knee, and everywhere he lived, he created his own little Garden of Eden. As well as horticulture, Don was an accomplished wood worker, sculptor, and painter. He had a remarkable eye for detail and the patience to make anything he worked at perfect. His motto was always leave a place better than what it was when you arrived. Don was predeceased by his father, Frederick in 1977; his mother, Margaret in 2006; uncles and aunts, Jack Ruszkowski, Max Jenic, Sandy and Lorna Taylor, Jean London, Henry and Irene Olson; grandparents, Bill and Elsie Campbell. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Funeral Home (east on 8th Street, turn right before railway crossing). Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Electrophysiology department at the Royal University Hospital (103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK. S7N 0W8). Arrangements entrusted to Kenneth Scheirich"