Douglas Carl Rathwell
December 5, 1926 (Tompkins, Saskatchewan) ~ September 22, 2022 (Calgary, Alberta)
Doug was the youngest child of Dalton and Beulah Rathwell, both of Irish descent, and kid brother to Lloyd and Estella. After losing his father at a young age, Doug left school in grade eight, in order to support his mother, by working the farm in Tompkins. Some of Doug’s favorite pastimes were riding his horse Lightening and spending time with his best friends Russell Simpson and Keith Casey; all born on the same day. Following droughts, snowstorms, and multiple crop failures in the “dirty thirties”, Doug and his mother moved to Strathmore, Alberta, where they farmed for seven years before relocating to Calgary. Doug then worked various jobs such as selling car parts and janitorial duties. Eventually, he ended up working for General Foods in their margarine factory in Calgary. He climbed the ranks, starting at the very bottom, up to an office job as a manager.
Although Doug had a very strong work ethic, he knew how to balance work and play. One of his favorite pastimes was dancing, where he met the first love of his life Mary Margaret Shalenko. They were married on April 5, 1958, and adopted twin boys, Keith and James, in 1960. Keith was severely injured in a car accident in 1986 and given little chance of living. Doug refused to give up on him and is credited with helping him to walk again. He continued to assist Keith and lived within walking distance of him in northwest Calgary. Doug also became the caregiver for Mary, who suffered a long battle with osteoporosis, arthritis, and blindness, and in 2002, she slipped away from him, holding his hand tightly until the end.
Someone who came to be a good friend to Mary was Kathleen (Kay) McKay, who also provided meals to the grieving widower. Kay had been widowed, herself, many years before. Doug and Kay became good friends. Although they had both grown up in Tompkins, fate had brought them together again and they decided to make it permanent and married on June 28, 2003. Kay and Doug traveled, danced, and hiked, as well as volunteered for organizations such as Theatre Calgary. Doug and Kay were married for 11 years although, in her final years, her health declined and she was confined to the Carewest facility in Garrison Green, Calgary. Doug commuted from their home in Silver Springs for the first year, before retiring to the Garrison Green Assisted Living, across the courtyard, to sit at her side until she, too, was taken from him, in 2014. He continued to live at Garrison Green until ill health forced him to move into Bow View Manor in March 2022.
Doug was a thoughtful, caring man, a friend to many, with a quiet side. He possessed an outstanding memory for 90+ years and could recite long poems verbatim. He often cracked jokes, right up to his final failing days. Such was the case when an employee at Bow View asked him who had given him a beautiful flower arrangement. He responded, "I can't quite recall. Must have been Robin Hood" (flour-flower).
Doug is survived by his son Keith Rathwell; daughter-in-law, Sheryl Coultes; grandchildren Douglas Rathwell (Ashley) and Renée; great-grandchildren Shawn and Sarah; stepdaughter Donna Smith-Bronson (Larry Bronson) her daughters Kathryn Langley and Megan Smith; great-grandson Spencer Langley; step-daughter Janice Steedman (Neil Skaluba) and her children Jordan and Adan Steedman; stepson Kelvin McKay (Lorie) and his children Carmen McKay (Stephen Ulseth); great-granddaughters Sierra and Rayna Ulseth and Sean McKay (Tiffany Beausoleil) and their daughter Bridgette. Doug is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Doug will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
In remembrance of Doug, he would love you to plant a tree, go for a hike, sing in the shower or dance the night away…
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