1930 – 2024
It is with great sadness that the family of Donald Earl Williams, commonly known to many as Griz, announce his passing on March 23, 2024 at the age of 93 years.
Don was born in Calgary on December 19, 1930 and was raised on a farm ten miles north of Hussar in southeastern Alberta. He spent the first seventeen years of his life in the Hussar District. He attended the Atlas, Lawson and Hussar Schools until grade 10 when he went to the Bow Valley High School in Cluny for two years.
He told us many stories of how he was the one room schoolhouse “janitor” and would leave home around 5 a.m., so he could light the fire in the stove at the school. In his early school years, Don and his siblings walked, rode horseback, travelled by horse and cart and then later on a school bus which was actually Willy’s Jeep!
In the spring of 1948, he moved to Calgary to take his apprenticeship in carpentry at SAIT. He worked on several construction jobs in Calgary and in August of 1953, he met his future wife, Annarose Glass. They were married in May of 1956 and continued to reside in Calgary during the early years of their marriage. In 1960, their only daughter, Rona, was born. Four years later, in 1964, they moved to the hamlet of Wimborne to go into partnership in the hardware, lumber and fertilizer business which Annarose’s parents had owned and operated the Crown Lumber Yard Store since 1944.
In 1972, Don and Annarose decided to close out the hardware and lumber store, now known as Wimborne Farm & Building Supplies, to focus on the fertilizer business which had now expanded from bulk and bagged fertilizer into anhydrous ammonia. Wimborne Fertilizer Sales Ltd. was one of the first Elephant Brand fertilizer dealerships in Alberta which sold anhydrous ammonia nitrogen fertilizer. Don drove the anhydrous truck, picked up the anhydrous at various locations in Central Alberta and delivered the ammonia to the two applicators which moved from farm to farm.
Don and Annarose raised their daughter in Wimborne. In 1985, they sold the fertilizer business and retired. In 1988, Ellisha, their first grandchild was born and four years later Tristan, their grandson was born. Both grandchildren were the apple of their eyes and they spent endless hours together. Throughout their life in Wimborne, Don put his carpentry skills to use. The house they purchased, when they moved to Wimborne in 1964, took on many different looks and the old, white house on the corner, was remodelled several times.
After Annarose’s passing in 2005, Don remained in Wimborne until 2009, when he moved to Trochu, where he lived with Doris Schneider. In 2012 he and Doris moved into assisted living at The Chateau in Three Hills. Within the last five years, three very special great-children were added to the family. Great Grandpa's eyes truly sparkled whenever the family got together. Don remained at The Chateau, living on his own, until his passing.
In the fertilizer business, spring and fall were very busy seasons, so Don enjoyed the outdoors during the off seasons. Hunting, fishing and camping were his favorite pastimes. In the summer, the Williams family headed west of Prince George to Francois Lake, BC where they spent two months fishing at Sandy’s Resort. Don’s last trip to Francois Lake was in 2016 with his entire family. It was a yearly tradition that lasted almost 50 years. Each year Don would also plan a salmon fishing trip to Prince Rupert with his brother and fishing buddies. Halibut, crab and salmon were never in short supply and neither were the fishing stories that always returned home with the mighty fishermen. Two cherished memories our whole family will always have, is the time we spent together on the two salmon fishing charters on the west coast of B.C.
Late autumn was spent west of Sundre, in the Panther River area and then later at the YaHa Tinda, with his hunting buddies. Hunting, another yearly tradition, began in 1950, and still continues with Don’s son in law, the grandchildren and now his great grandchildren. Other vacations included trips to Hawaii, England, Arizona and Mexico as well as yearly ski trips to Fernie or Panorama, once the grandchildren were born.
“Chase the Ace” was a favorite card game of Don’s especially when enjoying the great outdoors out at hunting camp! If Chase the Ace wasn’t in the cards, then thirty-one was the next choice. Don’s chum bucket was always filled with toonies and loonies ready to play whatever game was played. Don’s other favorite game was crib. It seemed like he always had the luck of the cards but there had to be some skill involved as well and it wasn't uncommon for there to be a “skunk” involved. He played his final crib game about a week before he passed. Don’s other pastimes included reading western novels, especially those written by Louis L’Amour, watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy every evening at 8, snowmobiling in the winter and heckling anyone who didn’t drive a FORD vehicle. Don’s Arctic Cat Cheetah, purchased in 1974, still provides many hours of winter fun for the great grandchildren.
Don was an active member of the Wimborne Hall Board for a number of years. He was also a member of the Wimborne Fish & Game and the Central Alberta Big Game Trophy Club.
He will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his daughter, Rona, and husband, Glen, two grandchildren: Ellisha (Mason) and Tristan (Gloria); three great-grandchildren Benjamin, Parker and Sophia; as well as one brother, Fred, and numerous nieces, nephews and many dear friends.
Don was predeceased by his wife, Annarose, his friend, Doris, his parents John and Doris Williams, his stepsisters, Alice Neilsen and Marion Richmond, and brother, Bill Williams.
A Come and Go Celebration will be held on April 20, 2024 at the Wimborne Community Hall from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Memorial Donations may be made in Don’s honor to the Wimborne Community Hall.
Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006
