Obituary of Douglas Lawrence Brewster

August 8, 1965 - Castlegar, British Columbia

July 25, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

 

Douglas Brewster, beloved husband of Pam Brewster (nee Jedel), of Calgary, AB, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 25, 2022, at the age of 56 years.

Douglas was born in Castlegar, BC, on August 8, 1965. He moved to many different places in B.C. such as Surrey (Delta), Prince Rupert, and Kelowna due to his Dad’s placement with the R.C.M.P. Eventually he called Calgary home when he moved there for university.

Doug’s childhood consisted of fun family time spent camping at Wasa Lake BC. Where he would spend time with his Mom’s family going boating, learning to fly fish, and driving with his Grandpa Moffat on the old logging roads. Doug’s Grandma Moffat played the piano and had taught him chopsticks which he still played to this day with the kids. Doug thought family was very important and would often make the trip back home to Kelowna where he grew up.

Doug loved sports and was involved in baseball, rugby, skiing, and hockey with his brother Dave in his childhood years. Often using their little sister Debbie as a shooter tutor for hockey. He had many fond memories of hockey trips with family and friends and would still laugh today at jokes Mike Turgan told in the back seat of the family car.

Doug continued his love for Hockey by joining the T-Birds in the mid 90’s. Pam would often attend his games and was, for a time, their #1 fan (only fan). Doug, Pam, and later on the boys, enjoyed trips to Kimberly with the team for hockey and it was where the boys learned to ski. This was the town where Doug’s Mom grew up and where his parents met and were married. So it held a special place in Doug's memories. The T-birds weren’t just a team they were family, sharing and attending many life events together. Doug hadn’t played in a while due to a torn rotator cuff but had started back with them this past winter.

Doug loved cars growing up and would often tell stories about his Dodge Colt, his 5.0L Mustang, and the Corvette he bought with his brother Dave. He spoke fondly of the first brand new car he had ever purchased, a Nissan 240 which he had until he and Pam started a family. He bought a Suzuki Katana motorcycle in university, a love he shared with his “big brother” Dean Coxen. Doug and Pam had recently purchased new bikes. Together they had started doing short trips to Bragg creek and Black diamond with plans for longer rides to Lake Louise in the future.

Doug was gifted a trip to Europe by his Gram Brewster for his graduation. They had a wonderful time together exploring, a trip that Doug and Pam would do again shortly after they were married. This trip sparked a love for travel - he even enjoyed just going to the airport, he would offer to pick someone up, take the family there for dinner, or to watch the planes take off. When the Burnco office moved this year, he would go park at the airport to have his lunch. He was super excited to see a snowbird take off just days before he passed.

Doug did many trips with friends; he went on two trips to California, one with his high school friend Greg Strigler, and one with his university friend, Jordan Potiuk, a trip they were recently discussing doing again. He also traveled to Mexico with friends and had many adventures with the Ski and Fun group.

Doug traveled to Hawaii with his brother, and later multiple times with Pam and then with their Parents, Debbie and Ben. Their love of the islands continued, and they would return to Kauai two more times with Ben and Nolan.

During the early years of their marriage, Doug and Pam enjoyed travelling to Disneyland so much that for two years they bought season passes and would go every chance they could. It was a great place for Doug to destress mostly because he liked any kind of amusement park ride. The bigger the rollercoaster the better. They shared this enjoyment with the boys and had taken them to Disney and Knotts Berry Farm five times as a family,  with their Moms and also with friends. They were thinking it was time to go again.

Doug and Pam also travelled to Jamaica where Pam learned to Scuba dive, Doug had been a certified PADI diver since 1987.

Doug and Pam loved adventures! Ziplining, repelling, snorkeling, fishing, hiking, cliff jumping, razor rides, snowmobiling, driving NASCAR in Vegas, ice fishing, surfing, parasailing, camping, and renting motorcycles and scooters in Hawaii are just some of the exciting things that filled their time on vacation.

Doug and Pam would often go to Saskatchewan to visit her family. He got a kick out of her crazy competitive family and could usually be found sitting back chuckling to himself about the chaos. From card games to horseback riding (his favourite horse Moe) and quads, fishing, boating, waterskiing, target shooting, camping, and hot tubbing. There was always something on the go and he enjoyed every minute.

Doug graduated from Mount Boucherie High school in 1983 where he made many lifelong Friends. He then attended College in Kelowna and later graduated from The University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1989. Doug continued his education and received his CGA diploma in 1995.

Doug took pride in his work and was proud of his accomplishment at both Decker Doors and McDonald where he worked during his high school and college years. Doug was always committed to his work and had worked his way up to manager at McDonald’s. He always told the boys that if you work hard success will follow.

Doug began his career with Burnco Rock Products in 1988. He started in the bagging plant as a summer job. After showing interest in moving into the office he was offered a position in accounts payable. Doug was determined to make the job a success and went back to school while working to obtain his CGA degree.  Over the years he held many positions and titles at Burnco, finally finding his groove as Manager of Finance the last few months. Burnco came to be more than just a job. Doug met Pam at Burnco when she was working as a temp. Doug, a traditionalist as far as work and social appearances, finally got up the courage to ask for her number on her last day. They married a little over two years later on July 28, 2001. Doug’s dad Larry also worked for the company as a handyman. His nephew Jarod had a summer field job with Burnco and Ben had just started working in the office this summer. Doug was well-liked and respected at work. Many becoming friends and confidants and not just co-coworkers. Pam often referred to the girls at the office as his “work wives” having worked and traveled with many of them or forming friendships on corporate retreats to Mexico.

Doug was an amazing Dad to his two boys Benjamin (16) and Nolan (14). He would spend hours playing trains and cars with them when they were little.  He always wanted to take them to the latest Disney movie.

Doug taught the boys to skate at the lake and could often be found shooting pucks with them in the alley, coaching them on the ice, or playing parent/kid games with them.

Whether it was teaching them how to play catch or coaching them in Little League. (Doug was known by the baseball world as “Coach Two Hands” he had a passion for helping kids succeed and catching the ball with two hands was his mission). Doug could often be found lingering after the games, chatting with parents and Coaches, boasting about all of the kids on the team’s accomplishments and successes.

Many people in the hockey and baseball community have expressed how deeply they will feel his loss. Too Doug they weren’t just “other parents” they were friends.

He was so proud of his boys and took pride in the amazing young men they were becoming. Doug was in the process of helping Nolan with his new adventure into Motocross and was excited for the time they would spend together with this new hobby. Unfortunately, things were delayed this year and they never got to see that dream realized. Doug and Nolan enjoyed spending time together watching all the latest Star Wars episodes, something they shared, just the two of them that meant so much to both of them.

If Doug wasn’t coaching, he was attending their sporting events, school functions, or dragging them on some new adventure. He loved his family time. Dinner was a no phone, conversation-only zone.

Doug and Pam thought it was important to connect with the boys in a meaningful way at least once a day. Unless there was a Blue Jays game on and then there would be an exception. He loved to visit with the boys about school, friends, girlfriends, or sports.

Ben and Doug could talk for hours about Formula 1, cars, baseball, or hockey, at times outdoing the commentators on T.V. Doug had a deep voice and Pam always said that he had missed his calling as a commentator and that Ben could be his statistician.

Doug was proud of his nieces and nephew and would attend sporting events or celebrations as often as he could. Doug always said he wasn’t handy like his dad, but he could cook up a storm like his Mom. Doug loved experimenting with food, making wine and beer. He would get excited every time they got a new kitchen gadget that he could use to perfect his skills. For Father’s Day, he was given a smoker and he was so thrilled to see what he could create.

Doug loved the family dog “his dog” Pepper. He spent many hours training her, walking her and taking her for after work ball throws at the field. Their outings gave Doug time to decompress from a busy day. Pepper and Doug would have nighttime wrestling sessions and she always slept beside him on the floor. Pepper, like all of us, is already lost without him.

Doug was great with technology and was always setting the house up on the newest, latest and greatest technology. He would make himself available to anyone that needed help. Whether it was at work or at home, he had a knack for figuring out how things worked and could walk anyone through a tough technical situation. His vast knowledge will be greatly missed. He was a “math guy” and just “got” numbers. Both boys share in this skill of their dad’s and their Mom is happy that she will still have someone around to work the budget and the cell phones.

Ben and Nolan will forever cherish the last day they spent with their Dad. With some persistence from Pam, he took them to the Springbank airshow. Even though they were running behind, they made it in time for the entire show. They chatted about life and hopes and dreams, planes, speed, and statistics. All while enjoying something they all loved, airplanes and fighter jets. Doug didn’t know at the time but one of the paratroopers was actually the son of a childhood friend “cousin". The boys were elated when they got home, telling their mom, who had just returned home from a weekend away, that it was the “Best Day Ever”. There were big hugs all around that night! Later Doug shared how wonderful the day was with Pam during their nightly ritual of recounting and reconnecting about their day with each other. Pam will hold that conversation close to her heart forever.

Doug was quiet and mild-tempered. He enjoyed listening but could hold a conversation with almost anyone. He was a kind and gentle soul that preferred one on one to large groups. He loved spending time with family and friends, telling jokes, watching cooking shows, comedians, and listening to Rock and Roll. On the rare occasion letting loose and letting his guard down, so that you could see the true gem that he was inside.

Besides his loving wife Pam, Doug is survived by his children, Benjamin and Nolan Brewster, mom Barb; brother David (Bev) Brewster of Calgary, AB, and their children, Jarod of Saskatoon, and Mikyla of Calgary, AB, and his sister Debbie of Calgary, AB. Doug is also survived by his father-in-law Kurt Jedel; brothers-in-law, Daryl (Nicole) Jedel of Gainsborough, SK and their children, Brittani (Brock) Beaudoin of Gainsborough, SK, Madison Jedel and Chandler Harkins of Estevan, SK and Kianna Jedel of Lethbridge, AB; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Brexton, Bryker, Brennex, and Kasen. Doug was predeceased by his father Larry (2007), and his mother-in-law Brenda (2011).

Life will not be the same without you in it Doug.

A Celebration of Doug’s Life will be held at Stanley Park on September 3, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. Please wear your favourite sports attire, jerseys and hats are welcome. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here or at dougbrewstermemories@gmail.com.

In order to get an idea of numbers for refreshments and hot dogs, please R.S.V.P. to the above email address if you think you will be attending the Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to one of the following: Hockey Canada Foundation Assist Fund, The Calgary Children’s Hospital, The Parks Foundation in support of minor league baseball, or The Heart and Stroke Foundation.

In living memory of Douglas Brewster, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.

Click Here to View Douglas Brewster's Memorial Card