Obituary of Dannie Charles McDonald

Dannie (Dan) McDonald of Calgary, AB, passed away suddenly on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at the age of 58 years.  Although Dan lived in Calgary, he passed away in Brooks, AB while visiting a close friend at the time.

Dan was born in Calgary, AB on September 24, 1964, at the Holy Cross Hospital. Dan's parents, Lorraine and Elmore (Moe) McDonald, were married in 1963 and moved to Revelstoke, BC in 1965 with Dannie and his older siblings.

 Dan spent his younger years in Revelstoke before the family moved back to Calgary in 1972, then Red Deer for a couple of years, then back to Calgary where he spent the remainder of his life.

Dan graduated from SAIT in Calgary, AB with a degree in Engineering Drafting Technology in 1989 and immediately moved into the career of his choosing.  His entire working life was spent as a Drafting Technologist in the Oil/Gas industry. He absolutely loved the work he did which brought him great pride, respect and high esteem. He would consider his career the crowning achievement of his life.

Dan enjoyed travelling, meeting new people, learning new things, hosting parties and cooking elaborate meals that would rival any qualified chef. He had an insanely great design style with clothing and physical spaces He was very gregarious and not only loved, but needed, to be around people all the time. 

Going down the “straight and narrow” path was not his road.  

Dan faced considerable uphill battles due to his many health challenges over the years. His life could be complex as a result, and these issues impacted nearly every action or decision he made.  But he took control of his life in so many other amazing ways. He was suave, handsome, spirited, funny, honest, empowered, compassionate, generous, smart and very strong willed. 

His life was filled with more successes, achievements and experiences than most people would ever hope to realize.  There was no boundary that he wasn’t willing to tackle.  Though every adventure carried its share of good and challenging moments, he still went through them courageously.  He was a doer……he got things done! When he took on a task, he was committed to completing it perfectly every time.  His standards were very high.

Those who really knew Dan well would recognize that his signature question over the years was always, “Are you mad at me?”, but in truth, his favorite saying was, “I love you” and he meant it when he said it.

Above all else, he was loving and kind.  His entire life, he wore his heart on his sleeve, so you always knew where you stood with him.  He loved with all his heart, to a fault sometimes, and few questioned that. Dan had personal and professional relationships that lasted much of his life. If you were important to Dan, you knew it.

He will be most remembered for his wicked sense of humour, loud laugh, unbelievable (but true) life stories and one of the warmest hearts any person could ever have.

Dan is survived by his brother Glenn McDonald of Calgary, sister-in-law Marles Pound of Calgary, niece Colleen Pound of Calgary, nephew Greg Pound of Cambridge, ON., brother-in-law Jerry Clarke, as well as several distant cousins in Western Canada. 

Dan considered his lifelong friends to be his closest family members, including Alan Besseling of Calgary, Tanner Gittens of Calgary, Brad Bowes of Calgary, Dan Kinninburg of Milo and Ritu Hilkewich of Calgary.  He also held great affection for the many people who had befriended him over the years and continued to be in his life.

Dan was predeceased by his mother Helen Lorraine Bowman (Pound) and father Elmore (Moe) McDonald; brother Bob Pound; sisters, Dianne Pound (Clarke) and Lorilee Pound (LeFebvre); aunts, Audrey Bowman (Johnson), Ruby Bowman (Stoughton) and Louise Bowman (Arnold); and uncles, Ken McDonald, Phil McDonald and Dave McDonald. 

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Convention Centre (formerly Coast Plaza, 1316 – 33rd Street N.E., Calgary, AB, T2A-6B6) on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and all friends are welcome.  For additional information, please contact Al at al-away@hotmail.com. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Dan’s family here.

In living memory of Dannie McDonald, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.