Donald Arthur Goddard

On August 3, 2021 just a few days after his 85th birthday, this loving, clever, witty, father and husband, Donald Arthur Goddard passed away at IOOF Barrie after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, diagnosed in 2006. Don was born in Sudbury Ontario, to Grace (Schrader from Massey) and Arthur Goddard (“Rhythm Rangers” was Art’s band in Sudbury). He is the dear brother to sisters Marilyn Maciborka (Ben) and baby sister, Sherry Smith (Bill) recently deceased.

While attending Sudbury King George public school Don met his to be sweetheart wife in Grade 5, Marlene Burgess (Mar). Their spark never dimmed as Sudbury Tech kept them together. After they married Mar let Don know what trouble he was in for, so she bought him a T-shirt that read: “Pray For Me I Married A Finn. That she was, a strong minded Sudbury Finn. Their marriage lasted for 64 years.

This union produced four great children, three boys Perry, twins Phillip (Elaine) & David (Maureen) and finally, joyously, a girl Grace Leah Goddard. Don and Marlene’s great joy was their six grandsons, Justin (Gareth), Curtis (Victoria, their daughter Heidi), Devin (Amy) and Graham (Lisa), Jordan and Jason. Sorry to learn, Don never got to say “I love you” to his beautiful Great Granddaughter Heidi.

Don’s hobbies were, Amateur Radio Operator (HAM). His last call sign was VE3 DAG, in early days he had to be proficient in Morris Code before he could get his license. He was a regular on the Ontario Net and the Chicken Junction Net, and now sadly a “silent key”.

Boating was another interest. Both he and his wife took the Power Squadron course, then both took lessons in sailing and enjoyed sailing their MacGregor trail-able sail boat on Georgian Bay with a 7 HP motor, a big challenge for beginners. Later there would be a 30ft cruiser moored at Toronto Spit Harbour. Spent weekends on Lake Ontario with children and grandchildren, while anchored watching the Air Show and on Canada Day watching those spectacular Fire Works.

Don was a Canadian Air Force, Air Traffic Controller. All of Canada was their home from Vancouver Island to Prince Edward Island and North to Churchill Manitoba.

Best of all postings was their four years in Lahr (Black Forest) Germany for all six, boys were teenagers in High School and Grace was in grade school. The school trips for the children were terrific. For the adults that Black Forest food was everything you could wish for, frog legs, slugs (escargot), wild boar, sounds gross, but delicious. Cannot forget the favorite Lahr Gasthof, “Willies”, it was the place to go on Saturdays, Pommes Frites with mayo and Goulash soup with a tall glass of beer.

Bratwurst wagon on the street was another delight. Travels, Parties and more Parties. Travel trailer road trip to Rauma, Finland with a Peugeot wagon towing a small trailer, with kids in tow. Marlene met many relatives there and treated royally. Beautiful Scandinavia, sitting out during the mid- night sun by an open fire, eating salted herring and rye bread.

Don and family back to Canada 1975 to CFB Borden, Don as an Air Traffic Control Instructor. While there Don was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer, this promotion was the icing on the cake for Don as this was the highest rank he could achieve as an enlisted Air Man. He enjoyed every second of his CWO rank, especially on the parade square with Army members, the rivalry was in good fun. Next posting was to CFB North Bay (NORAD) where Don received his Commission as Captain and 2 years later posted to CFB Trenton where he decided to retire in 1983 to a civilian position in Toronto for 14 years on Front St. Close to so many places to shop and eat. St. Lawrence Market very close, the Spaghetti Factory, great place for the grandkids and the older ones, they could just walk there from the apartment.

Don and Mar made the most of that Toronto stay, concerts, great restaurants, many walks to the CN Tower and back. Boating on the weekends. The four grandchildren learned to swim in the large apartment pool, to say nothing of the huge Jacuzzi and the Sauna.

In December the grandchildren would come down with Don and Mar to watch the Annual Santa Clause Parade, very close to the apartment.

Finally Don retired, not far from Sudbury, to their home on Agnew Lake, enjoying fishing, kayaking, sailing, hunting. Don discovered that the pickerel “cheeks” were a delicacy, a super fisherman was he, cooking the fish was his delight, especially when he dipped them in his beer batter.

Don also got his first Moose and Mar was asked to take an extra boat across the lake to meet the hunters who were busy with this Moose and it happened that Mar carried the Moose antlers on her shoulders to the boat. Was she not thinking that some hunter might see the antlers and shoot??

Both spent a winter in California near Palm Springs. That’s were Don and Mar took golf lessons on the small course with an instructor and later more instructions from pros. Don was hooked, and got very good and Mar tried real hard to catch up. Don was Mar’s golf coach, so gentle with his instructions. Back home they took a membership at the Massey 9 hole golf course, it was a very long 9 hole.

Later Mar bought a motorized golf caddie. She was determined to stick it out and keep playing with Don. Don was serious about his game and was very good even against his boys. When the boys visited that’s where they headed off to, the Massey golf course, and later an evening fish. Grace would visit with her dog, Chelsea, and Chelsea had to bark at every boat that passed by. Grace is a strong swimmer and Mar had to watch from the dock and count the number of times Grace went from one side of the bay to the other. The goal was ten laps. At times the water was cold and Grace would then, with a lot of pull and tuck, put on this very tight full body suit. She was a fish like her Mom. Water was their happy place.

It was a wonderful, happy retirement until Alzheimer’s popped its ugly head. The difficult days were ahead. Don lost the ability to choose the correct clubs during his golf games and Mar was there choosing those for him.

Moved to Barrie 2010 to be closer to children. Don went into Hospital and later Long Term Care at IOOF Barrie in 2016. Marlene, children and grandsons endured a very “Long Goodbye” since his diagnosis.

Don’s Palliative Care took 8 days with his wife and children by his side night and day. The care at IOOF was wonderful, thank you to those Angel’s. Don had a favorite Sinatra song “I Did It My Way”. It surely was.

Those we love, don’t go away They walk beside us everyday.