Bernard Kenneth McDonald

After a rich and varied life of 92 years, Ken McDonald passed away peacefully in the hospital with his family by his side. He was a devoted husband to Lucie for 68 years and a loving father to his four children: Catherine (Frank), Vivian (John), Jacqueline, and Michael (Amanda). His eight beautiful grandchildren—Kyle, Brendan, Emily, Scott, Laurel, Mark, Sarah, and Aimee—and seven wonderful great-grandchildren: Holden, Cordelia, Thea, Olivia, Lucie, Jack, and James, will also carry precious memories of him. Ken was a playful and caring Grandpa.

Before his marriage, Ken briefly attended McGill University before pivoting to join the RCAF after seeing his cousin in a dashing pilot’s uniform. The change of direction was fortuitous as it was while stationed in France that he met and married Lucie, who returned to Canada with him to raise a family.

Ken was a dignified and hardworking husband and father, known for his strong sense of responsibility. Yet, he had a soft side. Early in his career at GMAC financing he was tasked with repossessing a TV from a family with young children. He ended up sitting with the children while they finished watching their show and gave them each a quarter, a significant dent in his earnings. Clearly, he wasn’t cut out for this work and quickly moved into data management services at GMAC and later EDS. He retired from EDS in 1992 but not before finally completing his university degree part-time through the University of Toronto in 1990. He was never one to leave a task unfinished!

As a young family, he would bundle the kids into the car every year for a family vacation to Wasaga Beach, Cape Cod, Florida or other locales. These trips were often the opportunity to meet up with his extended family, including his younger siblings Bryce (Kay), Robert (Evelyn), and Gail (Barry) along with their children. These cottage and camping adventures remain a source of many happy memories despite seemingly endless tangled fishing lines and close encounters with sunfish spines and snapping turtles.

Ken and Lucie retained their sense of adventure as they grew older and travelled widely to Europe, Russia, China and other exotic escapes. Together, they also enjoyed cycling both locally and abroad, Ken armed with his camera and a very large memory card.

With age his children have come to appreciate what a wonderful role model he was. He was always there when someone needed support. He was the epitome of a good human being. He was totally devoted and dedicated to all of us and to his extended family. He cherished his time with family with whom he shared his keen sense of humour and an endearing ability to laugh at himself. He truly represented a life well lived. We are deeply saddened by his passing and will miss him greatly, but he lives on in our many memories and shared conversations. We find comfort in knowing he is at peace and recognize the blessing it has been to share his life for so many years. We love you.

A private family celebration of Ken’s life will take place in the spring.