Obituary of Don Erickson
Donald Wayne Erickson was born on June 26, 1951, in Killam, AB and died peacefully at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, AB, on July 18, 2023 at the age of 72.
After spending most of his childhood growing up in Killam, Don earned his teaching degree at the University of Alberta. He taught for one year in Swan Hills, AB, and then returned to the county of Flagstaff. For the next 35 years, he held various teaching positions, including principal, and taught many classes of grades one through nine in Killam, Strome and Daysland. In addition to his dedication to teaching, he organized many extras in the schools, like hot lunch programs and school patrol. He retired from teaching in 2008. Almost immediately, Don and Barb moved to Edmonton to start a new chapter of life closer to their children and grandchildren. Those grandbabies instantly became one of Papa Don’s major purposes in life. Around this time, his favourite four-legged follower, Maggie, also joined the family. Don couldn’t be torn away from the education field for long; he was led to Education Station, where his post-retirement job had him boxing and shipping all sorts of education-related supplies. He worked for over 10 years with them before deciding to really retire.
Another of his special passions throughout his life was woodworking. As self-proclaimed ‘Woodman Don’, you could often find him in his garage, cutting something out of wood. This was followed by a quick trip to his craft room to paint or stain his masterpiece. He was a talented artist with skilled vision and crafting.
He is survived by his wife of over 43 years, Barb, his children Steven, Sarah (Reg Fee), and Aaron, his grandchildren – ‘Papa’s Crew’ Lex and Bronwen Fee, & Tyler and Ethan Erickson, his step-children Michael and Dolores, sister Jean (Norm Maxwell), brother Dale (Pat), special friend Bev Pottle, and many other relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his beloved Cavalier King Charles ‘guard dog’ Maggie, his parents, Harry and Amy, his parents-in-law Albert and Sheila, his daughter-in-law Jenn, and his twin brother Doug.
At Don’s request, no service will be held. Donations honouring Don’s memory may be made to the Hope Mission or the Canadian Lung Association.
