Memorial Service
Obituary of Don Cookson
A farmer slipped away quietly late one Sunday evening with his son by his side. His last harvest – and it was a big one – was finished and safely in the bins.
Donald (Don) Cookson was born on the family farm south of Lougheed, Alberta December 14, 1925. For parents Thomas (Tom) and Elsie (Renshaw) Cookson, he was the second of three children, between older brother Ernest and little sister Rosemary.
He passed away August 3, 2025 in his room at the Killam Long-Term Care Centre. He was just four months away from his 100th birthday, a goal he tried hard to reach.
Taught to read by his grandfather John Renshaw at the age of four, he completed his formal education at the one-room Cambridge School, a mile and a half down the road. There he began his life-long love of sports. From his father he learned the art of farming with horses and threshing crews. With his brother away in World War II, Don, still a teenager, began the transition to farming with tractors and combines.
On November 15, 1944, with harvest over, he married a Hardisty girl, Verona Loreen Bitzer, his partner for the next 60 years. Together they expanded the farm, raised 3 daughters and a son, and were very active in the Cambridge and Lougheed communities. In 1980 they moved from the farm into Lougheed where Don continued to live until moving to long-term care last year. Even after he cut back on farming to establish a cattle-buying business, he remained involved from seeding to harvest, making his final trip with grandson Jeff to inspect the crops a few weeks before his death.
He grew up playing baseball, softball and hockey, but his number one sport would always be curling. His prizes and trophies filled the house, among them an electric lamp even though the house did not yet have electricity.
As they grew older, Don and Verona fell in love with the game of horseshoes. They spent their summers travelling to tournaments throughout Alberta and beyond, often taking a truck full of grandchildren with them.
Always a competitor, Don surprised his family and probably himself in 1968 by running for the Progressive Conservative nomination in the federal Battle River-Camrose constituency. He did not win, but it spiced up family life with several years of political excitement.
After Verona died, he moved to an independent seniors apartment and spent much time collecting old furniture and fashioning it into new tables and bookcases to display at the Lougheed Fair and furnish the homes of his grandchildren.
Don was predeceased by wife Verona (2005), father Tom (1975), mother Elsie (1987), brother Ernest (2020), sister Rosemary Jack (2021) and sons-in-law Greg Martin (1992), Bob Rosiechuk (2012) and David Edey (2019).
He leaves his 3 daughters, 1 son, 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and another great-grandson expected soon. The family includes:
daughter Donna Cookson Martin of Edmonton (Margaret Glidden{Roy} with Abbey [Ben], James Martin {Sarah} with Oaklyn and Bryer, Philip Martin {Ann} with Brielle and Austin, Elizabeth Martin (Ian March) and Andrew Martin (Hayley) with Leon):
daughter Sandra Rosiechuk of Lougheed (Jeff Rosiechuk {Sandy Otto}, Collin Rosiechuk {Jessica} with Dillon [Rachel] and Landon, Laurie Skori {Ross} with Colton, and Todd Rosiechuk {Tyrion} with Cooper, George and Matt}:
daughter Wendy Edey of Edmonton (Mark Edey {Tracey Robertson} with Carys and Lewis, Ruth Haley {Derek} with Ben, Evan and Clara, and Lawrence Edey:
son Allan Cookson (Nancy) of Oliver BC (Jake Cookson {Pamela} with Jayden, Jessie and Jorden, and Ryan Cookson).
He also leaves two brothers-in-law, Donald Bitzer (Carol) and Laurel Bitzer (Betty), sister-in-law Eunice Cookson, and a century’s worth of relatives and friends.
Don’s harvest is off the field and in the bin. But his legacy of faith, hope and love will go on for generations. What more could a good farmer ask for?
A Memorial Service for Don will be held on Saturday August 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Lougheed Community Hall in Lougheed, Alberta. Please join the family for a time of fellowship and refreshments following the service.
Donations in Don’s memory may be made to the Lougheed Cemetery Fund, the Lougheed Curling Club, St. John’s Anglican Church, Killam Continuing Care or the charity of the donor’s choice.
