Obituary of Don Haubrick

S/Sgt. D.A. (Don) Haubrick, Retired April 3, 1936 – June 20, 2015 Our hearts have been broken with the loss of our Dad and Grandpa. He is now at peace and free from the pain of the cancer that he has been living with since 2008. Dad leaves behind his family who will love and miss him forever: Michelle, Lee, Mackenzie and Kennedy; Shannon, Shane, Joshua, Aaron and Olivia; Shaun, Shelley, Joshua and Jorden. No one could love their grandchildren more than our Dad. The birth of each one made him so happy and they all held a very special place in his heart. To know Don Haubrick was to love him; and countless people loved and cared about this man. He will be missed so very much by his partner Henriette Ouellette, his neighbors, his coffee buddies, the dream team at the Vegreville Care Centre and so many other friends whose lives he touched. Dad was predeceased by his wife Aggie, his father Adolf and mother Ada, as well as six brothers and sisters. He is survived by his two sisters Betty and Clara and their families. Our Dad was a true gentleman and will be remembered for many things: his devotion to his family, his strong work ethic, the patience and compassion he demonstrated with people from all walks of life and his willingness to lend a helping hand to anyone who asked. Dad was Vegreville’s Senior Citizen of the Year, a member of the local Sports Hall of Fame, a Kinsmen Man of the Year and a beloved coach to many minor hockey, ball and ladies fastball players. Our Dad was an athlete and excelled in hockey and fastball; he simply enjoyed being active and could be seen cruising down the street on his rollerblades when he was in his fifties. He was a very smart man who enjoyed debating with both his friends and his children. Dad was knowledgeable about most things and could hold intelligent conversations on topics ranging from government policies to poetry. Dad made friends wherever he went, whether it was the Denny’s restaurant in Hawaii, the hockey rink or just walking out and about in downtown Vegreville. His love of storytelling was legendary as was his big white moustache and his wonderful sense of humor. Dad loved people and truly enjoyed them all; from the tiniest of babies to the seniors he would visit at the long term care centre. We didn’t mind sharing our Dad, as we knew that his family meant more to him than anything. Dad was a wise counsel, the one person who could fix or build anything and the shoulder you could always lean on. No matter the day or time, he was always there for each of us; listening, advising and not judging. We always knew that Dad had our backs and that he would support and defend each one of us in any situation. We will miss our daily phone calls, the discussions about local and world events and the oldie songs that he would sing. As each of us married and our families grew, we always knew the example Dad had set as a parent would be the one that we would try our hardest to follow. Don Haubrick inspired many people and left this world a better place just because of the time he spent among us. He believed in living his life his way; with positivity, laugher and a strong moral code. We will try to make him proud by living our lives to the fullest with the same joy and strength that he demonstrated each and every day. A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Vegreville Alliance Church (4606 - 55 Ave.) with Reverend Ken Flanagan officiating. Cremation has taken place and Dad will be taking his final ride to the Vegreville Alliance Church on his beloved Spyder. Dad’s final wish was to have his ashes scattered on the Peace River; the Peace country held so many happy memories for him. We, his family, will honor this wish at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations to STARS (STARS.ca or 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, AB T2E 8M7) or Animal Haven Rescue League (Box 448, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0) would be greatly appreciated.