Peacefully and surrounded by his loving family, at South Huron Hospital, Exeter on Friday, May 17, 2013, of Grand Bend in his 81st year. Loving husband and best friend of Mary Margaret (McLeish) Prowse for 32 years. Devoted father of David Prowse and Francine Hache of Sarnia, Dianne and Steve Twynstra of Ailsa Craig, Scott Hall and Dace Kuze of Toronto and Laurel Flitton of London. Special grandpa of Karleen, Valerie, Jerritt, Leia, Kurtis, and Lukas and great-grandpa of Vincenzo. Missed by many brothers and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his wife Patricia (Cooper) and parents Edna (Cohoon) and Stanton (Pete) Prowse and his sister Barbara and her husband Gord Tilford. Don will be deeply missed by the many people whose lives he touched with his loving, caring ways.
Friends may call at the Haskett Funeral Home, 370 William Street, Exeter (1 street west of Main) on Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The funeral service will be held at the Oakwood Resort (Grand Bend), 70671 Bluewater Highway, South Huron on Thursday, May 23rd at 1:30 PM with Rev. Harry Disher officiating. Cremation with interment Woodland Cemetery, London.
Donations to the Rotary Foundation of Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Huron County would be appreciated by the family.
PROWSE: Donald Hugh of Grand Bend
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Jim and Jan Hendry
Jim and I taught at Saunders when Don was principal and I taught some Phys. Ed. at Oakridge with him. We both had a lot of respect for Don and enjoyed working with him. He was a good leader and a fine man of integrity. We’re so sorry for your loss.
Glenys Colquhoun
Mary Marg and family
I am so sorry to hear of Dons passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Elizabeth Humphrey
Hi Mary Marg and family,
We were saddened to learn of the loss of your DON!
The smiling photo of him in the LFP is such a reminder of days ago when you both hosted events in London and at the Bend for the
teaching staff at N’ D in Oakridge.
John also would mention seeing Don while attending UWO
alumni athletic events which he always enjoys.
We will be thinking of those sunny days in our lives and hope you
soon find sunny days in your life .after the current days of cloud and fog .
Our condolences- Elizabeth and John Humphrey
Harry Macpherson
Dear Margaret Mary and family,
Margaret and I are deeply saddened to learn of Don’s passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Harry Macpherson,
Marje Crowe
I am so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He was a very kind and community-minded gentleman and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. You and your family are in my thoughts and in my prayers.
Pam Walker
Mary Margaret
Thougts and prayers are with you. Don was a wonderful person.
Sincerest sympathy.
Barry McCarthy
Dear Mary Margaret, David, Dianne
My thoughts are with you in this very sad and difficult time.
Don was very important in my life. He was my mentor when I began teaching at Oakridge and again when I was his vice-principal at Saunders. Don was much more to me than a mentor. He was a loyal, supportive and caring friend who could always be counted on in good times and not so good times.
Don, my friend, I will miss you greatly and always carry you with me in my heart.
Cheers, Barry McCarthy
Ancaster
Dave and Susan Moore
Mary Margaret and family : We extend our deepest sympathy to you. Please know you will be in our thoughts and prayers today as you celebrate and remember this gentle caring man! We remember how welcoming he was when Dave became a member of Rotary! Wish we could be with you today but know you will be surrounded with lots of love. Dave and Susan
Dave and Susan Moore
Mary Margaret and family : We extend our deepest sympathy to you. Please know you will be in our thoughts and prayers today as you celebrate and remember this gentle caring man! We remember how welcoming he was when Dave became a member of Rotary! Wish we could be with you today but know you will be surrounded with lots of love. Dave and Susan r
Dave McMillan
I have recently returned to London after many years in Victoria.
Don was my math teacher and football coach at Oakridge Secondary School in the early sixties. Thank you “Mr Prowse” for being such a wonderful role model to so many students who had the privilege of knowing you!
Joe and Ginger Metron
Dear Mary Margaret and family,
We are sorry to hear of Don’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of loss and in the days ahead. Hold tight to each other and your happy memories.
Lori Easter Dennis
To the Prowse family, I am so sorry for the loss of Don. I was a former student in the 70’s at Saunders & because the school was so small in the beginning we were all like one big family. Mr. Prowse was a wonderful example of what teachers are all about. Many thanks for all that I learned from him. Godspeed.
Bill Brock
Condolences to Mary and family ; as a former Trustee working with
Don at the former London School Board appreciated the association.
Don & Elvy Urbshott
Those we love don’t go away,
They walk beside us everyday
Unseen, unheard. but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear.,
Joan & David McClure
Joan asked me to convey the following to you ,Mary Margaret ,and to Don’s family :
Don, Bob Edwards ,Sandy Auchterlonie and Joan Donnelly were classmates at London Central Collegiate in the 1950’s .Don, Bob & Sandy played for both football & basketball teams at Central . Joan was a cheerleader. Don & Bob went on to Western while Sandy played for the Kitchener Waterloo Dutchmen .
Sandy & Joan ,high school sweethearts ,were married in 1951 but sadly Sandy died in the polio epidemic of 1952.
I well remember the days in the 50’s when John Metras ‘ Western teams hardly ever lost in either football or basketball . Don Prowse and Bob Edwards were big contributors to the success of those great Western teams .
I next met Don in 2000 at the Huron Country Playhouse after my marriage to Joan . When Don saw Joan he said ,” Hello, Joan Donnelly ” and gave her a big hug . That was 50 years after their high school days . The encounter recalled fond memories of the happy days spent together at London Central Collegiate .
Mary Margaret and all the family , following your sad loss ,may you receive comfort in the days ahead . Love from Joan & Dave .
Tony Vermeulen and family
Our deepest sympathy does not express the loss you must be feeling. We pray that some day the gratification at loving Don replaces the heavy loss. You are in our loving thoughts.
Jane and Vaughan Peckham
Don was an excellent teacher, coach, and educator! Our condolences go out to his family on their loss.
John & Sandy Dixon
He certainly had a long and well-lived life. A fine man who’ll be missed by so many. Mary Marg, you did such a great job in ensuring that he had a good quality of life in spite of health challenges. Our condolences to all of you.
Eric and Katheen Madsen
Eric and I were very sorry to hear of Don’s passing
we send our sympathy and prayers to you and your family
Bob and Christina Curtis
Dianne and Dave,
We are so sorry to hear of your Dad s passing. Just wanted to let you all know you are in our thoughts and prayers throughout this difficult time.
John Bayley
It was my privilege to work with Don on>he was agreat person to work for the youth of Northridge the Sports work for Stoney Brook Sports Assoc Thank you Don
Jason Bourne
Mary Marg and family,
Sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He was a fine man and always a gentleman. I enjoyed my visits with him. My thoughts and prayers.
Jim Mitchell
Dianne and Dave
My thoughts are with you and your family at this very sad time.
Jodi Edwards Wright
Dear Mary Marg and family,
We were sorry to hear that Don had passed. You and Don were great friends to Mom & Dad for so many years, and we know that they would want us to express how much you both meant to them and offer our sympathy at his loss.
Jodi, Scott and families
Robert Bergmann
Dear Mary Margaret,
Please know how very saddened I am for the loss of your husband. Please be strong in these tough moments of your life. I also experienced the same situation. One thing I can only say is just enjoy the moments and memories you had with Don and ascertain that you keep living without regrets.
Mike & Paula Gillick
Dianne and David
Our hearts are with the Prowse family. So many memories that go back to my dad watching a standout athlete named Don Prowse at high school games. Thinking of you.
Colleen Westeinde
Mary Marg & all of Don’s family – my thoughts are with you, as they have been these past weeks. Hang in there during these tough times. Don, such a wonderful warm man, will be missed by so many of us.
Much love, Colleen
Rachel Cree-Lowe
Mr Prowse worked with my father, Hugh Cree and was my principal when I was at Saunders in the 80s. He always had a smile and although I never had cause to be sent to see him, it was obvious he was fair. Rest Well, Mr Prowse. You deserve the rest .
Judy Webb
Dianne
Thinking of you and remembering you in our prayers today and in the days ahead
Judy and Christine Webb
Barbara Bain
Dear Mary Margaret
I was sorry to learn today that Don had passed away. I remember great times we all shared in Africa. Joanne is in Ireland just now but I know she will be very saddened by the news. My deepest sympathy.
Randy and Lynda Rapley
Mary Margaret, Our deepest sympathy! Don touched our lives and the lives of so many people in the community. He will be remembered with great respect and a smile!
Peter & Esther Warner
Dear Mary Margaret: Our thoughts and prayers go out to you on your loss of Don. A true gentleman who will be missed by all of us
Peter & Esther Warner
Alistair McGhee
I extend my heart felt sympathy to Don’s family. I have such wonderful memories of the early years at Oakridge where Don was my Phys. Ed. teacher as well as my football coach. He was inspirational and dedicated. I was so happy to see him at the 50th reunion. He looked great. There is no doubt that Don left his mark on many lives and I, for one, am truly grateful. He will be sorely missed. Memories live on.
Jo Ann Sweeney
The John Sweeney & Don Prowse families go back a long way. John & Don through athletics. Dave & Dianne are great pals of Paul & Mike Sweeney. We lost John on Oct.1,2011. We want the Prowse family to know our thoughts are with you at this very sad time.
Ron & Merna Scott
Dianne, Steve & Kurtis
So sorry to hear you have lost your father,(in-law) and grandpa. You are in our thoughts at this difficult time.
Linda and Bill Reid
We will miss the warmth and generosity of this truly exceptional man Our hearts go out to you, Mary Margaret and your family, and our wish is that the great memories that you have all created with Don will help ease the pain of his loss.
Tino and Margrit Breuer
so very sorry to hear about Don’s passing.