It is with heavy hearts and much love that we advise of the passing of Don Loewen (known around Camrose only as Donny) on November 12, 2024 at age 78. 

Donny is survived by his loving wife Shirley, brothers Phil (Holly) and George, sisters Jude (Allan), Diane, Barb (Joe), and Shirley (Merv), children Monica (Jaclyn) and Trevor, grandchildren Shyelle, Syanne, Jacob, and Mason, great-granddaughter Bria, and Shirley’s family who instantly adopted Donny as their own, being Shirley’s sister Pat (Rolf) and brother Larry, Shirley’s son Rodney (Tashsa) and their children Jaeden, Salena, Bree, and Shirley’s son Norman (Stephanie) and their children McKenzie, Juliana, and Alex, as well as a host of extended family and an abundance of friends. 

Donny is predeceased by his parents Jacob and Marie and his brother Rob (Deb).  He was a man of resolute faith who followed Christ’s teachings through his acts of kindness and generosity.

Donny never stood still.  He was perpetually on the go, visiting with friends and family, volunteering in his church, cooking at the local church camp, singing in various choirs, playing ukelele with friends, and helping out at the Camrose Railway Museum.  He had a way of being able to fix things with only the materials at hand, a skill he honed in his younger years while maintaining drilling rigs in places like Sudan, Iraq, and Venezuela.

Donny also loved his garden, making a deal with the next-door neighbour to use their garden space as well.   Each fall he was creative with what kind of compost would be added to the soil.  Often it was leaves.  Sometimes it was collected vegetable waste.  One year to Shirley’s dismay, it was a truckload of rotten silage which stank for weeks until the snow finally covered it.  As Donny had no sense of smell, he didn’t mind a bit.

When he had a spare moment, he was busy honing his sausage-making skills, and was eager to teach anyone what he had learned from his last recipe or two.  He had a home-built smoker in the back yard, and timed that smoked meat to perfection.  He was never refused at any BBQ attendance.

Donny was an incredibly compassionate person who jumped at the chance to help anyone, anywhere, no matter what.  He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.  There is no doubt that the moment he got to heaven, he started a garden up there just after he investigated and fixed that squeaky hinge on heaven’s gate.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 22, 2024 at Messiah Lutheran Church, followed by light refreshments. Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to Hastings Lake Bible Camp or Messiah Lutheran Church.