Douglas “Doug” John Halmarson
We are devastated to announce the passing of Doug Halmarson on August 9, 2024 at the age of 77.
What a man!
Amazing husband, father, brother and friend, EPIC grandfather, legendary teacher and coach, pillar of the community, lover of dogs and babies, the ultimate people person. Doug was everything to everyone.
Teaching was Doug’s calling - he educated thousands of kids over his long career and never lost his passion for it. He and Saul Leibl made grade 5 at Crescentview something every kid looked forward to with Flin Flon exchanges, Pioneer camp, ski trips and more. After years in grade 5 he graduated to junior high, then on to high school where he ended his career at PCI teaching math - not bad for a guy with an English major!
Doug was a lifelong learner who never stopped being interested in the world. He inherited his love of words and puzzles from his parents and passed that love on to his kids and grandkids. No challenge was too big - Doug could fix or build anything and it was all self-taught and done perfectly! He was a prolific gardener and loved sharing the fruits (and vegetables) of his labours.
When Doug took up a sport, he gave it his all and always wanted to be the best. One of his favorite sayings was, “Second place is the first loser!” From baseball and hockey as a kid to playing university basketball in Bemidji and at University of Winnipeg, sports were a huge part of Doug’s young life. As an adult, he played fastball with the Portage Broncs, won a few bonspiels just for fun and played recreational volleyball with people much younger than him. In retirement golf became his new passion. As much as he loved playing sports, Doug truly excelled as a coach. He was so proud of the 3 provincial championships the Saints Fastpitch team won during his time there. A lifelong Riders fan, Doug finally saw the light in the last 10 years and became a Bombers season ticket holder - he loved going to games with Gordon, Larry and other friends old and new.
Doug became involved in the Rotary Club in the early 1980s. There he met Ken McLeod and a friendship began that brought to life Cabaret and Eklektik. Rotary also brought many bonus family members into our lives as Doug served as the counsellor for the foreign exchange program. Doug believed strongly in the importance of contributing to his community and served on the boards of the Library, the Arts Centre, the Portage Teachers’ Association, Habitat for Humanity, and Portage Assisted Living. He also gave his time and talents to many other local organizations.
As much as Doug excelled in all of these things, where he was truly happiest was with his family. After more than 50 years of marriage, he and Jan still loved each other’s company. They created a beautiful life together and made memories travelling around the world. Doug went out of his way to make everyone around him happy. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his girls. He was most himself as Poppa - he made his grandkids feel loved and special every minute of the day. They always knew there were mints or caramels in his pockets and a big hug whenever they needed it. He was a master reader of stories and loved sharing his favourites cuddled up with a grandkid or four. We’d be remiss not to mention his love for all of the dogs in his life, from Falstaff and Naina to his granddogs Milo, Pete and Freya.
Doug was predeceased by his parents, Norm and Eva Halmarson; his in-laws, George and Joan Mann, and his brother-in-law Chris Mann.
Left to treasure his memory are his wife, Jan; daughters Erica and Gillian; son-in-law Ryan Blight; grandchildren Antonio, Fiona, Gabe and Cora. Doug will also be forever missed by his brothers Don (Marjorie) and Jim (Cindy); Jan’s siblings, Lynda (Roger) and Bob (Karen), as well as his nieces and nephews Tanis, Chantelle, Sarah, and Danny, not to mention his friends and loved ones both near and far.
A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at the Glesby Centre in Portage la Prairie, Mb on Friday, August 23, 2024 at 1:00 pm. The service will be live streamed, to register and view the service click on link below.
As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made in Doug’s memory to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Plains, 15 Tupper Street South. Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1W7.
A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.