Douglas Elder

On February 1, 2022, Doug Elder passed away peacefully at the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, MB. Doug was born in Fort William (Thunder Bay), Ont., on November 10, 1942. When he was a young child, his parents Margaret and Cliff Elder moved the family to Foxwarren, MB, where Doug went to school and made lifelong friends.

He worked at his dad's hardware store and helped deliver bulk fuel. Doug had an affinity for the military and he joined the 677 Air Cadet Squadron in Russell as a teenager. It was also during this time he got his flying pilot's license. After leaving Foxwarren he went to Radio school in Winnipeg and he worked as a radio officer on the oil tanker, Liselotte Essberger, out of Hamburg, Germany and for many years travelled from  Germany to Japan on the tanker.   When he left Germany, he worked as a NORAD Radio Officer on the Dew Line.

When on his leaves from the DEW line, he loved NASCAR racing became an avid and passionate NASCAR fan, attending many races, forming a lasting friendship with Richard Petty.  He considered himself fortunate to have a chance to work in the pits at some of the races with Richard Petty’s crew.   NASCAR became a lifelong passion and Doug enjoyed watching the races in person and on television.

After his time with NORAD, he went to a trucking school in Winnipeg and spent many years driving as a long-haul trucker for Bison and Day & Ross trucking companies until his retirement. Day and Ross awarded Doug a two million miles accident-free certificate and prize for his careful driving. Doug loved to travel and made a few trips to New Zealand to visit friends.

Doug is survived by:  A special and close cousin, Donna Thompson, cousins: Joan Chipperfield and family, Lorne and Valerie Adams, Dale and Valerie Adams, Lara and Bill Denny, Janice and Roland Reddekopp, Heather and Keith Summers.  Doug will also be greatly missed by his close family friends: Brian and Maggie Lorimer, Susan Henderson and daughters, Rebecca and Ashley, Tracey (Jason), Cathie (Doug), Jennifer, Heather (Ian), and Beth (Seb). Close friend and fellow trucker Rob Renolds and friend Jackie Dayne will also greatly miss him.

If you so wish donations can be made to the Salvation Army in Doug’s memory. A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at a later date.