Donald Corkum
1937-2019
It is
with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Ray Corkum
on September 8th 2019. Dad was born on August
25th, 1937 in Bridgewater, NS. He was
predeceased by his parents, Lester and Olive (Ramey) Corkum. Our dad
was a devoted husband to our mom, Eva Kathryn for 57 years. He is also
survived by seven children –Jon (Lynn), Derrick (Caryn),
Stephen (Pam), Kim (April), Peter (Barb), Shelly, and Lori (Jimmy).
Dad was also grandfather to 12 and great-grandfather to 7.
Dad
entered the military when he was 16 years old in 1953. He visited many
countries in Europe throughout his 6 years in the service. He met the
love of his life in 1959 and after a 3 year courtship, mom and dad
married in 1962. After leaving the service, dad was a mechanic at
Mahone Auto for 10 years before joining Michelin in the early 1970s
where he remained until his retirement in 1994.
Dad was
always a towering figure in our lives. He instilled in us all the very
best values that made him the man that we admired and loved (loyalty,
dependability, a solid work ethic, devotion to family, integrity,
honesty, generosity, and love of laughter with friends and
family). Dad was a mechanic, a carpenter, a plumber, an
electrician, a baker, a cook, a brewer, a roofer, a painter, and a
fixer of all things. Dad was also a proud lifetime Legion member, a
talented dart player, a devoted Midtown taverner, and, unfortunately,
a lifetime Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Dad was always a huge fan of music
(mostly country, bluegrass, and blues) and movies (all the greats from
the 1960s and 70s – Pacino, Bronson, Eastwood, Hackman,
McQueen, Duvall and Marvin).
The
family would like to thank Dr. Riding, the VON nurses, and the
palliative care team at the South Shore Regional Hospital for their
kindness and care throughout dad’s illness. We would also
like to thank neighbours Paul and Barb and dad’s favourite
dog, Sam for being like family and always being there for our parents.
Dad often
enjoyed many drinks of rum and delicious dark craft beers with friends
and family. Wherever you are, dad, I hope that you are sitting on a
comfortable deck chair in the sunshine with your see-through dress
shirt opened to the waist, shorts, sneakers and black dress socks,
listening to Johnny Cash blasting Folsom Prison
Blues, with an ice cold Propeller Russian Imperial Stout in
your hand. We love you and miss you.
In
keeping with dad’s wishes, there will be no funeral or
graveside service. Cremation and arrangements entrusted to the care of
R. A. Corkum Funeral Home Ltd. in Wileville. On-line condolences may
be sent to the family by visiting:
www.corkumfuneralhome.ca
1937-2019
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Donald Corkum..
Décès pour la Ville: Wileville, Province: Nova Scotia