Obituary
Ronald Stewart Dorren who finally succumbed to a ten year battle with cancer died peacefully with his loving wife and family by his side in his 89th year on Monday, February 7th, 2022.
He was a man of gentle heart, many talents and interests, great determination and ingenuity, a visionary with considerable worldly and technical intellect, beloved by his family and friends. He will be widely remembered for his quick wit and wonderful sense of humour always able to make those around him laugh, or come up with a quip to break the tension of a situation.
Ron was born on the 8th day of October 1933 in Lethbridge. He completed his primary and secondary education in Lethbridge and Calgary, achieving the Masters Certificate in Electrical Contracting. In 1955 he married his sweetheart and lifelong partner Betty and together they raised their family of three in Lethbridge.
Ron accomplished many things throughout his life. From his earliest days his legion of ideas and entrepreneurial spirit enriched his daily childhood life building things to sell and repairing bicycles to name a few. He had a love affair with the internal combustion engine firstly buying and customizing by his own hand and to his own specifications several cars, muscle, racing and show. In their early years, both before and after their marriage, Ron and Betty travelled with their friends all around Western Canada and the Western United States to compete in stock car racing, drag races, sports car races and car shows. This passion formed lifetime bonds and continued through the years with sports cars, boats, trucks, motorbikes and motorcycles, you name it and he knew about it. He loved tinkering with and fixing things nothing being too complicated, loved gadgets and all new inventions. He would reminisce back to the days when he and Betty were starting out and were ‘poor as church mice’.
In 1967 along with Betty he formed Dorren Electric Ltd. which is still in operation today some 50 plus years later, where his technical and innate knowledge and expertise allowed their company to become highly reputable and responsible for many high tier projects including large gas plants, commercial plants, hospitals, apartment buildings, etc. around Western Canada. In 1979 he started Dorren Industries Ltd. a heavy equipment contracting company responsible for, among others, government projects installing thousands of kilometers of underground telephone and gas lines using all types of heavy equipment throughout Western Canada. Simultaneously In 1980 they formed Dorr Developments Ltd. constructing office and warehouse buildings as rental properties to provide for the retirement years. He was a trusted and respected employer and competitor always conscious of how any decision he made would affect his staff. Ron touched many lives, forged many lifelong associations based on trust and respect and will be cherished for his kind spirit, humour and generosity.
Outside of his businesses his many interests took him on scores of journeys both inward and outward travelling extensively for work during his working years and also after, he loved experiencing new places. The Whitefish condo, slopes at Big Mountain and Whitefish Lake hosted numerous days of family bonding and cherished gatherings with friends. Hawaii and Arizona became favorite destinations where he and Betty spent many wonderful years forming precious memories, with their family and friends as well as many trips in his ‘special’ GMC motorhome travelling throughout Canada and the U.S. Never one to sit idle on retirement he learned to play golf and spent many happy hours with his buddies on the golf course, hunting with his sons and grandchildren plus a myriad of other hobbies and activities. He was the bedrock on which the family was founded and he worked very hard to achieve the world for his children and grandchildren. He felt grateful to have been blessed with family who meant everything to him and his favourite occasions were spending time with them all whether on a family vacation or getting together for a family meal.
Ron was predeceased by his father and mother John and Isabelle (Isa) Dorren and sister and brother in law Joan and Rex Johnson.
Left with cherished memories are Betty his beloved wife of 66 years, his children and grandchildren Rhonda Dorren, Travis (Pamela) Goldfeldt, Brice (Lisa) Goldfeldt, Brad Dorren, Brittany Dorren and Ashley Dorren, Murray (Lorry) Dorren, Sarah (Liam) Plunkett, Brayden Dorren and Kolby Dorren and Great Grandchildren Jake Goldfeldt and Lyla and Brexton Plunkett.
A private family Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm, on Thursday, February 17, 2022. The family asks those who wish, to watch the service VIA livestream by going to www.mbfunerals.com/obituary/Ronald-Dorren.
To send flowers to Ronald «Ron» Dorren’s family, please visit our floral store.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Ronald Ron Dorren October 8 1933 February 7 2022 (age 88)..
Décès pour la Ville: Lethbridge, Province: Alberta