Don La Pointe (Swampy)

12 January 1932 – 2 January 2020

Don passed away peacefully on Friday, 2 January 2020 with his family at his side.

He was born in Nash Creek, New Brunswick. He had 4 brothers (Vern, Jack, Bill, and Tom) and two sisters (Teenie and Naomi).

Don joined the Canadian Armed Forces at the young age of 17. In 1948 he was posted to Yellowknife, NWT, where he met his soon to be bride Freda. He was posted to Ft. Simpson, NWT in 1951 and married Freda in 1952. While serving there, his children Caroline, Donna, and John were born and in 1956 he was transferred to Barrie, Ontario. His son Danny was born there and once again Don received another posting, this time to Germany. Don spent 3 years in Germany and, yes, two more children were born (Tom and Angie). In 1959 Don returned back to Canada and called Kingston, Ontario his home until 1966, but as fate would have it, two more children were born (Ed and Billy). During his stay in Kingston Don also served as a peace keeper in Egypt, Cypress, and the Congo. In the summer of 1966 Don was posted again to Nanaimo, BC. Don retired from the Canadian Military in 1973 but not before being posted twice to Alert, NWT the Northern-most posting in Canada.

For the next 4 years he kept busy working with the special needs children for about a year, and roughly another 3 years he dabbled in the vending business. In 1977 he started to work for the US Navy at Nanoose Bay. Don really enjoyed his time there and retired once and for all in 1989. He spent 37 years in the military and 4 years in the public sector.

Don enjoyed life to the fullest and never looked back. He will be sadly missed but never forgotten. At this time the family would like to thank the staff at the Ladysmith Hospital for their great care from September 2019 to the middle of November. Thanks to Dr. Morris and a huge thanks to Dr. Kennedy whose care far exceeded our expectations. We would also like to thank the Palliative Care Unit in Nanaimo, BC, especially the Palliative Care Nurses; they all were incredible. Last but not least thanks to the Home Care Support Team who came every morning to help us with dad for the past 5 weeks. The health care system helped us look after dad at home, which is what he wanted.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Don on Saturday, 29 February 2020 at the Cedar Community Hall from 1pm to 4pm.